Updated
18 January 2017
PDF version [373KB]
Janet Phillips, Social
Policy Section
Joanne
Simon-Davies, Statistics and Mapping Section
Overview
Australia is considered to be one of the world’s major ‘immigration
nations‘(together with New Zealand, Canada and the USA). Since 1945, when
the first federal immigration portfolio was created, over 7.5 million people
have settled
here and Australia’s overseas-born resident population—estimated to be 28.2
per cent of the population in June 2015—is considered high compared to most
other OECD
countries.
Permanent migrants enter Australia via one of two distinct
programs—the Migration
Program for skilled and family migrants or the Humanitarian Program for refugees
and those in refugee-like situations. Each year, the Australian
Government allocates places, or quotas, for people wanting to migrate
permanently to Australia under these two programs.
Until recently, the United Kingdom (UK)
had always been the primary source
country for permanent migration to Australia. However, for the first time
in the history of Australia, China surpassed the UK as Australia’s primary
source of permanent migrants in 2010–11.
Since then, China and India have continued to provide the highest number of
permanent migrants. New
Zealand (NZ) citizens also feature highly in the number of settler
arrivals, but they are not counted under Australia’s Migration Program unless
they apply for (and are granted) a permanent visa.
Over the decades, migration program planning numbers have
fluctuated according to the priorities and economic and political considerations
of the government of the day. However, it is important to note that the
Australian Government’s immigration policy focus has changed markedly since
1945, when attracting general migrants (primarily from the UK) was the
priority, to focussing on attracting economic migrants and temporary (predominantly
skilled) migrants. Currently the planning
figure for the Migration Program is 190,000 places (it has remained at this
record high level since 2012–13), with skilled migrants comprising the
majority.
One of the most significant developments in the dynamics
of migration to Australia since the late 1990s has been the growth in
temporary migration. The net migration gain from long-term temporary movement exceeded
that from permanent movement in 1999–00 and there were record numbers of
temporary entrants in 2000–01.
Many of these entrants arrived on either student
or Temporary
Work (Skilled) (subclass 457) visas. Unlike the permanent Migration
Program, the level of temporary migration to Australia is not determined or
subject to quotas or caps by Government, but is demand driven.
The 457 visa also provides a pathway for skilled workers and
their dependants to apply for permanent residence and many students are also
eligible to apply for permanent visas under the Migration Program at the
completion of their courses. The largest contribution to net
overseas migration (NOM) in recent years has been from people on temporary
visas—mostly comprised of overseas students and temporary skilled migrants and
the rate of Australia’s population growth has increased significantly over the
few years largely driven by an increase in NOM.
Migration statistics
Annual statistics on Migration and Humanitarian Program ‘outcomes’
(visa grants) provided by the Immigration Department since the 1980s provide
accurate data on the number of people who are planning to migrate to Australia.
However, other immigration-related data collected by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics (ABS) is also used to measure migration flows or settler arrivals. These
statistics are often used interchangeably and/or incorrectly with the result
that data used in the public debate to describe migration flows can often be
inaccurate or misleading. Changes in government policy and data collection
methodology by government agencies have also added to the complexity in
interpreting this data, and make it difficult to compare migration-related
statistics over time. Some of the more commonly used data sets (and their
limitations) include:
- Net overseas migration (NOM) data,
compiled since 1925 by the ABS, is often used to describe and measure
population growth. However, NOM is not a measure of the number of permanent
migrants arriving in any given year as it measures departures and arrivals of
both permanent and (long-term) temporary entrants and the resulting increase or
decrease in the population overall. In addition, the methodology for the
calculation of NOM has changed significantly over the years and should be used
with caution.
- Settler arrival statistics, also
compiled by the ABS, are a better indication of permanent migration flows than
NOM, but include NZ citizens and some other temporary migrants who have
indicated an intention to settle longer term. Other ABS data on overseas
arrivals and departures may also include multiple arrivals and departures of
individuals and not the total number of individuals.
