Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia has historically been a popular destination for immigrants, with more people migrating to the country than leaving it each year. In recent years, this trend has resulted in a significant population increase, with the country's population growing by a record 659,000 people in the year ending September 2023. This growth has been driven by a combination of factors, including high immigration quotas set by the Australian government, the country's appeal as a top destination for individuals seeking a high-quality life, and its resettlement of asylum seekers. While the majority of immigrants have traditionally come from England, New Zealand, China, and India, the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has also led to an influx of refugees from Eastern Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of immigrants in 2023-24 | 659,000 |
| Annual decrease in net overseas migration in 2023-24 | 510,000 to 375,000 |
| Number of migrant departures in 2023-24 | 221,000 |
| Temporary visa holders in 2023-24 | 465,000 |
| Permanent visa holder arrivals in 2023-24 | 91,000 |
| Australian citizen arrivals in 2023-24 | 60,000 |
| New Zealand citizens in 2023-24 | 51,000 |
| International students in 2023-24 | 207,000 |
| Visitors in 2023-24 | 90,000 |
| Working holidaymakers in 2023-24 | 80,000 |
| Temporary skilled workers in 2023-24 | 49,000 |
| Median age of Australia-born population in 2024 | 35 years |
| Median age of overseas-born population in 2024 | 76 years (Greece), 74 years (Italy), 29 years (Nepal) |
| Number of people born overseas in Australia in 2024 | 8.6 million |
| Percentage of Australia's population born overseas in 2024 | 31.5% |
| Top countries of birth for overseas-born population in 2024 | England, India, China, and New Zealand |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's population growth
In the years before the pandemic, Australia's population growth was significant, with an average annual increase of 515,000 people, most of whom were temporary visa holders. The population growth rate during this period was 2.54%, well above the OECD average. However, in the year ending December 31, 2023, the population growth rate had slowed to 2.5%. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population growth rate further decreased to 1.8% per annum over the year ending September 30, 2024. This decrease is attributed to a decline in migrant arrivals, particularly temporary visa holders, and an increase in departures. Despite this, Australia's population is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029.
Over the years, Australia has witnessed several waves of immigration from various countries, contributing to its multicultural society. Initially, a significant proportion of immigrants were from England, making it the largest group of overseas-born residents in Australia as of 2016. Other large groups of overseas-born residents included those from New Zealand and China. However, in the year ending June 30, 2020, Chinese-born migrants recorded a net loss due to the impact of COVID-19 and associated travel restrictions. In contrast, Indian-born migrants have consistently recorded strong net gains in recent years.
Australia also experienced significant immigration from eastern European countries following the Soviet Union's suppression of uprisings in Hungary and Czechoslovakia in 1956 and 1968, respectively. Additionally, refugees from the Balkans arrived in Australia after the violent breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Refugees fleeing civil wars and persecution in the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America have also sought refuge in Australia.
The Australian government has played a role in shaping immigration patterns. In 1945, the government established the Department of Immigration and set a goal of 2% population growth per year, with half of the growth attributed to immigration. Initially, the government focused on encouraging immigration from Britain through assisted migration programs. However, when these programs failed to achieve the desired quotas, the government expanded its efforts to include displaced persons from World War II, particularly from Europe.
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Temporary visa holders
International students were the largest group of temporary visa holders in 2023-24, with 207,000 arrivals. However, this number decreased from 278,000 in 2022-23. Other temporary visa holders included visitors (90,000), working holidaymakers (80,000), and temporary skilled workers (49,000).
The COVID-19 pandemic and border closures significantly impacted the number and type of temporary visa holders in Australia. In 2020 and 2021, there was a reversal in migration trends, with a decrease in arrivals and an increase in departures. When borders reopened in February 2022, Australia experienced a period of record net overseas migration as arrivals surged after nearly two years of restrictions.
In terms of demographics, 92% of temporary residents aged 15 and over had an education level of Year 10 or above, with 39% holding a Bachelor's degree or higher. This is higher than the Australian population, where 29% of those aged 15 and over had a Bachelor's degree or higher. Among temporary skilled residents, 65% held a Bachelor's degree or higher. The most common occupation for employed temporary residents was carers and aides (7%), and the most common industry was food and beverage services (13%). More than half (54%) of employed temporary residents worked full-time hours of 35 hours or more.
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Post-WWII migration
Post-war immigration to Australia refers to the migration waves that occurred between 1945 and 1973, after World War II. During this period, Australia witnessed a predominantly European immigration wave, which significantly contributed to its population growth and economic development.
In 1945, the Australian government, led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley, established the Department of Immigration to oversee a large-scale immigration program. Arthur Calwell, the country's first immigration minister, promoted the idea of "populate or perish," emphasizing the urgent need to increase Australia's population for defence and development. Initially, the government preferred British migrants and set ambitious targets, but the shipping capacity from Britain couldn't meet the demand.
