Migration, Australia

Australia's estimated resident population (ERP) by country of birth is measured at 30 June each year. This data is available at the national level annually.

For state and territory, see the following chapter — State and Territory Populations by Country of Birth. It is only available for Census years.

In 2019, there were over 7.5 million migrants living in Australia. This was 29.7% of the population that were born overseas. One year earlier, in 2018, there were 7.3 million people born overseas.

Every single country from around the world was represented in Australia's population in 2019. People born in:

• England (986,000) continues to be the largest group of overseas-born living in Australia. However, this has dropped from just over a million recorded between 2012 and 2016
• China (677,000) remained in second place from 2017 with strong growth since 2002
• India (660,000) with strong growth remained in third place with an extra 68,000 people
• Sri Lanka (140,000) continued to increase and is now in tenth place, dropping Scotland (134,000) to eleventh place
• Australian born (17.8 million) increased 186,000 during the year.
   

Historically, more people immigrate to, than emigrate from, Australia thereby adding to the growth of the national population. The various waves of migrants from numerous countries over time, have had an important effect on the diversity of Australia's population.

High levels of immigration in the years before 1891 resulted in 32% of the population enumerated as overseas-born in the first country-wide census in 1891. In 2019 the proportion of Australia's population born overseas was 30%.

In 2019, those born in England (986,000 people) continued to be the largest group of overseas-born residents, accounting for 3.9% of Australia's total population. This year, the growing overseas-born residents from Sri Lanka has moved into 10th position, replacing Scotland.

There are differences in the age structure of people born in Australia and those born overseas. As seen below, those born in Australia dominate the younger age groups, while the overseas-born increase from the 20-24 year age group which in part, is due to international students studying in Australia. The main reason there are less overseas-born in the very young age groups is that most people are far less likely to migrate with young families.

In 2019 the highest proportions of the population for those born:

• overseas, were aged 30-34 years (2.9%), with 1.4% being males and 1.5% females.
• in Australia, were aged 0-4 years (5.9%), with 3.1% being males and 2.9% females.
   

For comparison, in 2009 the highest proportions of the population for those born:

• overseas, were aged 45-49 years (2.3%), with 1.2% each being males and females.
• in Australia, were aged 0-4 years (6.3%), similar to 2019.
   

The median age is useful to assess the changing age structure of a given population over time. It is the age at which half the population is older and half is younger.

The median age of the overseas-born population has gradually decreased from a decade ago to now be 43 years of age in 2019. On the other hand, the median age of the Australian born population has gradually increased over time to now be 34 years of age. The decrease in the median age of the overseas-born population is having a positive effect on the age structure of Australia by slowing the ageing of the total population.

Migrants from countries who were part of the post-second world war migration streams were now generally older, for example the Italian born population have a median age of 72 years. Whereas, those from more recent groups of migrant arrivals are younger, for example the Chinese and Indian born both have a median age of 34 years. This is the same as those born in Australia.

When analysing those countries of birth in 2019 within Australia (those with a population of 100 or more), the group with the:

• oldest median age was from Latvia at 77 years of age
• youngest median age was from the Cayman Islands at 13 years of age
• highest sex ratio was from Benin (with 195 males per 100 females)
• lowest sex ratio was from Turkmenistan (with 41 males per 100 females)

Australia's estimated resident population (ERP) by country of birth is measured at 30 June. At the state and territory level, data is only available for Census years, with the latest being 2016.

In 2016, the proportion of Australians born overseas was just under 29%. However, this varies across the nation.

At the state and territory level, the proportion of the population born overseas was as follows:

• Western Australia had the highest proportion at 35%
• Tasmania had the lowest at 13%
• New South Wales at 30%
• Victoria at 31%
• Queensland at 24%
• South Australia at 24%
• The Northern Territory at 23%
• The Australian Capital Territory at 28%.
   

The proportion of the population born overseas increased for all states or territories since 2011:

• The Northern Territory had the largest increase, up from 18.9% to 22.6%.
• Tasmania had the smallest, up from 12.5% to 13.1%.
   

In 2016, those born in England (just over 1 million people) continued to be the largest group of overseas-born residents in Australia. The New Zealand born (568,000 people) were in second place while the Chinese born (558,000) were in third place. At the state and territory level, the ranking of countries varies to the national level and that of the other states and territories.

The largest group of overseas-born residents for each state and territory in 2016 was as follows:

• New South Wales — China (256,000 people)
• Victoria — England (193,000)
• Queensland — New Zealand (220,000)
• South Australia — England (104,000)
• Western Australia — England (214,000)
• Tasmania — England (20,000)
• Northern Territory — Philippines (7,000)
• Australian Capital Territory — England (13,000).
   

Net overseas migration is the net gain or loss of population through immigration (overseas migrant arrivals) to Australia and emigration (overseas migrant departures) from Australia. The data presented here are annual, for years ending 30 June. For quarterly migration estimates see Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

Overseas migration to and from Australia in 2019, resulted in a net increase to Australia's population of 239,600 people:

• There were 537,800 overseas migrant arrivals, a slight increase reversing the decline seen in 2018
• There were 298,200 overseas migrant departures which is the highest number on record
• Temporary visa holders were the majority of overseas migrant arrivals (64.3%) and overseas migrant departures (52.8%).
   