- Migration Program visa grant
outcomes recorded by the Immigration Department, provide the most accurate
statistics on the number of permanent migrants intending to settle in
Australia, however not all migrants granted visas take them up, and accurate data
is only available back to the 1980s. Prior to that, it is necessary to resort
to settler arrival statistics.
This quick guide provides a summary of some of the key statistics
on permanent and temporary migration to Australia. It updates some of the data
in the statistical appendix of a more detailed Parliamentary Library paper on
migration trends since 1901—Migration
to Australia since federation: a guide to the statistics (2010).
Statistics include:
Table 1: Permanent migrants—migration and humanitarian
program visa grants since 1985
Table 2: Temporary migrants—
overseas student and business long stay (subclass 457) visa grants since 1996
Table 3: Net
Overseas Migration (NOM) since 1901
Table 4: Components of
population growth: 1980–2015
Table
1: Permanent migrants: migration and humanitarian program visa grants since 1984–85
| Year |
Migration
Program |
Humanitarian
Program |
| Family |
Child |
Skill |
Special
Eligibility |
Total |
| 1984–85 |
44 200 |
|
10 100 |
200 |
54 500 |
14 207 |
| 1985–86 |
63 400 |
|
16 200 |
400 |
80 000 |
11 700 |
| 1986–87 |
72 600 |
|
28 500 |
600 |
101 700 |
11 291 |
| 1987–88 |
79 500 |
|
42 000 |
600 |
122 100 |
11 392 |
| 1988–89 |
72 700 |
|
51 200 |
800 |
124 700 |
11 309 |
| 1989–90 |
66 600 |
|
52 700 |
900 |
120 200 |
12 415 |
| 1990–91 |
61 300 |
|
49 800 |
1 200 |
112 200 |
11 284 |
| 1991–92 |
55 900 |
|
41 400 |
1 700 |
98 900 |
12 009 |
| 1992–93 |
43 500 |
|
21 300 |
1 400 |
67 900 |
11 845 |
| 1993–94 |
43 200 |
|
18 300 |
1 300 |
62 800 |
14 070 |
| 1994–95 |
44 500 |
|
30 400 |
1 600 |
76 500 |
14 858 |
| 1995–96 |
56 700 |
|
24 100 |
1 700 |
82 500 |
16 252 |
| 1996–97 |
44 580 |
|
27 550 |
1 730 |
73 900 |
11 902 |
| 1997–98 |
31 310 |
|
34 670 |
1 110 |
67 100 |
12 055 |
| 1998–99 |
32 040 |
|
35 000 |
890 |
67 900 |
11 356 |
| 1999–00 |
32 000 |
|
35 330 |
2 850 |
70 200 |
15 860 |
| 2000–01 |
33 470 |
|
44 730 |
2 420 |
80 610 |
13 733 |
| 2001–02 |
38 090 |
|
53 520 |
1 480 |
93 080 |
12 349 |
| 2002–03 |
40 790 |
|
66 050 |
1 230 |
108 070 |
12 525 |
| 2003–04 |
42 230 |
|
71 240 |
890 |
114 360 |
13 823 |
| 2004–05 |
41 740 |
|
77 880 |
450 |
120 060 |
13 178 |
| 2005–06 |
45 290 |
|
97 340 |
310 |
142 930 |
14 144 |
| 2006–07 |
50 080 |
|
97 920 |
200 |
148 200 |
13 017 |
| 2007–08 |
49 870 |
|
108 540 |
220 |
158 630 |
13 014 |
| 2008–09 |
56 366 |
|
114 777 |
175 |
171 318 |
13 507 |
| 2009–10 |
60 254 |
|
107 868 |
501 |
168 623 |
13 770 |
| 2010–11 |
54 543 |
|
113 725 |
417 |
168 685 |
13 778 |
| 2011–12 |
58 604 |
|
125 755 |
639 |
184 998 |
13 745 |
| 2012–13 |
60 185 |
|
128 973 |
842 |
190 000 |
19 998 |
| 2013–14 |
61 112 |
|
128 550 |
338 |
190 000 |
13 759 |
| 2014–15 |
61 085 |
|
127 774 |
238 |
189 097 |
13 756 |
| 2015–16 |
57 400 |
3512* |
128 550 |
308 |
189 770 |
17 555 |
Sources: J
Phillips, M Klapdor and J Simon-Davies, Migration to Australia since Federation: a guide to the
statistics, Background note,
Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 27 August 2010; Department of Immigration and
Border Protection (DIBP), Report on Migration Program reports, 2009–10 to 2014–15;
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), Annual Report 2011–12,
p. 117; DIBP, Australia’s refugee and humanitarian program, fact sheet 60 (which regularly revises
and updates the figures and may differ from previously published figures); and departmental
annual reports and ministerial press releases (various years).
