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Population and migration (M12)
This data, sourced from Stats NZ, tracks the population of New Zealand over time and also shows the migration in and out of the country.
Data files
| Estimated resident population | Estimated migration by direction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | (Number) | Net (Number s.a.) | Arrivals (Number s.a.) | Departures (Number s.a.) |
| Previous years: | ||||
| Mar 2020 | 5,082,800 | 30,060 | 52,370 | 22,310 |
| Mar 2021 | 5,109,100 | -2,836 | 14,965 | 17,801 |
| Quarterly: | ||||
| Jun 2021 | 5,114,800 | -2,508 | 14,759 | 17,267 |
| Sep 2021 | 5,120,200 | -752 | 10,992 | 11,744 |
| Dec 2021 | 5,127,200 | -3,030 | 10,876 | 13,905 |
| Mar 2022 | - | -966 | 9,439 | 10,405 |
The data: coverage, periodicity and timeliness
Coverage characteristics
Population
Population estimates are derived from the latest census data with adjustments for net census undercount, residents temporarily overseas on census night, and births, deaths and migration since the census.
International travel and migration
International travel and migration statistics measure the number of overseas visitors, New Zealand resident travellers, and permanent and long-term migrants entering or leaving New Zealand.
These statistics are based on electronic arrival and departure records for each international passenger, supplied to Statistics New Zealand by the New Zealand Customs Service.
Periodicity
Quarterly
Timeliness
We publish provisional population estimates within six weeks after the end of the reference quarter. Final population estimates are derived when an extra quarter of detailed births and deaths is available, about five months after the end of the reference quarter.
We release final international travel and migration statistics approximately three weeks after the end of the reference quarter. The delay is longer for December data due to the peak travel period coinciding with the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Access by the public
Statistics release calendar
The statistics release calendar provides a long-term plan of scheduled releases. We update and release the calendar on the first working day of the month.
View the statistics release calendar
Integrity
Dissemination of terms and conditions under which official statistics are produced, including confidentiality of individual responses
We reproduced the data with the permission of Statistics New Zealand.
Provision of information about revisions and advance notice of major changes in methodology
We generally publish revisions when we update and release a table. New or revised data is in bold font.
We produce provisional and final population estimates for the resident population each quarter. We derive final estimates when an extra quarter of detailed births and deaths data are available. Changes between the provisional and final estimates are most apparent in the younger and older age groups, due to delayed registration of births and deaths.
Quality
Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics
We sourced data from Statistics New Zealand.
Population estimates
Estimated resident population
An estimate of all people who usually live in New Zealand on a given date. Visitors from overseas are excluded.
Estimates of the resident population are based on the latest census data and on births, deaths and migration since the census.
We sourced the StatsNZ infoshare ID for this series from:
- Estimated resident population - DPEQ.SG1CTOT
Stats NZ: Estimated resident population
Arrivals and departures
Passenger travel
Total border crossings by travellers and migrants.
We sourced the StatsNZ infoshare IDs for these series from:
- Total arrivals - ITMQ.STZAS
- Total departures - ITMQ.STZDS
Stats NZ: International Travel and Migration Population
Estimated migrant arrivals
Number of overseas residents or New Zealanders who have been out of New Zealand for more than 12 months who arrive in New Zealand and cumulatively spend 12 of the next 16 months in New Zealand.
- Estimated migrant arrivals - ITMQ.SEMAAS
Stats NZ: Permanent and long-term (PLT) migration - arrivals
Estimated migrant departures
Number of New Zealand residents or number of overseas residents who have been in New Zealand more than 12 months who depart New Zealand and cumulatively spend 12 of the next 16 months out of New Zealand.
- Estimated migrant departures - ITMQ.SEMADS
Stats NZ: Permanent and long-term (PLT) migration - departures
Estimated migration net
Estimated migrant arrivals minus estimated migrant departures.
- Estimated migration net - ITMQ.SEMANS
Estimated short term arrivals
People who live overseas and visit New Zealand for less than 12 months. The residual of total passenger arrivals minus estimated migrant arrivals.
Estimated short term departures
People who live in New Zealand and travel overseas for less than 12 months. The residual of total passenger departures minus estimated migrant departures.
Stats NZ: Short term departures
Changes to the M12 web table
From 9 August 2019, Stats NZ have discontinued some series from official international travel and migration statistics, following the change to an ‘outcomes-based’ measure of migration.
The intention based migration numbers have been removed from the M12 web table and replaced with the new outcomes based measure of migration numbers.
Removed series:
- ITM.Q.R01M03.ns - Permanent and long-term migration - Arrivals
- ITM.Q.R02M03.ns - Permanent and long-term migration - Departures
- ITM.Q.R03M03.ns - Net permanent and long-term migration
- ITM.Q.R01M02.ns - Short-term visitor arrivals
- ITMV.Q.R01O02M02.ns - Short-term New Zealand resident arrivals
- ITM.Q.R02M02.ns - Short-term visitor departures
- ITMV.Q.R02O02M02.ns - Short-term New Zealand resident departures.
Replacement series:
- ITM.Q.R01M01.ns - Total passenger arrivals
- ITM.Q.R02M01.ns - Total passenger departures
- ITM.Q.R01M04.ns - Estimated migration - Arrivals
- ITM.Q.R02M04.ns - Estimated migration - Departures
- ITM.Q.R03M04.ns - Estimated migration - Net
- ITM.Q.R01M06.ns - Estimated short term travel - Arrivals
- ITM.Q.R02M06.ns - Estimated short term travel - Departures.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
Symbols and conventions for summary table
| Symbol or convention | Definition |
|---|---|
| 0 | Zero or value rounded to zero |
| - | Not applicable |
| .. | Not available |
| bold | Revised/new |
| italics | Provisional |
| Light grey background | Historical |
General notes
- Individual figures may not sum to the totals due to rounding
- Percentage changes are calculated on unrounded numbers
- You are free to copy, distribute and adapt these statistics subject to the conditions listed on our copyright page.
Related statistics
View other related Economic Indicators tables.