Omari Gates
Australia has historically experienced a net gain in migration, with more people immigrating to the country than emigrating each year. This trend was temporarily reversed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to border closures and other restrictions, resulting in a net loss in 2020-2021. However, the reopening of borders in February 2022 led to a period of record net overseas migration. The latest data from 2023-2024 shows a net gain of 445,640 people, with all states and territories recording population growth. Australia's immigration trends have been influenced by various factors, including historical events, economic conditions, and government policies, with the country welcoming people from diverse backgrounds and contributing to its cultural diversity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people emigrating to Australia each year | 190,000 permanent migrants, 13,750 humanitarian migrants, and 66,000 temporary migrants. |
| Net migration in 2023-24 | 445,640 |
| Net migration in 2020 | 117,929 |
| Net migration in 2019 | 235,858 |
| Number of people on bridging visas in September 2022 | 369,000 |
| Number of people emigrating to Australia between 1788 and the mid-20th century | More than 7 million |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's population gains from migration
Australia's population has historically gained from migration, with more people migrating to the country than leaving each year. This trend was temporarily reversed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to border closures, with a net loss in population in 2020-21. However, the reopening of borders in February 2022 led to a period of record net overseas migration.
In the 2023-24 financial year, overseas migration contributed a net gain of 445,640 people to Australia's population. This included gains in each state and territory, with Victoria recording the highest gain of 132,860 people. The top countries of birth contributing to the net gain varied across states and territories, with India being the top country for Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory.
Australia has a long history of immigration, dating back to the arrival of Indigenous Australians over 50,000 years ago. European colonisation began in 1788 with the establishment of a British penal colony, and the country maintained a White Australia policy until 1973. Since 1945, more than 7 million people have settled in Australia, with significant waves of immigration occurring after World War II and during the Gold Rush era in the mid-19th century.
In recent years, Australia has experienced a surge in net migration, with former immigration officials predicting a net migration of over 300,000 people in 2023. This surge has been attributed to various factors, including the strong labour market, changes in visa policies during the pandemic, and a backlog of visa applications. The impact of high migration on Australia's housing market and infrastructure has also been a topic of discussion and critique.
Overall, migration has significantly contributed to Australia's population growth, with 62% of the growth in the ten years leading up to 2018 attributed to immigration. Australia's population policies and immigration trends continue to shape the country's demographic landscape.
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The impact of COVID-19 on migration
Australia has historically experienced a net gain in migration, with more people migrating to the country than leaving each year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted migration trends and patterns in Australia. The pandemic caused a decline in population growth, with overseas migration expected to remain negative until mid-2022.
The Australian government imposed travel restrictions in March 2020, which were gradually lifted from November 2021, resulting in a period of record net overseas migration as people caught up on their travel plans. Despite the reopening of borders, the financial year 2023-24 witnessed the first annual decrease in net overseas migration since the restrictions were lifted. This decrease was driven by a decline in migrant arrivals, particularly temporary visa holders, while departures increased.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a notable impact on refugee resettlement in Australia. From March 2020, the resettlement process slowed or came to a complete halt due to international border restrictions. This led to negative consequences for refugees, with evidence of challenges in reuniting with their families and maintaining contact with relatives overseas. The pandemic also exacerbated existing inequalities, as certain groups were deemed eligible or ineligible for admission into the country.
The large non-mining states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (Vic) were particularly affected by the pandemic-induced migration changes. These states had experienced a long period of strong economic performance since 2014 due to factors including lower interest rates and a favourable exchange rate. However, with lower immigration and expensive housing, these states faced new economic pressures during the pandemic. In contrast, states like Western Australia (WA) and Queensland (Qld) that had previously lagged in economic growth were expected to outperform NSW and Vic due to the mining industry's recovery.
Overall, the impact of COVID-19 on migration in Australia was complex and far-reaching. It led to a decline in population growth, disrupted refugee resettlement, and altered migration patterns across states. These changes had economic implications, particularly for housing demand and state GDP growth. As Australia moves forward, managing population growth and supporting the development of smaller cities and regions will be crucial in adapting to the changing migration landscape.
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Temporary visas and their effect on net migration
Australia has historically experienced a net gain in migration, with more people migrating to the country than leaving each year. This trend was temporarily reversed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 due to border closures, resulting in a net migration loss. However, the reopening of borders on February 21, 2022, led to a period of record net migration as people sought to catch up on travel plans.