Notes: *Child places are now identified
separately from the Family stream in response to recent reforms to the
inter-country adoption processes. See DIBP, Annual report 2015–16, p.
61.
Table 2: Temporary migrants: overseas student
and business long stay (subclass 457) visa grants since 1996–97
| Year |
Overseas
students |
Temporary business
(long stay) 457 visas |
| 1996–97 |
113 000 |
25 786 |
| 1997–98 |
108 827 |
30 880 |
| 1998–99 |
110 894 |
29 320 |
| 1999–00 |
119 806 |
31 070 |
| 2000–01 |
146 577 |
36 900 |
| 2001–02 |
151 894 |
33 510 |
| 2002–03 |
162 575 |
36 800 |
| 2003–04 |
171 616 |
39 500 |
| 2004–05 |
174 786 |
48 590 |
| 2005–06 |
190 674 |
71 149 |
| 2006–07 |
230 807 |
87 313 |
| 2007–08 |
278 715 |
110 567 |
| 2008–09 |
319 632 |
101 284 |
| 2009–10 |
270 499 |
67 979 |
| 2010–11 |
250 438 |
90 119 |
| 2011–12 |
253 046 |
125 070 |
| 2012–13 |
259 278 |
126 348 |
| 2013–14 |
292 060 |
98 571 |
| 2014–15 |
299 540 |
96 084 |
| 2015–16 |
310 845 |
85 611 |
Sources: J Phillips, M Klapdor and J Simon-Davies, Migration to Australia since Federation: a guide to the
statistics, op. cit.; DIAC, Australia’s migration trends 2011–12, 2013; DIBP, Student and Subclass 457 visa
statistics web pages; and departmental annual reports (various years).
Table
3: Net overseas migration (NOM) since 1901 (calendar year)
| Year |
NOM (a)
(b) |
Year |
NOM (a)
(b) |
Year |
NOM (a)
(b) |
|
Series Break
Information |
| 1901 |
2 959 |
1940 |
10 676 |
1979 |
68 611 |
|
Prior to July 1922 crew members were included
Prior to July 1925 figures are total overseas arrivals and
departures from Australia |
| 1902 |
-4 293 |
1941 |
5 136 |
1980 |
100 940 |
|
| 1903 |
-9 876 |
1942 |
8 536 |
1981 |
123 066 |
|
| 1904 |
-2 983 |
1943 |
1 587 |
1982 |
102 709 |
|
| 1905 |
-2 600 |
1944 |
-1 761 |
1983 |
54 995 |
|
| 1906 |
-5 049 |
1945 |
-3 273 |
1984 |
59 823 |
|
| 1907 |
5 195 |
1946 |
-11 589 |
1985 |
89 319 |
|
| 1908 |
5 437 |
1947 |
12 186 |
1986 |
110 661 |
|
From July 1925 figures are Net Permanent and Long Term
migration |
| 1909 |
21 783 |
1948 |
48 468 |
1987 |
136 093 |
|
| 1910 |
29 912 |
1949 |
149 270 |
1988 |
172 794 |
|
| 1911 |
74 379 |
1950 |
153 685 |
1989 |
129 478 |
|
Break in series from September quarter 1971 to June
quarter 2006 inclusive,
Net Overseas Migration (NOM) was the difference between permanent and
long-term arrivals and permanent and long-term departures. |
| 1912 |
91 892 |
1951 |
110 362 |
