New Zealand has seen a big fall in its net migration numbers, dropping below 30,000 in the year to March 2025. According to Stats NZ, the country recorded a net gain of only 26,400 people, compared to 100,400 in the same period last year.
The drop was mainly because fewer migrants arrived in the country, even though more people also left New Zealand. Stats NZ spokesperson Sarah Drake explained that migrant arrivals fell, and departures rose to record levels.
During the 12 months, there were 149,600 migrant arrivals and 123,300 departures. This is a major decrease from the 207,100 arrivals and 106,700 departures recorded in the year to March 2024.
The biggest change was seen in the number of non-New Zealand citizens. Their net migration gain dropped to 71,200, down from 145,600 the year before. However, this number is still higher than the pre-COVID average of around 60,000.
The number of non-citizen arrivals went down to 124,400 from 185,000, while their departures rose to 53,200 from 39,300. The drop was most noticeable among Indian and Filipino nationals, even though both groups still showed more arrivals than departures.
Meanwhile, New Zealand citizens continued to leave the country in large numbers. The net loss of citizens was 44,900, about the same as last year. Of the 70,000 citizens who left, almost 60 percent moved to Australia, Stats NZ said.
Why did New Zealand’s net migration drop in 2025?
The drop in net migration was mainly due to fewer migrant arrivals and more people leaving the country, especially among Indian and Filipino nationals.
This new data shows how economic conditions and immigration policies—both within New Zealand and internationally—continue to affect migration trends. It also highlights the ongoing trend of New Zealanders moving to Australia in search of new opportunities.