According to recent figures, high emigration rates have caused population growth in New Zealand to nearly stop. A common destination for many departing the country is neighboring Australia.
Slow economic growth, high living expenses, and high property prices are preventing many young New Zealanders from climbing the property ladder, which is contributing to the growing exodus.
According to Statistics New Zealand, there was a tentative net migration gain of 128,500 non-New Zealand nationals in June 2024, offsetting the loss of New Zealand citizens due to arrivals of non-citizens.
According to the organization, residents of China, Fiji, the Philippines, and India made up a significant portion of that gain.Official figures released on Monday showed that while the number of people departing the country reached well over 100,000 in the first half of 2024, the country’s 5.3 million inhabitants increased by just 0.1% (7,000) in the second quarter of 2024.
The practical stagnation in population growth comes despite record numbers of arrivals in recent years driven largely by the island nation’s reputation for high living and working standards and as a haven of security in an increasingly troubled world.
72% of the gain in the second quarter was accounted for by 5,100 more births than deaths, according to Statistics New Zealand.
2,000 people moved during the quarter, accounting for 28% of the overall rise.
But in the year ending in June, almost 130,000 citizens and foreigners left New Zealand, with over 45,000 of them traveling to nearby Australia.
A record provisional net migration loss of 55,300 New Zealand citizens was reported in June 2024, according to statistics released last week.
