22 June 2018

Annual net migration in the May 2018 year was 66,200, Stats NZ said today. Migrant arrivals were 130,200 and migrant departures were 64,000.

In the May 2018 year, annual net migration continued a general downward trend from the peak of 72,400 in the July 2017 year. This was mainly driven by an increase in migrant departures.

“Migrant departures are the highest they have been since May 2014,” population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said. “They are now almost half the number of migrant arrivals.”

Migrant departures to Asia increased by 33 percent in the May 2018 year to 12,400. The largest increases were to China and India.

In the May 2018 year, non-New Zealand citizen migrant departures were up 22 percent from a year earlier to 30,500, and up 1.1 percent from the April 2018 year.

Numbers of New Zealand citizen migrant departures stayed relatively unchanged from a year earlier, with 33,400 in the May 2018 year. They contributed to just over half of migrant departures and more left the country than returned, with a net loss of 1,400 people. This means the annual net gain in migrants is due to non-New Zealand citizens.

Text alternative for Permanent and long-term migration, year ended May 2018

Authorised by Kelvin Watson, Acting Government Statistician, 22 June 2018.

Text alternative for Permanent and long-term migration, year ended May 2018

Diagram shows arrivals of non-NZ citizens 98,100 down 0.2% and departures of non-NZ citizens 30,500 up 1.1% make net migration of non-NZ citizens 67,600.

Arrivals of NZ citizens 32,100 down 0.2% and departures of NZ citizens 33,400 up 0.6% make net migration of NZ citizens -1,400.

Result is total net migration of 66,200.

Note: Figures may not sum to totals due to rounding. Percentage changes are indicative of the May 2018 year compared with the April 2018 year.

For more information about these statistics:

• Visit International travel and migration: May 2018

• See Visitors from India up for May

• See CSV files for download

ends

© Scoop Media