New Zealand

1950

2025

2100

1950

2025

2100

Net immigration of 17,403 people per year—more people arriving than leaving.

Since 1950, New Zealand has gained a cumulative 1.0 million people through migration.

By 2100, projections show continued net immigration.

Net migrants

+17,403

Net migration rate

+3.3 per 1,000 people

Key terms

Net migration: — Immigrants minus emigrants. Positive = more people arriving, negative = more leaving.
Net migration rate: — Net migration per 1,000 population per year.
Immigration: — People entering the country from abroad.
Emigration: — People leaving the country to live abroad.

Migration flows

Net migration from 1950 to 2100 (projections after 2024)

Net migrants

+1,919,806

Cumulative over selected range

Peak immigration

75,512

Top year: 2016

Peak emigration

-28,783

Lowest year: 1978

Recent avg (10 yrs)

+11383

Per year

New Zealand receives approximately 17,403 net migrants per year (3.3 per 1,000 population). Peak immigration was 75,512 in 2016.

Migration flows in New Zealand are relatively modest.

Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024. Historical estimates (1950–2024) and medium-variant projections (2025–2100).