Record annual net gain of 70,000 migrants

21 October 2016

A record 70,000 more migrants arrived than departed in the September 2016 year, Statistics New Zealand said today. This surpasses the previous annual record net gain of 69,100 migrants in the August 2016 year.

"The annual net gain reflects record high migrant arrivals and fewer migrant departures," population statistics manager Jo-Anne Skinner said. "Most of the arrivals are people coming in with work visas, which also includes working holidaymakers."

Migrant arrivals numbered 125,600 in the September 2016 year, setting a new annual record. The distribution of migrant arrivals by most common visa type was:
• work visas (32 percent)
• New Zealand and Australian citizens (29 percent)
• student visas (20 percent)
• residence visas (13 percent).

Migrant departures were 55,700 in the same period, with New Zealand citizens contributing almost 60 percent to all migrant departures.

Seasonally adjusted figures showed a net gain of 6,300 migrants in September 2016, surpassing the previous peak of 6,200 in November 2015.

See also:

• Kiwis take over a million overseas holidays – media release

See the commentary and tables for more information.

Ends

© Scoop Media