1990 |
97 131 |
|
| 1913 |
63 227 |
1952 |
97 454 |
1991 |
81 669 |
|
| 1914 |
-8 226 |
1953 |
42 883 |
1992 |
51 358 |
|
| 1915 |
-84 410 |
1954 |
68 565 |
1993 |
34 822 |
|
| 1916 |
-128 737 |
1955 |
95 317 |
1994 |
55 506 |
|
| 1917 |
-17 822 |
1956 |
102 105 |
1995 |
106 864 |
|
| 1918 |
23 359 |
1957 |
77 622 |
1996 |
97 444 |
|
| 1919 |
166 303 |
1958 |
64 879 |
1997 |
72 402 |
|
| 1920 |
27 606 |
1959 |
83 578 |
1998 |
88 781 |
|
| 1921 |
17 525 |
1960 |
92 776 |
1999 |
104 210 |
|
| 1922 |
40 157 |
1961 |
65 439 |
2000 |
111 441 |
|
For September quarter 2006 onwards estimates for NOM are the difference
between the number of incoming travellers who stay in Australia for 12 months
or more and are added to the population (NOM arrivals) and the number of
outgoing travellers who leave Australia for 12 months or more and are
subtracted from the population (NOM departures) |
| 1923 |
39 714 |
1962 |
64 638 |
2001 |
136 076 |
|
| 1924 |
46 069 |
1963 |
76 844 |
2002 |
110 475 |
|
| 1925 |
39 762 |
1964 |
103 999 |
2003 |
110 104 |
|
| 1926 |
42 282 |
1965 |
111 609 |
2004 |
106 425 |
|
| 1927 |
49 401 |
1966 |
95 931 |
2005 |
137 000 |
|
| 1928 |
28 864 |
1967 |
96 558 |
2006 |
182 100 |
|
| 1929 |
10 087 |
1968 |
123 452 |
2007 |
244 000 |
|
| 1930 |
-9 833 |
1969 |
140 331 |
2008 |
315 700 |
|
| 1931 |
-12 117 |
1970 |
138 382 |
2009 |
246 900 |
|
| 1932 |
-4 608 |
1971 |
103 553 |
2010 |
172 000 |
|
| 1933 |
-1 364 |
1972 |
56 320 |
2011 |
205 700 |
|
| 1934 |
- 388 |
1973 |
67 494 |
2012 |
237 400 |
|
| 1935 |
1 251 |
1974 |
87 248 |
2013p |
206 200 |
|
| 1936 |
1 283 |
1975 |
13 515 |
2014p |
178 000 |
|
| 1937 |
5 075 |
1976 |
33 997 |
2015p |
177 100 |
|
| 1938 |
8 145 |
1977 |
68 030 |
|
|
|
| 1939 |
12 527 |
1978 |
47 394 |
P = preliminary estimates |
|
(a)
Estimates for September quarter 2006 onwards use an improved methodology and
are not comparable with NOM estimates prior to this.
(b) An adjustment for category jumping (later referred to as migration
adjustments) was included for estimates for September quarter 1976 to June
quarter 2006, except for September quarter 1997 to June quarter 2001 when it
was set to zero.
Sources: Data for 1901–1924: DIAC, Immigration: federation to century’s end, DIAC, Canberra, 2001.
Data for 1925–2005: ABS, Australian Historical Population Statistics, cat. no. 3105.0.65.001, 2008.
Data for 2006 onwards: ABS, Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0.
