Overseas Migration

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Statistics on Australia's international migration, by state and territory, country of birth, visa, age and sex.

Reference period
2021-22 financial year
Released
16/12/2022

Key statistics

  • Overseas migration 2021-22 – net gain of 170,900 people
  • Migrant arrivals increased 171% to 395,000 from 146,000 arrivals a year ago
  • Migrant departures decreased 3% to 224,000 from 230,900 departures a year ago
  • Net overseas migration in every state and territory increased in 2021-22 when compared with 2020-21.

The data presented in this release are annual, for years ending 30 June unless otherwise noted. For the latest quarterly migration estimates, see the ABS publication National, state and territory population. For Australia's regional overseas migration estimates, see the ABS publication Regional population.

Most data in this release are rounded to the nearest 10. As a result, sums of components may not add to totals.

COVID-19 travel restrictions

Net overseas migration

Net overseas migration is the net gain or loss of population through international migration to and from Australia. 

In the year ending 30 June 2022, overseas migration contributed a net gain of 171,000 to Australia's population. This represents a very large increase in net overseas migration on the 2020-21 financial year – which saw a net loss of 85,000 people.

Historically, more people migrate to Australia than migrate away each year, meaning overseas migration has been a significant source of population gain for Australia rather than loss. Overseas migration data in Australia shows a pattern of variability over time, due to the ever-changing global and domestic factors affecting migration. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions added to this variability, as did the easing of these international travel restrictions from late 2021 which has resulted in people being able to migrate to Australia again.

  1. Estimates from 1972 onwards are year ending June, prior to 1972 they are year ending December.
  2. Estimates for 2021-22 are preliminary. See revision status on the methodology page
Historical events which have influenced Australian migration
1861 to 1913 (pre WWI)average gain of 20,000 people per year, with some annual losses
1916largest net loss in a single year of 129,000 due to WWI - mainly young men
1919 (post WWI) to 1929average gain of 46,000 per year - includes troops returning
1930 to 1945punctuated with annual losses due to Great Depression and WWII (1939-45)
1946 (post WWII) to 2006average gain of 90,000 per year - post-war migration program started
2007 to 2020average net gain of 226,000 per year - more temporary migration
2020-21net loss of 85,000 due to impact of COVID-19 pandemic - the second lowest on record
2021-22resumption of positive net migration after COVID-19 travel restrictions lifted - a net gain of 171,000 people recorded

 

 

Migrant arrivals

The number of migrant arrivals in 2021-22 increased to 395,000, up from 146,000 the year before, which equates to an increase of 171 per cent. The easing of COVID-19 international travel restrictions in 2021 has driven this increase in migrant arrivals, however there were still fewer migrant arrivals than prior to the pandemic.

From 2015-16 to 2019-20, the average number of migrant arrivals was 523,000 per year, with 61 per cent of these arriving on temporary visas. In 2020-21, this proportion dropped to 20 per cent, however it returned to 61 per cent in 2021-22. There was an 84 per cent increase in migrant arrivals for permanent visas holders in 2021-22 compared with 2020-21.

  1. Estimates for 2021-22 are preliminary. See revision status on the methodology page.
  2. The visa at time of traveller's overseas migration arrival date. The number of visas here should not be confused with information on visas granted by the Department of Home Affairs as visas can be granted onshore.
  3. Visa subclass 444 is granted to New Zealand citizens upon arrival in Australia if they have not already been granted another visa.

Migrant departures

The number of migrant departures in 2021-22 decreased to 224,000 departures, down from 231,000 the year before. This is a decrease of 3 per cent on the previous year.

From 2015-16 to 2019-20, the average number of migrant departures was 294,000 per year with 52 per cent of these departing on temporary visas. In 2020-21, this proportion increased to 63 per cent however in 2021-22 it decreased to 46 per cent.

  1. Estimates for 2021-22 are preliminary. See revision status on the methodology page.
  2. The visa at time of traveller's overseas migration departure date. The number of visas here should not be confused with information on visas granted by the Department of Home Affairs as visas can be granted onshore.
  3. Visa subclass 444 is granted to New Zealand citizens upon arrival in Australia if they have not already been granted another visa.

Country of birth

Net overseas migration

Arrivals

Departures

World regions

Visa

Arrivals

Departures

Age and sex

Arrivals

Departures

State and territory

Net overseas migration

Country of birth

Age

Sex

Related ABS publications

National, state and territory population
- includes quarterly data on net overseas migration and net interstate migration estimates.

Regional population
- includes annual data on regional overseas migration and regional internal migration estimates.

Overseas arrivals and departures, Australia
- monthly statistics on all international travel arriving in and departing from Australia.

Australia's population by country of birth
- statistics on Australia's estimated resident population by country of birth.

Personal income of migrants, Australia
- statistics on personal income of migrants including employee income, own unincorporated business income, investment income and other income.

Understanding migrant outcomes - insights from the Australian Census and migrants integrated dataset, Australia, 2016
- statistics about permanent migrants: their employment, education, income, housing and geographic distribution.

Insights from the Australian Census and temporary entrants integrated dataset, Australia, 2016
- statistics about temporary entrants: their employment, education, income, housing and geographic distribution.

Migrant data matrices
- provides users with links to available summary data on migrants from a wide range of ABS surveys and outputs.

Enquiries

For further information about these publications and related statistics visit www.abs.gov.au/about/contact-us

Data downloads

I-note

Time series spreadsheets

Data files

Data Explorer datasets

Caution: Data in the Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check for the current reference period when using Data Explorer.

For information on Data Explorer and how it works, see the Data Explorer user guide.

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