Migration saw Australia gain 446,000 people over the 2023-24 financial year, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show.

The figure was a decrease from the record 536,000 people who arrived in the previous year but higher than the 395,000 that was forecast in the federal government’s budget papers.

The ABS said 2023-24 represented the first annual decrease in net overseas migration since the COVID-19 border restrictions were lifted.

The lower level came because of a decrease in migrant arrivals, largely temporary visa holders, while departures increased during the same period.

In 2023-24, the number of migrant arrivals decreased to 667,000, down from 739,000 the year before.

This equates to an annual decrease of 10 per cent. In 2022-23, there was an annual increase of 73 per cent.

International students were the largest group of migrant arrivals in 2023-24, at 207,000 (46 per cent of arrivals), although this was down from 278,000 (50 per cent of arrivals) in 2022-23.

“Historically, more people migrate to Australia than migrate away each year, meaning overseas migration has been a significant source of population gain for Australia rather than loss,” the ABS said.

“This trend temporarily reversed when many potential migrants didn’t come to Australia in 2020 and 2021 because of border closures and other COVID-19 pandemic impacts.

“Australian borders were reopened to most travellers from 21 February 2022, giving rise to a period of record net overseas migration consistent with a catchup in arrivals following almost two years of border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the ABS said.

In the five years prior to the pandemic, the average number of migrant arrivals was 515,000 per year with the majority arriving on temporary visas (307,000).

For those who arrived on a permanent visa, the average was 92,000. For Australian and New Zealand citizens arriving it was 77,000 and 32,000 respectively.

In 2023-24, the top five countries of birth for overseas migrants were India, China, Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

“Analysis over the previous decade shows steady increases prior to the pandemic for migrants born in India and China. However, for the Chinese-born, a decline started from late 2017, well before the pandemic began,” the ABS said.

“In 2023-24, net gains from India and China were lower than the previous year. Net gains from the United Kingdom and New Zealand were higher than the previous year.”

Temporary visa holders were the largest contributors to migrant arrivals in 2023-24.

While international students were the largest temporary visa group with 207,000 arrivals, this was a decrease from the 278,000 in 2022-23.

Other temporary visa holders included visitors (90,000 migrant arrivals), working holiday makers (80,000), and temporary skilled (49,000).

The median age of migrant arrivals was 27 and the modal age was 23. Of the 23-year-old arrivals, 57 per cent were international students and 21 per cent were working holiday makers.

Prior to the pandemic in 2018-19, the median age of migrant arrivals was 26 and the modal age was 23.

“There were more female than male migrant arrivals in 2023-24, which was recorded as a sex ratio of 99. In 2018-19 (pre-pandemic) there were more male than female migrants, with a sex ratio of 102,” the ABS said.

See the full statistics: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/overseas-migration/2023-24