Table
4: Components of population growth: 1980–2015
| As at June |
Natural
Increase |
Net overseas migration |
| Number |
% of total growth |
Number |
% of total growth |
| 1980 |
117 000 |
60.7 |
75 900 |
39.3 |
| 1981 |
121 500 |
50.5 |
119 200 |
49.5 |
| 1982 |
126 100 |
49.6 |
128 100 |
50.4 |
| 1983 |
128 900 |
63.7 |
73 300 |
36.3 |
| 1984 |
129 600 |
72.5 |
49 100 |
27.5 |
| 1985 |
127 600 |
63.4 |
73 800 |
36.6 |
| 1986 |
123 000 |
55.0 |
100 500 |
45.0 |
| 1987 |
126 600 |
50.2 |
125 800 |
49.8 |
| 1988 |
125 800 |
45.7 |
149 400 |
54.3 |
| 1989 |
131 300 |
45.5 |
157 500 |
54.5 |
| 1990 |
132 400 |
51.5 |
124 700 |
48.5 |
| 1991 |
141 600 |
62.1 |
86 500 |
37.9 |
| 1992 |
138 700 |
66.9 |
68 600 |
33.1 |
| 1993 |
139 200 |
82.2 |
30 100 |
17.8 |
| 1994 |
135 300 |
74.4 |
46 600 |
25.6 |
| 1995 |
132 400 |
62.3 |
80 200 |
37.7 |
| 1996 |
124 400 |
54.5 |
104 000 |
45.5 |
| 1997 |
126 900 |
59.3 |
87 200 |
40.7 |
| 1998 |
120 500 |
60.4 |
79 100 |
39.6 |
| 1999 |
122 400 |
55.9 |
96 500 |
44.1 |
| 2000 |
122 100 |
53.2 |
107 200 |
46.8 |
| 2001 |
120 400 |
47.0 |
135 700 |
53.0 |
| 2002 |
119 200 |
51.9 |
110 600 |
48.1 |
| 2003 |
116 900 |
50.1 |
116 500 |
49.9 |
| 2004 |
118 800 |
54.3 |
100 000 |
45.7 |
| 2005 |
126 900 |
50.6 |
123 800 |
49.4 |
| 2006 |
132 000 |
47.4 |
146 700 |
52.6 |
| 2007 |
151 300 |
39.4 |
232 700 |
60.6 |
| 2008 |
154 400 |
35.8 |
277 400 |
64.2 |
| 2009 |
156 400 |
34.3 |
299 900 |
65.7 |
| 2010 |
162 500 |
45.3 |
196 100 |
54.7 |
| 2011 |
155 700 |
46.3 |
180 400 |
53.7 |
| 2012 |
158 900 |
40.9 |
229 400 |
59.1 |
| 2013p |
162 600 |
41.7 |
227 100 |
58.3 |
| 2014p |
157 000 |
45.7 |
186 400 |
54.3 |
| 2015p |
148 900 |
45.7 |
176 500 |
54.3 |
Source: ABS, Australian Demographic Statistics, cat. no. 3101.0.
For copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament.
© Commonwealth of Australia
Creative Commons
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and to the extent that copyright subsists in a third party, this publication, its logo and front page design are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia licence.
In essence, you are free to copy and communicate this work in its current form for all non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the work to the author and abide by the other licence terms. The work cannot be adapted or modified in any way. Content from this publication should be attributed in the following way: Author(s), Title of publication, Series Name and No, Publisher, Date.
To the extent that copyright subsists in third party quotes it remains with the original owner and permission may be required to reuse the material.
Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of the publication are welcome to webmanager@aph.gov.au.
This work has been prepared to support the work of the Australian Parliament using information available at the time of production. The views expressed do not reflect an official position of the Parliamentary Library, nor do they constitute professional legal opinion.
Any concerns or complaints should be directed to the Parliamentary Librarian. Parliamentary Library staff are available to discuss the contents of publications with Senators and Members and their staff. To access this service, clients may contact the author or the Library‘s Central Enquiry Point for referral.