Population growth from migration declined by almost three quarters in year to March as fewer migrants arrived and more people left NZ long-term

Population growth from migration recorded a big fall in the March year, according to Statistics NZ estimates.

Statistics NZ says migration produced a net population gain of 26,351 in the 12 months to March this year. That's down 74,024, or 74%, from a net gain of 100,375 in the 12 months to March 2024. It's also well shy of the 74,466 gain in the 12 months to March 2023.

The sharp drop in net migration was caused by fewer people arriving in New Zealand long-term, and an increase in the numbers leaving long-term.

An estimated 149,607 people arrived on a long-term basis in the 12 months to March this year. That's down from 207,064 in the year to March 2024, and 172,050 in the year to March 2023.

Heading in the opposite direction, 123,256 people departed these shores long-term in the 12 months to March this year, which was an all time high. This was up from 106,689 in the year to March 2024 and 97,584 in the March 2023 year.

The number of long-term departures has increased in every March year since 2017, apart form 2021 when pandemic travel restrictions were in place.

There was net loss of 44,857 New Zealand citizens in the year to March 2025, and a net gain 71,208 non-NZ citizens.

The estimated net loss of 44,857 NZ citizens was caused by 70,016 people departing long-term, while 25,159 arrived back long-term after an extended stay overseas.

The biggest source countries for non-NZ citizen migrant arrivals in the March year were India 23,571, China 18,979, The Philippines 12,331, Sri Lanka 6023, UK 5037, Australia 4510, USA 3589 and South Africa 3463.

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