Historical Migration Statistics brings together migration statistics from 1945 through to the present day.

In interpreting these statistics it should be noted that the classification of regions and country names has changed over time and that the way migration statistics are reported has also changed. From October 1945 to June 1959, migration statistics included permanent and long-term arrivals. Today, we have various components - the Migration Program, Humanitarian Program and Non-Program migration (mainly New Zealand citizens) reported as permanent additions to Australia's resident population.

As of 2023, Australia's net overseas migration was 152.2 thousand people. In 2020 and 2021, net migration in Australia reduced drastically due to travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Net migration increased to over 400 thousand people once restrictions were eased in 2022.

Australia Net Migration data was reported at 138,510.000 Person in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 140,232.000 Person for 2023. Australia Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging 108,852.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2024, with 65 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 275,773.000 Person in 2008 and a record low of 23,833.000 Person in 1993. Australia Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. 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.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Sum;

Net overseas migration (NOM) is the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia. This dataset contains annual NOM estimates by age and sex at the …Show full descriptionNet overseas migration (NOM) is the net gain or loss of population through immigration to Australia and emigration from Australia. This dataset contains annual NOM estimates by age and sex at the state/territory and Australia level.

In the financial year 2023, it is estimated that 4.89 thousand more Malaysians migrated to Australia than emigrated. This marked an increase in net immigration of Malaysians in the country compared to the previous year.

Australian Migration Statistics is a statistical package provided as an accompaniment to the annual publication Australia’s Migration Trends published on the Department of Home Affairs website. The statistical package (first produced for the 2016–17 edition of Australia’s Migration Trends) provides detailed statistics on permanent and temporary migration.

See: Migration trends reports - https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-statistics/statistics/visa-statistics/live/migration-program

Population Change: Net Interstate Migration: Western Australia data was reported at 1,469.000 Person in Sep 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,411.000 Person for Jun 2024. Population Change: Net Interstate Migration: Western Australia data is updated quarterly, averaging 580.000 Person from Jun 1981 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 174 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,181.000 Person in Dec 2021 and a record low of -3,669.000 Person in Dec 2016. Population Change: Net Interstate Migration: Western Australia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G003: Population Change.

Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Western Australia data was reported at 11,564.000 Person in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,957.000 Person for Jun 2024. Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Western Australia data is updated quarterly, averaging 3,972.000 Person from Jun 1981 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 174 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20,995.000 Person in Mar 2023 and a record low of -2,317.000 Person in Sep 2020. Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Western Australia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G003: Population Change.

Australia Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Victoria data was reported at 24,375.000 Person in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 17,504.000 Person for Jun 2024. Australia Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Victoria data is updated quarterly, averaging 8,892.000 Person from Jun 1981 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 174 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50,020.000 Person in Mar 2023 and a record low of -20,667.000 Person in Sep 2020. Australia Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Victoria data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G003: Population Change.

This dataset presents the estimates of the internal migration statistics of Australia by Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) following the 2011 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The dataset spans from the 2006-07 financial year up to the 2015-16 financial year. Regional internal migration is the movement of people from one region to another within Australia (both interstate and intrastate). For example, it incorporates moves from a GCCSA to any other GCCSA within the country. Net regional internal migration is the net gain or loss of population through this movement. The ABS has developed a new series of annual regional internal migration estimates (RIME) based on the 2011 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The Medicare and Defence data used for estimating interstate migration is now also used to estimate internal migration below the state/territory level. A similar method was used to prepare RIME at the LGA level, based on 2011 boundaries. This data is Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data (catalogue number: 3412.0) used with permission from the ABS. For more information please visit the ABS Explanatory Notes. Please note: RIME are not directly comparable with estimated resident populations (ERPs) because of the different methods and source data used to prepare each series. The combination of natural increase and net migration (internal and overseas) therefore may not correspond with change in ERP. AURIN has spatially enabled the original data.

In 2023, the number of international migrants to and from South Korea amounted to about 1.28 million people. This is an increase compared to the previous years caused by travel restrictions in response to COVID-19.

In the 2023 financial year, the net overseas migration of New Zealand nationals to Australia is estimated at 15.34 thousand emigrants. This marked a significant increase compared to the previous financial year.

This dataset presents the estimates of the internal and overseas migration statistics of Australia by age by Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) following the 2016 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The dataset spans from the 2016-17 financial year up to the 2019-20 financial year. Overseas migration is the movement of people from overseas to Australia's sub-state areas and vice-versa. It cannot be directly measured and is estimated by breaking down overseas migrant arrivals and departures at the state level to sub-state areas, using information from the most recent Census. The state-level overseas migration data is sourced from Department of Home Affairs processing systems, visa information, and incoming passenger cards, and is published in National, state and territory population. Internal migration is the movement of people across a specified boundary within Australia involving a change in place of usual residence. It cannot be directly measured and is instead estimated using administrative data. The movement of people between and within Australia's states and territories cannot be directly measured and is estimated using administrative data. Internal migration is estimated based on a combination of Census data (usual address one year ago), Medicare change of address data (provided by Services Australia), and Department of Defence records (for military personnel only). The Medicare source data is assigned to a state or territory and GCCSA for a person's departure and arrival locations, based on the postcodes of their residential addresses as registered with Medicare. Postcodes are assigned wholly to a state/territory and GCCSA based on best fit. Where a postcode is split across areas, it is assigned to the area that contains the majority of that postcode's population. For more information please visit the Regional population methodology. AURIN has spatially enabled the original data.

