Migration / Australia

Migration in Australia

Official figures from OECD International Migration Database and Australian Bureau of Statistics, year by year. Each chart links to its source and to what it measures. Compare Australia with other countries

DataYear

Net migration

+329,940 people in 2024 (12.1 per 1,000 inhabitants): more arrived than left.

Net overseas migration in the calendar year: arrivals minus departures of people who stay in, or away from, Australia for 12 months or more over a 16-month period, whatever their citizenship.

Show the figures

people
Period	Net migration
2024	329,940
2023	530,620
2022	437,860
2021	9,300
2020	-4,970
2019	247,620
2018	252,220
2017	241,660
2016	243,830
2015	186,730
2014	182,350
2013	208,380
2012	240,250
2011	206,240
2010	172,040
2009	246,900
2008	315,690
2007	244,030
2006	197,490
2005	157,180
2004	138,800

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (NOM_CY). What this measures

Arrivals

593,540 in 2024 (21.8 per 1,000 inhabitants).

Overseas migrant arrivals in the calendar year: people who stay in Australia for 12 months or more over a 16-month period, whatever their citizenship.

Show the figures

people
Period	Arrivals
2024	593,540
2023	739,030
2022	651,350
2021	214,410
2020	235,350
2019	607,870
2018	534,400
2017	531,370
2016	519,650
2015	473,250
2014	458,760
2013	478,680
2012	478,350
2011	449,020
2010	425,120
2009	478,790
2008	535,970
2007	460,580
2006	402,140
2005	362,180
2004	351,010

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (NOM_CY). What this measures

Departures

263,610 in 2024 (9.7 per 1,000 inhabitants).

Overseas migrant departures in the calendar year: people who stay away from Australia for 12 months or more over a 16-month period, whatever their citizenship.

Show the figures

people
Period	Departures
2024	263,610
2023	208,410
2022	213,500
2021	205,100
2020	240,320
2019	360,250
2018	282,180
2017	289,710
2016	275,820
2015	286,520
2014	276,410
2013	270,310
2012	238,110
2011	242,780
2010	253,080
2009	231,890
2008	220,280
2007	216,550
2006	204,650
2005	205,000
2004	212,220

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (NOM_CY). What this measures

Foreign citizens

No figures available for this country.

Foreign-born residents

32.0% of the population in 2025 were born abroad (8,834,310 people).

Estimated resident population at 30 June, by country of birth.

Show the figures

% of the total
Period	Foreign-born residents
2025	32
2024	31.5
2023	30.7
2022	29.5
2021	29.3
2020	29.9
2019	29.8
2018	29.4
2017	29
2016	28.6
2015	28.3
2014	28
2013	27.7
2012	27.3
2011	26.9
2010	26.7
2009	26.4
2008	25.8
2007	25.1
2006	24.6
2005	24.2
2004	23.8
2003	23.6
2002	23.3
2001	23.1
2000	23

Largest countries of birth, 2025
Group	People	Share
United Kingdom	1,155,060	13.1%
India	971,020	11.0%
China	731,540	8.3%
New Zealand	637,680	7.2%
Philippines	412,530	4.7%
Vietnam	326,630	3.7%
South Africa	229,950	2.6%
Nepal	213,580	2.4%
Sri Lanka	184,800	2.1%
Other countries	3,971,520	45.0%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ERP_COB). What this measures

Foreign-born residents by age

In 2025, 75.1% of foreign-born residents were aged 15 to 64 (6,633,670 of 8,834,310).

Estimated resident population at 30 June: all residents minus those born in Australia, by age group.

Show the figures

% aged 15 to 64
Period	Foreign-born residents by age
2025	75.1
2024	75
2023	74.7
2022	73.8
2021	73.7
2020	74
2019	74.4
2018	74.4
2017	74.3
2016	74.2
2015	74.3
2014	74.4
2013	74.6
2012	74.8
2011	75.1
2010	76
2009	76.2
2008	76.1
2007	76
2006	76
2005	76.4
2004	76.7
2003	76.9
2002	77.1
2001	77.2
2000	77.6

Foreign-born residents by age, 2025
Group	People	Share
Under 15	425,370	4.8%
15 to 64	6,633,670	75.1%
65 and over	1,775,270	20.1%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ERP_COB). What this measures

Foreign-born residents by sex

In 2025, 51.1% of foreign-born residents were women (4,515,050 of 8,834,310).

Estimated resident population at 30 June: all residents minus those born in Australia, by sex.

Show the figures

% women
Period	Foreign-born residents by sex
2025	51.1
2024	51.1
2023	51.1
2022	51.2
2021	51.2
2020	51.3
2019	51.1
2018	51.1
2017	51.1
2016	51
2015	50.9
2014	50.7
2013	50.6
2012	50.5
2011	50.5
2010	50.3
2009	50.2
2008	50.3
2007	50.4
2006	50.5
2005	50.4
2004	50.3
2003	50.3
2002	50.2
2001	50.1
2000	50.1

Foreign-born residents by sex, 2025
Group	People	Share
Women	4,515,050	51.1%
Men	4,319,270	48.9%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ERP_COB). What this measures

Employment rate by country of birth

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Unemployment rate by country of birth

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Births to foreign-born mothers

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Births to foreign-citizen mothers

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

First residence permits

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Acquisitions of citizenship

192,472 in 2023 (7.2 per 1,000 inhabitants).

Show the figures

people
Period	Acquisitions of citizenship
2023	192,472
2022	167,232
2021	140,748
2020	204,817
2019	127,674
2018	80,562
2017	137,750
2016	133,126
2015	135,596
2014	162,002
2013	123,438
2012	83,698
2011	95,235
2010	119,383
2009	86,654
2008	119,811
2007	137,493
2006	104,333
2005	94,164
2004	88,470
2003	81,001
2002	86,858
2001	81,191
2000	71,923

Largest former citizenships, 2023
Group	People	Share
India	40,361	21.0%
United Kingdom	17,303	9.0%
Philippines	12,650	6.6%
Pakistan	8,513	4.4%
China	7,563	3.9%
Iraq	7,198	3.7%
Vietnam	7,110	3.7%
Afghanistan	6,042	3.1%
Syria	5,353	2.8%
Other countries	80,379	41.8%

Source: OECD International Migration Database. What this measures

Asylum applicants

32,550 in 2023 (1.2 per 1,000 inhabitants).

Show the figures

people
Period	Asylum applicants
2023	32,550
2022	19,305
2021	14,155
2020	19,220
2019	27,405
2018	28,839
2017	36,245
2016	27,632
2015	12,360
2014	8,988
2013	11,741
2012	15,786
2011	11,505
2010	8,246
2009	6,206
2008	4,771
2007	3,980
2006	3,515
2005	3,204
2004	3,201
2003	4,295
2002	5,863
2001	12,366
2000	13,065

Largest citizenships of applicants, 2023
Group	People	Share
Iran	4,408	13.5%
Vietnam	2,979	9.2%
China	2,422	7.4%
India	2,410	7.4%
Afghanistan	1,988	6.1%
Pakistan	1,418	4.4%
Sri Lanka	1,165	3.6%
Indonesia	1,004	3.1%
Malaysia	989	3.0%
Other countries	13,767	42.3%

Source: OECD International Migration Database. What this measures

Asylum decisions

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Asylum applicants, monthly

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Temporary protection, monthly

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

People found staying irregularly

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Entries refused at the border

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Orders to leave

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.

Returns after an order to leave

Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.