New Zealand experienced a big jump in population growth due to increased migration in July, Statistics New Zealand has reported.
According to the latest migration figures shown by Statistics New Zealand, the country saw a net migration gain of 1,139 people in July.
This gain was more than double the net gain of 527 in June, and almost 15 times higher than New Zealand’s net gain of 76 in July of last year.
Of the 3,302 long-term arrivals recorded in July this year, 1,995 were returning New Zealand citizens, 375 were Australian citizens, and 932 were citizens of other countries.
Of the 2,163 long-term departures in July, 949 were New Zealand citizens, 121 were Australian citizens, and 1,093 were citizens of other countries.
July marked the fifth successive month in which New Zealand saw an increased net migration, which was down to more people arriving in the country compared to the number of long-term departures.
Over the last few months, the long-term arrivals in New Zealand have remained relatively stable, while the number of long-term departures has steadily decreased.
In February of this year, New Zealand’s long-term arrivals were recorded to be 3,324. In July, this number was recorded at a marginally lower 3,302.
In comparison, the number of long-term departures from New Zealand dropped from 3,659 in February to 2,163 in July, leading to an increased net migration gain.
Over the 12 months ending in July this year, there were 47,046 long-term arrivals in New Zealand and 42,638 long-term departures from the country.
Migrants arriving in New Zealand on student or work visas contributed towards the majority of the long-term departures from the country over these 12 months.
Only 591 student visa holders arrived in New Zealand over this period – down from 19,925 in the 12 months leading to July 2020, and 24,620 in the year ending in July 2019.
For work visa holders, the number of long-term arrivals in the year leading to July of this year was recorded at 1,652. In comparison, the number of work visa holders arriving in New Zealand was recorded to be 32,140 in the year leading to July 2020, and 34,517 a year before that.
Although migration numbers are rising in New Zealand, there is still a long way to go before pre-pandemic levels are reached.
In July 2019, New Zealand had 14,307 long-term arrivals and 7,902 long-term departures, which led to a net migration gain of 6,405 – almost six times greater than the migration gain in July of this year.