The impact of temporary visas on net migration in Australia has been significant. Temporary visas include visitor visas, working holiday visas, and electronic travel authority visas (ETA). The number of temporary visas granted has fluctuated over the years, influenced by various factors such as government policies and economic conditions.
During the Howard Government (1996-2007), Australia witnessed a notable increase in both permanent and temporary migration. The main permanent and temporary work visa categories surged from 162,000 in 1995-96 to over 439,000 in 2007-08. This trend was criticised by some as promoting "Big Australia," leading to a shift in sentiment towards high immigration.
In recent years, there has been a decrease in net overseas migration due to a combination of factors, including a decline in migrant arrivals, particularly among temporary visa holders. This decrease in arrivals, coupled with an increase in departures, has resulted in an overall drop in net migration.
The impact of temporary visas on net migration is complex and multifaceted. While temporary visas contribute to the overall migration intake, the dynamic nature of visa applications, approvals, and usage makes it challenging to predict their precise effect on net migration in the long term. Additionally, factors such as global events, economic conditions, and government policies can influence migration patterns and the demand for temporary visas.
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Australia's immigration policies
Australia has historically experienced a net gain in its population due to immigration, with more people migrating to the country each year than those emigrating. In 2023-24, overseas migration contributed a net gain of 445,640 people to the Australian population. This marked a recovery from the 2020-21 period, during which border closures and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a net loss in population across all states and territories.
Since then, Australia has experienced a large and continuous wave of immigration from across the globe, with Asia being the largest source of immigrants in the 21st century. The country's immigration program in the 1980s and 1990s was built on two main pillars: a planned annual intake of permanent settlers, including skilled, family, and humanitarian migrants; and a sophisticated points system to select skilled immigrants with desirable labour market attributes.
Over time, the immigration landscape in Australia has shifted towards a two-step process, wherein an increasing proportion of immigrants first enter the country as temporary immigrants and then seek to transition to permanent status. This has resulted in a substantial pool of temporary visa holders with work entitlements, impacting the labour market dynamics and pathways to permanent settlement.
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The countries contributing to Australia's population gains
Australia has historically experienced net population gains from overseas migration, with more people migrating to the country than leaving each year. In 2023-24, overseas migration contributed a net gain of 445,640 people to Australia's population, with every state and territory recording a net gain. This marked a recovery from the pandemic years of 2020-21, when border closures and other COVID-19 impacts led to a net loss in population from overseas migration.
Several countries contribute to Australia's population gains through migration. In recent years, the top countries of birth contributing to the largest net population gains in Australia have been India, which was the top contributor for the states of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory, and Bhutan, which was the top contributor for Western Australia.
Historically, between the late 18th century and the mid-20th century, the vast majority of settlers and immigrants to Australia came from Britain and Ireland, particularly England, Ireland, and Scotland. During the 19th century, there was also significant immigration from China and Germany. After World War II, Australia's immigration policies gradually shifted away from the "White Australia" policy, which had restricted the entrance of people of non-European ethnic origins, and by the 1970s, multiculturalism had largely displaced cultural selectivity in immigration policy.
In recent years, Australia has continued to be a top destination for immigrants from various countries. A 2014 study concluded that Australia and Canada are the most receptive to immigration among Western nations, and in 2023, BCG ranked Australia as the top country destination for individuals seeking to work and live a high-quality life. Australia's immigration programs have facilitated population gains, with the largest components being skilled migration and family reunion programs.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of people emigrating to Australia varies each year. In 2023-24, net overseas migration contributed a gain of 445,640 people to the Australian population.
Border closures and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in emigration to Australia in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, net migration was 117,929, a 50% decline from 2019. Emigration rebounded in 2022, with a net migration of over 1 million people.
The Australian government has historically implemented policies that have impacted emigration to the country. After World War II, the government launched a massive immigration program, and over 1,000,000 British subjects immigrated under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme. During the 2008 financial crisis, the government reduced its immigration target by 14%. More recently, the government extended visas for people whose visas were expiring during the pandemic, leading to a temporary surge in net migration.
Historically, the majority of emigrants to Australia came from Britain and Ireland, particularly England, Ireland, and Scotland. There has also been significant emigration from China, Germany, and other European countries. In recent years, India has been the top country of birth contributing to population growth in multiple Australian states and territories.
