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Economic indicators

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.

Released:
Next release:
Periodicity:
Quarterly
Source:
Statistics New Zealand

Data files

Population and migration - M12 (1991-current)

XLSX | 14KB
Estimated resident population Estimated migration by direction
Date (Number) Net (Number s.a.) Arrivals (Number s.a.) Departures (Number s.a.)
Previous years:
Mar 2024 5,283,100 10,210 38,880 28,680
Mar 2025 5,317,800 1,590 31,840 30,250
Quarterly:
Jun 2025 5,321,900 4,780 33,600 28,810
Sept 2025 5,333,500 4,350 33,110 28,760
Dec 2025 5,344,500 6,190 33,710 27,520
Mar 2026 5,361,300 8,800 35,020 26,220

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.

National population estimates

International travel and migration

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

Stats NZ: Net migration.

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.

Passenger Type - Stats NZ DataInfo+

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.

Passenger Type - Stats NZ DataInfo+

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

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Prices (M1)

This data tracks inflation in New Zealand by tracking the change in the price of various types of goods and services over time.

Consumption (M2)

This data, sourced from Stats NZ, monitors consumption in New Zealand using the amount of retail sales as the measure.

Investment (M3)

This data monitors the outlays of producers on durable fixed assets. These include buildings, motor vehicles, plant and machinery, hydro-electric construction, roading and improvements to land.

Domestic trade (M4)

This data shows the retail, wholesale and manufacturing sales in New Zealand each quarter.

Gross Domestic Product (M5)

This data tracks the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of New Zealand over time. The GDP provides a snapshot of the performance of the economy and is New Zealand's official measure of economic growth.

National saving (M6)

This data, sourced from Stats NZ, shows the savings made by different sectors of industry, the Government and by households. Saving is defined as income less expenditure and consumption of fixed capital.

Balance of payments and international investment position (M7)

The balance of payments records the value of the country's transactions with the rest of the world. It shows changes in financial claims on, and liabilities to, the rest of the world. The international investment position is a snapshot of the country's financial assets and liabilities.

Overseas trade (M8)

This data measures changes in the levels of prices and the volumes of imports and exports of merchandise trade to and from New Zealand.

Labour market (M9)

This data summarises employment and wage statistics in New Zealand.

Housing (M10)

This data shows the activity and level of the housing market in New Zealand.

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.

Household inflation expectations (M13)

This data represents New Zealanders' expectations of future inflation and house prices compared to current perceptions.

Survey of expectations (M14)

This is a survey of forecasters, economists and industry leaders about their expectations of the future of the New Zealand economy.

Business Expectations Survey (M15)

This is an economy-wide survey to understand the economic outlook held by key decision makers from a representative sample of New Zealand businesses and organisations.