This dataset presents the estimates of the internal and overseas migration statistics of Australia by age by Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4) following the 2016 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The dataset spans from the 2016-17 financial year up to the 2019-20 financial year. Overseas migration is the movement of people from overseas to Australia's sub-state areas and vice-versa. It cannot be directly measured and is estimated by breaking down overseas migrant arrivals and departures at the state level to sub-state areas, using information from the most recent Census. The state-level overseas migration data is sourced from Department of Home Affairs processing systems, visa information, and incoming passenger cards, and is published in National, state and territory population. Internal migration is the movement of people across a specified boundary within Australia involving a change in place of usual residence. It cannot be directly measured and is instead estimated using administrative data. The movement of people between and within Australia's states and territories cannot be directly measured and is estimated using administrative data. Internal migration is estimated based on a combination of Census data (usual address one year ago), Medicare change of address data (provided by Services Australia), and Department of Defence records (for military personnel only). The Medicare source data is assigned to a state or territory and GCCSA for a person's departure and arrival locations, based on the postcodes of their residential addresses as registered with Medicare. Postcodes are assigned wholly to a state/territory and GCCSA based on best fit. Where a postcode is split across areas, it is assigned to the area that contains the majority of that postcode's population. For more information please visit the Regional population methodology. AURIN has spatially enabled the original data.

Abstract

This dataset, a product of the Trade Team - Development Research Group, is part of a larger effort in the group to measure the extent of the brain drain as part of the International Migration and Development Program. It measures international skilled migration for the years 1975-2000.

The methodology is explained in: "Tendance de long terme des migrations internationals. Analyse à partir des 6 principaux pays recerveurs", Cécily Defoort.

This data set uses the same methodology as used in the Docquier-Marfouk data set on international migration by educational attainment. The authors use data from 6 key receiving countries in the OECD: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK and the US.

It is estimated that the data represent approximately 77 percent of the world’s migrant population.

Bilateral brain drain rates are estimated based observations for every five years, during the period 1975-2000.

Geographic coverage

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, UK and US

Kind of data

Aggregate data [agg]

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: South Australia data was reported at 4,907.000 Person in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,406.000 Person for Jun 2024. Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: South Australia data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,536.500 Person from Jun 1981 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 174 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,708.000 Person in Mar 2023 and a record low of -1,287.000 Person in Dec 2020. Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: South Australia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G003: Population Change.

Population Change: Net Interstate Migration: South Australia data was reported at -324.000 Person in Sep 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of -297.000 Person for Jun 2024. Population Change: Net Interstate Migration: South Australia data is updated quarterly, averaging -710.000 Person from Jun 1981 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 174 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,755.000 Person in Mar 2021 and a record low of -2,305.000 Person in Dec 2016. Population Change: Net Interstate Migration: South Australia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G003: Population Change.

Australia Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Tasmania data was reported at 695.000 Person in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 435.000 Person for Jun 2024. Australia Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Tasmania data is updated quarterly, averaging 216.500 Person from Jun 1981 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 174 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,773.000 Person in Dec 2019 and a record low of -283.000 Person in Sep 2020. Australia Population Change: Net Overseas Migration: Tasmania data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G003: Population Change.

AU: International Migrant Stock: Total data was reported at 6,763,663.000 Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,882,980.000 Person for 2010. AU: International Migrant Stock: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 3,549,346.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,763,663.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 1,698,085.000 Person in 1960. AU: International Migrant Stock: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.;United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2012 Revision.;Sum;

This dataset presents the estimates of the internal migration statistics of Australia by Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) following the 2011 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The dataset spans from the 2006-07 financial year up to the 2015-16 financial year. Regional internal migration is the movement of people from one region to another within Australia (both interstate and intrastate). For example, it incorporates moves from a Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) to any other SA2 within the country. Net regional internal migration is the net gain or loss of population through this movement. The ABS has developed a new series of annual regional internal migration estimates (RIME) based on the 2011 edition of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The Medicare and Defence data used for estimating interstate migration is now also used to estimate internal migration below the state/territory level. However, as Medicare and Defence change of address counts are supplied to the ABS by postcode a method was developed to convert these counts to SA2, the base spatial unit of the ASGS. The method used correspondences to convert to SA2, and adjustments were applied to account for known deficiencies in the Medicare and Defence data. A similar method was used to prepare RIME at the LGA level, based on 2011 boundaries. This data is Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data (catalogue number: 3412.0) used with permission from the ABS. For more information please visit the ABS Explanatory Notes. Please note: RIME are not directly comparable with estimated resident populations (ERPs) because of the different methods and source data used to prepare each series. The combination of natural increase and net migration (internal and overseas) therefore may not correspond with change in ERP. AURIN has spatially enabled the original data.