MigrantoImmigrants in New Zealand
1.4M foreign-born residents — the #47 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 40% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 254524 |
| India | 149677 |
| China | 145906 |
| Philippines | 107622 |
| South Africa | 101970 |
| Australia | 89129 |
| Fiji | 70552 |
| Samoa | 63075 |
| USA | 32863 |
| South Korea | 31878 |
| Tonga | 29981 |
| Malaysia | 23224 |
| Sri Lanka | 20823 |
| Netherlands | 16997 |
| Germany | 16172 |
| Hong Kong | 13920 |
| Canada | 13149 |
| Vietnam | 12670 |
| Japan | 12621 |
| Thailand | 12405 |
| Cook Islands | 12403 |
| Brazil | 11421 |
| Taiwan | 11147 |
| Zimbabwe | 9140 |
| Ireland | 8989 |
| Russia | 8732 |
| Cambodia | 8231 |
| Indonesia | 7817 |
| Singapore | 7784 |
| France | 7445 |
| Pakistan | 6954 |
| Nepal | 6832 |
| Afghanistan | 6706 |
| Chile | 6116 |
| Argentina | 5878 |
| Iran | 5632 |
| Iraq | 5423 |
| Colombia | 4324 |
| Niue | 3957 |
| Myanmar | 3834 |
| Bangladesh | 3499 |
| Switzerland | 3291 |
| Italy | 3256 |
| Kiribati | 3015 |
| UAE | 2976 |
| Ukraine | 2597 |
| Czech Republic | 2569 |
| Poland | 2511 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 43%
599.2K
327.1K
272.1K
111.1K
46K
27.7K
8.4K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in New Zealand.
A significant share of the population of Samoa has settled here
More than 1 in 3 people from Samoa now live in New Zealand — 63.1K people, representing 28.93% of the population of Samoa.
Philippines is the fastest-growing major source
Immigration from the Philippines has increased by 107% since 2015, rising from 52K to 107.6K in 9 years.
New Zealand is a primary destination for emigrants from Samoa
New Zealand attracts 53% of all emigrants from Samoa, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
45% of the population growth of New Zealand since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 515526 |
| 1995 | 562189 |
| 2000 | 644222 |
| 2005 | 815245 |
| 2010 | 911640 |
| 2015 | 1078979 |
| 2020 | 1279199 |
| 2024 | 1391637 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | United Kingdom | India | China | Philippines | South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 223164 | 9270 | 11250 | 3748 | 7375 |
| 1995 | 218465 | 12386 | 18535 | 6618 | 10863 |
| 2000 | 217509 | 19797 | 36325 | 9714 | 24072 |
| 2005 | 240043 | 40298 | 82113 | 14587 | 39560 |
| 2010 | 250852 | 58441 | 89033 | 29232 | 49660 |
| 2015 | 257164 | 91412 | 115315 | 51952 | 62541 |
| 2020 | 257626 | 129231 | 144287 | 82331 | 82625 |
| 2024 | 254524 | 149677 | 145906 | 107622 | 101970 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
New Zealand as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in New Zealand
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in New Zealand?
Around 1.4M foreign-born residents live in New Zealand, making it the #47-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in New Zealand come from?
Most immigrants in New Zealand come from United Kingdom, India and China — these three countries account for about 40% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of New Zealand are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 26% of the population of New Zealand — that's 1.4M out of a total population of 5.3M.
How has immigration to New Zealand changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in New Zealand has grown from 1.1M to 1.4M people, a growth of about 29%.
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