Net migration metrics in New Zealand
New Zealand: Net migration metrics was 21,404 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
21,404
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
41st
of 236 countries
All-time high
75,512
in 2016
All-time low
-28,783
in 1978
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in New Zealand, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, net migration metrics in New Zealand stood at 21,404.
That represents a change of down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in New Zealand peaked at 75,512 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -28,783, in 1978.
New Zealand ranks 41st of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration metrics in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6,098 | — |
| 1951 | 11,551 | +89.4% |
| 1952 | 17,971 | +55.6% |
| 1953 | 16,376 | -8.9% |
| 1954 | 10,252 | -37.4% |
| 1955 | 7,768 | -24.2% |
| 1956 | 9,171 | +18.1% |
| 1957 | 14,068 | +53.4% |
| 1958 | 11,633 | -17.3% |
| 1959 | 5,056 | -56.5% |
| 1960 | 3,846 | -23.9% |
| 1961 | 10,689 | +177.9% |
| 1962 | 12,697 | +18.8% |
| 1963 | 10,226 | -19.5% |
| 1964 | 9,806 | -4.1% |
| 1965 | 9,245 | -5.7% |
| 1966 | 9,161 | -0.9% |
| 1967 | -2,289 | -125.0% |
| 1968 | -11,853 | +417.8% |
| 1969 | -5,212 | -56.0% |
| 1970 | 4,511 | -186.6% |
| 1971 | 7,547 | +67.3% |
| 1972 | 17,779 | +135.6% |
| 1973 | 28,261 | +59.0% |
| 1974 | 27,580 | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 13,196 | -52.2% |
| 1976 | -9,138 | -169.2% |
| 1977 | -22,697 | +148.4% |
| 1978 | -28,783 | +26.8% |
| 1979 | -26,694 | -7.3% |
| 1980 | -15,423 | -42.2% |
| 1981 | -7,606 | -50.7% |
| 1982 | 7,982 | -204.9% |
| 1983 | 11,464 | +43.6% |
| 1984 | -901 | -107.9% |
| 1985 | -13,462 | +1394.1% |
| 1986 | -10,234 | -24.0% |
| 1987 | -7,631 | -25.4% |
| 1988 | -17,005 | +122.8% |
| 1989 | -8,818 | -48.1% |
| 1990 | 70,432 | -898.7% |
| 1991 | 31,156 | -55.8% |
| 1992 | 6,460 | -79.3% |
| 1993 | 12,638 | +95.6% |
| 1994 | 20,420 | +61.6% |
| 1995 | 26,743 | +31.0% |
| 1996 | 25,169 | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 12,040 | -52.2% |
| 1998 | -1,387 | -111.5% |
| 1999 | -7,634 | +450.4% |
| 2000 | -6,604 | -13.5% |
| 2001 | 17,793 | -369.4% |
| 2002 | 48,195 | +170.9% |
| 2003 | 42,456 | -11.9% |
| 2004 | 24,521 | -42.2% |
| 2005 | 19,212 | -21.7% |
| 2006 | 14,542 | -24.3% |
| 2007 | 3,053 | -79.0% |
| 2008 | 4,804 | +57.4% |
| 2009 | 12,700 | +164.4% |
| 2010 | 6,722 | -47.1% |
| 2011 | -2,196 | -132.7% |
| 2012 | -1,015 | -53.8% |
| 2013 | 26,385 | -2699.5% |
| 2014 | 57,974 | +119.7% |
| 2015 | 70,870 | +22.2% |
| 2016 | 75,512 | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 68,349 | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 59,139 | -13.5% |
| 2019 | 69,770 | +18.0% |
| 2020 | 42,124 | -39.6% |
| 2021 | -14,944 | -135.5% |
| 2022 | 21,404 | -243.2% |
| 2023 | 21,404 | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 21,404 is above the median for high income countries, which is 5,173, 4.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 21,404 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -787. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +2699.5% | -1,015 | 26,385 |
| 1985 | -1394.1% | -901 | -13,462 |
| 1990 | +898.7% | -8,818 | 70,432 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 10,994 | 5,056 | 17,971 | 10 |
| 1960s | 4,632 | -11,853 | 12,697 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,156 | -28,783 | 28,261 | 10 |
| 1980s | -6,163 | -17,005 | 11,464 | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,604 | -7,634 | 70,432 | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,067 | -6,604 | 48,195 | 10 |
| 2010s | 43,151 | -2,196 | 75,512 | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,497 | -14,944 | 42,124 | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More population data for New Zealand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -14.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0739 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.628 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.077 (2100)
- Population density 22.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 256,010 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration metrics in New Zealand?
- Net migration metrics in New Zealand was 21,404 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 75,512 in 2016.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -28,783 in 1978.
- How does New Zealand rank for net migration metrics?
- New Zealand ranks 41st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).