High numbers of NZ citizens are continuing to leave the country, reducing net migration gain to a trickle

Population growth from migration remains weak, with a net gain of just 938 people in November, according to Statistics NZ.

Net migration appears to be settling at just under 1000 people a month, with a net gain of 10,681 in the 12 months to November last year.

That was down 63% from a net gain of 28,975 in the 12 months to November 2024.

To put that into a longer term perspective, over the 12 months to November between 2015 to 2019,  before pandemic-affected figures, the annual net migration gain ranged from 49,237 to 67,725 a year.

The number of New Zealand citizens leaving the country long-term continues to be a major driver of the low levels of migration-driven population growth.

In November 2025, 4878 NZ citizens left long-term, almost unchanged from the 4889 who left in November 2024.

That was partially balanced by the 1981 NZ citizens who arrived back last November after an extended stay overseas, giving a net loss of 2898 NZ citizens for the month.

In the 12 months to November last year, there was a net loss of 40,760 NZ citizens.

That was offset by a net gain of 51,441 non-NZ citizens in the 12 months to November, which gave the overall net gain of 10,681 for the year.

The biggest source countries for migrant arrivals (by citizenship) were returning NZ citizens 27,042, India 17,278, China 14,926, Philippines 10,491, Sri Lanka 5722, Australia 4675, UK 4528 and USA 3829.

Over the year to November lats year, 31,834 people arrived in NZ on work visas and 26,048 on student visas.