The post-war immigration program offered financial assistance and assisted passage migration schemes, making it affordable for British citizens to migrate to Australia. This scheme was known as the "Ten Pound Pom," referring to the ticket price. The Australian government also entered into agreements with various countries and international organizations, such as the International Refugee Organization (IRO), to settle displaced persons and refugees from Europe.
However, by 1953, migrants from Southern Europe began to outnumber British immigrants, causing some concern in the Australian government. They responded by placing restrictions on Southern Europeans sponsoring newcomers and launching the “Bring Out a Briton” campaign. Despite these efforts, Southern Europeans continued to migrate to Australia in significant numbers, and by the 1960s, the British component of migration had regained its prominent position due to increased financial assistance.
During this post-war period, Australia's population grew from about 7.4 million in 1945 to approximately 10.3 million by 1960, with migration contributing to more than a third of this growth. The largest national groups to arrive, after the British, were Italians and Greeks, with significant numbers of Dutch, Austrian, Belgian, Spanish, and West German immigrants also settling in the country. This influx of immigrants transformed Australian society, reshaping its identity and making it one of the most multicultural societies in the world.
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Forced migration
One notable example of forced migration in Australia's history was the transportation of convicts from Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. From 1788 to 1868, the British government shipped more than 160,000 convicts to Australia to relieve overcrowding in its prisons, establishing a penal colony on the continent. This system of punishment, known as transportation, was involuntary, as the convicts did not freely choose to come to Australia.
Another instance of forced migration to Australia occurred in the 1800s, when many people from Central and South Asia, Japan, and the South Pacific islands migrated to work in the colonies' growing industries. Some of these migrants came voluntarily, while others were involuntarily brought in as labourers, such as the South Sea Islanders.
Additionally, the Highland Clearances in Scotland during the mid-1700s to mid-1800s also resulted in forced migration to Australia. Thousands of Scottish families were forcibly evicted from their homes in the Highlands and western islands to make way for sheep farming. The collapse of the Highland economy and the failure of the potato crop in the 1840s further devastated the region, leading to famine and disease. This prompted mass migrations of Scots to various countries, with Australia as a leading destination.
During and after World War II, millions of people across Europe were forced to leave their homes due to conflict and upheaval. Many of them lived in displaced persons camps, and among them were refugees from Eastern European countries invaded by the Soviet Union, such as Poland, Yugoslavia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. Australia became a destination for these refugees, and the Australian government implemented assisted migration programs in the 1940s and 1950s, including the "Bring out a Briton" campaign in 1957, to encourage British immigration.
In recent years, refugees and asylum seekers have continued to seek protection in Australia. In the 2019-20 financial year, Australia reported 23,266 asylum claims made within the country and 70,621 claims made from outside its borders. In 2023-24, Australia granted 20,000 refugee and humanitarian visas, with the majority of recipients coming from countries facing conflict, persecution, and other challenges.
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Skilled migration
In the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average number of migrant arrivals was 515,000 per year, with 49,000 of those being temporary skilled visa holders. In 2023-24, the number of temporary visa holders decreased to 465,000, including 49,000 temporary skilled visa holders.
Historically, Australia has seen waves of skilled migration from various countries. After World War II, Australia launched a large-scale immigration program, and hundreds of thousands of displaced Europeans migrated to the country. Over a million British subjects immigrated under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, and the scheme was later extended to countries like the Netherlands and Italy.
In the 1950s, Arthur Calwell, the first minister for immigration, urged Australia to "populate or perish," and the government set a goal of 2% population growth per year, with half coming from immigration. Initially, the focus was on British immigration, but the government soon expanded its efforts to include European countries affected by World War II.
During the Gold Rush era, beginning in 1851, there was a significant influx of British and Irish settlers, followed by smaller numbers of Germans, other Europeans, and Chinese. In more recent times, migrants from India have been a notable source of skilled migration to Australia, with a median age of 35 years in 2020.
Australia's skilled migration policies and diverse sources of immigration have contributed to its reputation as a top destination for individuals seeking work and a high-quality life.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2024, the top countries of birth for Australia's overseas-born population were England, India, China, and New Zealand. Other countries with large numbers of people migrating to Australia include Nepal, Greece, Italy, and Germany.
In the five years leading up to the pandemic, Australia received an average of 515,000 immigrants per year, with the majority arriving on temporary visas. In 2023-24, Australia's net overseas migration increased to 536,000, with temporary visa holders making up the largest group of arrivals.
Immigration to Australia has been influenced by various factors, including economic opportunities, relief from conflict, and involuntary migrations. Australia's immigration policies and the global pandemic have also impacted migration numbers.
Immigration has significantly contributed to Australia's development and transformed it into one of the most multicultural societies. It has been a key factor in the country's population growth, with 62% of the growth in the last ten years attributed to immigration. Immigration has also impacted employment rates and contributed to Australia's economic growth.