While exhibiting a pattern of variability over time, net overseas migration has remained above 180,000 people since 2006. After a 9.5% decrease in 2017-18 migrant numbers remained relatively steady in 2018-19.

In the year ending 30 June 2019 there was:

• a net gain from overseas migration of 239,600 people. This is a slight increase of 0.6% from 2017-18 (1,400 people)
• 537,800 overseas migrant arrivals, which was 10,300 more than during 2018
• 298,200 overseas migrant departures, which was 8,900 more than during 2018.
   

The three largest states, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, continued to account for the largest contributions to net overseas migration nationally in the year ending 30 June 2019.

The net overseas migration estimates, and change from one year earlier for each state and territory were:

• New South Wales 86,200 people (with a decrease of -4,500)
• Victoria 84,500 (decrease of -2,500)
• Queensland 32,400 (increase of 4,600)
• South Australia 14,100 (increase of 1,300)
• Western Australia 15,700 (increase of 3,700)
• Tasmania 3,000 (increase of 200)
• Northern Territory 700 (decrease of -40)
• Australian Capital Territory 3,100 (decrease of -1,500).
   

When comparing overseas migrant arrivals and overseas migrant departures in 2018-19 to 2018-17:

• Queensland and Victoria recorded the largest increases in migrant arrivals of 4,600 and 3,900 people respectively
• The ACT and NSW recorded decreases in migrant arrivals of -1,100 and -800 people respectively
• Victoria and New South Wales recorded the largest increases in migrant departures of 6,400 and 3,700 people respectively
• Western Australia recorded the largest decrease in migrant departures of -2,100 people.
   

Temporary visa holders were the majority of overseas migrant arrivals (64.3%) and overseas migrant departures (52.8%) in the year ending 30 June 2019.

• There were 346,000 migrant arrivals on temporary visas including nearly 173,000 international students (32.2% of all migrant arrivals)
• Arrivals on temporary work skilled visas increased from a year ago by 18.1% to 31,800 people
• Migrant departures on temporary visas increased by 9.7% to 157,000 people.
   

For permanent visa holders in 2019, overseas migrant arrivals declined while migrant departures increased from one year earlier.

• 15.4% of all migrant arrivals were permanent visa holders
• Permanent visa holders arriving decreased from a year ago to 82,600 people (down 6.0%)
• Permanent visa holders departing decreased from a year ago to 21,100 people (down 2.1%)
• 7.1% of all migrant departures were permanent visa holders.
   

For Australian and New Zealand citizens (who do not require a visa for migration to Australia), in the year ending 30 June 2019:

• 30,200 New Zealand citizens moved to Australia to live, however in the same year, 22,200 left Australia to live overseas
• 74,900 Australian citizens returned to Australia after living overseas but in the same year 86,700 decided to move overseas to live.
   

In the year ending 30 June 2019, people aged 20 to 24 years made up the largest proportion of overseas migrant arrivals, while those aged 25 to 29 made up the largest proportion of overseas migrant departures. The proportion of overseas-born migrants is much higher than Australian-born migrants for both arrivals and departures for almost all age groups. This is mainly due to the ebb and flow of temporary migration into and out of the country. The exception to this is migrant departures for the 0 to 4 year old age group, where almost four fifths were Australian born.

• The 20 to 24 age group had the largest proportion of arrivals at 22.7%. Of this age group 95.8% were born overseas
• The 25 to 29 age group had the largest proportion of departures at 24.4%. Of this age group 84.3% were born overseas.
   

The regions of the world where Australia's incoming migrants are born can change considerably over time. The five years to 30 June 2019 has seen such changes, with a continued shift away from Europe and Oceania towards the regions of Asia. Migrant arrivals from South and Central Asia and North-East Asia are now higher than Oceania, with South & Central Asia clearly the highest region for immigration in 2019.

Regional overseas migration is the movement of people to or from Australia's regions through immigration or emigration.

This commentary analyses regional overseas migration estimates for 2018-19 as released in Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2018-19 (cat. no. 3218.0). Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to region refers to Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).

All capital cities recorded net gains from overseas migration.

• Melbourne had the largest net gain (77,400), followed by Sydney (73,900) and Brisbane (18,800). 
• Darwin had the smallest net gain with 540 people, followed by Hobart (1,700) and the Australian Capital Territory (3,100).
   

Sydney and Melbourne contained the ten regions with the highest net gains through regional overseas migration in 2018-19.

• Melbourne - Inner had the largest net gain of all (18,000), followed by Melbourne - South East (15,100). 
• In Sydney, the SA4s with the largest net gain were Sydney - Inner South West (12,000) and Sydney - Parramatta (11,800).
   

