Net migration in New Zealand
New Zealand: Net migration was 17,403 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in New Zealand, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in New Zealand is 17,403, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 7.3% on the previous year and down 75.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in New Zealand peaked at 75,512 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -28,783, in 1978.
New Zealand ranks 35th of 218 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 in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3,846 | — |
| 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% |
| 2024 | 18,766 | -12.3% |
| 2025 | 17,403 | -7.3% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 17,403 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 20.6× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 17,403 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 17,693 | -14,944 | 42,124 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More financial sector data for New Zealand
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 81.16 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 59.26 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 6.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 81.16 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 1.42 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in New Zealand?
- Net migration in New Zealand was 17,403 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 75,512 in 2016.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -28,783 in 1978.
- How does New Zealand rank for net migration?
- New Zealand ranks 35th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 75.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.