In contrast, the ten regions with the smallest net gains from overseas migration were almost all outside of the capital cities, mostly covering rural and remote regions of Australia. These included:

• South East in Tasmania (120 people)
• Barossa - Yorke - Mid North in South Australia (170)
• Northern Territory - Outback (180)
   

Net interstate migration (NIM) is the net gain or loss of population through the movement of people from one state or territory of usual residence to another. The data presented here are annual, for years ending 30 June. For quarterly migration estimates see Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0).

During 2018-19, there were 404,000 people who moved interstate, an increase of 2.9% from the number of people who moved interstate during the previous year.

• Queensland had the highest net gain from interstate migration of 22,800 people
• New South Wales had the highest net loss from interstate migration of 22,100 people.
   

In the year ended 30 June 2019, there was a net gain from interstate migration which contributed to population growth for:

• Queensland (22,800 people)
• Victoria (12,200)
• Tasmania (2,000)
   

There was a net loss from interstate migration which contributed to population loss for:

• New South Wales (-22,100 people)
• Western Australia (-6,500)
• South Australia (-4,000)
• Northern Territory (-4,400).
• Australian Capital Territory (-190).
   

In some states and territories consistent long-term patterns of net gains or net losses from interstate migration have been established whereas other, mainly smaller states, experienced fluctuating results through the years.

Over the 10 years to June 2019, interstate migration contributed to population growth with average annual gains for:

• Queensland, consecutive net gains, had the highest average at 12,400 people
• Victoria, consecutive net gains, averaging 9,900 people
• Australian Capital Territory average gain of 420 people
• Tasmania average gain of 380 people.
   

Interstate migration contributed to population loss with average annual losses for:

• New South Wales, consecutive net losses, had the highest average at -14,000 people, however 2019 was the highest loss in the last 10 years
• South Australia, consecutive net losses, averaging -4,500 people
• Western Australia average loss of -2,400 people, recording six consecutive years of decline
• Northern Territory average loss of -2,200 people, however the loss for 2019 was the highest in the last 10 years.
   

Regional internal migration is the movement of people from one region to another within Australia (both interstate and intrastate).

This commentary analyses regional internal migration estimates for 2018-19 as released in Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2018-19 (cat. no. 3218.0). Any reference to capital city refers to Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA), and any reference to region refers to Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).

Brisbane had the highest net internal migration gain of all capital cities (15,900 people) with most arrivals coming from:  

• Rest of Queensland (48,200)
• Sydney (12,000) 
• Rest of New South Wales (10,700)
   

Melbourne (2,300) and Hobart (990) had the next highest net internal migration gains. 

Sydney had the highest net loss of all capitals (-25,600 people). Most people departed Sydney for: 

• Rest of New South Wales (46,400)
• Melbourne (15,300)
• Rest of Queensland (13,400)
   

Queensland's Sunshine Coast had the highest net migration gain of all regions (6,400 people) with most net gains to the Sunshine Coast coming from the adjoining regions of:

• Wide Bay (2,100 people)
• Moreton Bay - North (1,600)
   

Other regions with relatively high net gains included Melbourne - West (5,800), which encompasses some of Melbourne's largest growing suburbs such as Tarneit, Truganina and Rockbank – Mount Cottrell, and Queensland's Gold Coast (5,600 people).

Sydney - Inner South West had the highest net migration loss of all regions (-9,600 people). In net terms this region lost most people to the neighbouring Sydney regions of:

• South West (-4,600 people)
• Parramatta (-3,900) 
• Outer South West (-3,000)
   

Other regions with relatively high net migration losses included Sydney - Parramatta (-6,700), Sydney - Eastern Suburbs (-5,700 people) and Darwin (-3,200).

This release covers data up to 30 June 2019, as such this data precedes COVID-19.

In this release, statistics for the year to 30 June 2019 are preliminary and for the year to 30 June 2018 have had standard revisions. The estimated resident population and the components of population change (natural increase, net interstate migration (NIM) and net overseas migration (NOM)), are referred to as either preliminary, revised or final. For further information see paragraph 9 of the methodology.

In this release, estimates and their components have sometimes been rounded. Rounded figures and un-rounded figures should not be assumed to be accurate to the last digit shown. Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of component items and totals. Analysis featured in this release is based on un-rounded data. Calculations based on rounded data may differ to those published.

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.

Help for: ABS.Stat datasets

Estimated resident population, country of birth, age and sex - as at 30 June 1996 to 2019 
Estimated resident population, country of birth, state/territory, age and sex - as at 30 June 1996 to 2016, Census years 
Net overseas migration, arrivals, departures and net, state/territory, age and sex - calendar years, 2004 onwards 
Net overseas migration, arrivals, departures and net, state/territory, age and sex - financial years, 2004-05 onwards
Interstate migration, arrivals, departures and net, state/territory, age and sex - calendar years, 1997 onwards 
Interstate migration, arrivals, departures and net, state/territory, age and sex - financial years, 1996-97 onwards 
Net overseas migration, arrivals, departures and net, state/territory, major groupings and visas - calendar years, 2004 onwards 
Net overseas migration, arrivals, departures and net, state/territory, major groupings and visas - financial years, 2004-05 onwards 

This release previously used catalogue number 3412.0.