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Key Facts about Immigration

This is a summary of key immigration and migrant settlement statistics.

Commonly used terms in this document include:

Migration Program refers to the number of visas for permanent residence in the Skill, Family and Special Eligibility streams (this does not include New Zealand citizens and visas issued under the Humanitarian Program).

Settler arrival refers to people entitled to permanent residence who are living in Australia (this includes New Zealanders intending to stay permanently and Humanitarian Program entrants).

Net overseas migration is the number of people arriving in Australia minus those departing from Australia for 12 months or more (within a 16 month period).

Planning levels refers to the number of visas that may be granted in the categories of each visa program in a financial year.

Post-war migration

Since October 1945, more than 7.2 million people have migrated to Australia—750 000 of these people arrived under the Humanitarian Program.

Australia’s population has increased from about seven million in October 1945 to 22.69 million as at September 2011.

The Migration Program began at the end of World War II. Australia reached agreements with Britain, some European countries and with the International Refugee Organization to encourage migration—including displaced people from war-torn Europe.
See: Fact Sheet 4 - More than 60 Years of Post-war Migration

The trigger for a large-scale migration program was the end of World War II. Agreements were reached with Britain, some European countries and with the International Refugee Organization to encourage migration, including displaced people from war-torn Europe.

About one million migrants arrived in each of the six decades following 1950:

• 1.6 million between October 1945 and June 1960
• about 1.3 million in the 1960s
• about 960 000 in the 1970s
• about 1.1 million in the 1980s
• over 900 000 in the 1990s
• over 1.2 million between 2000 and 2010.

The highest number of settlers to arrive in any one year since World War II was 185 099 in 1969–70. The lowest number in any one year was 52 752 in 1975–76.

Today, one in four of Australia's 22 million people were born outside Australia. Since July 2009, New Zealand has been the major source country for settlers.

The number of settlers arriving in Australia between July 2010 and June 2011 totalled 127 460. They came from more than 200 countries. Most were born in one of the following four countries:

• New Zealand (20.2 percent)
• China (11.5 percent)
• United Kingdom (8.6 percent)
• India (8.3 percent).

Globalisation has resulted in a major flow of people who often do not intend to stay in Australia permanently, therefore, migration has become increasingly circular and temporary in nature.

Settler arrival figures

Year	Settler arrival numbers	Net permanent migration
1998–1999	84 100	49 000
1999–2000	92 300	51 200
2000–2001	107 400	60 800
2001–2002	88 900	40 700
2002–2003	93 900	43 500
2003–2004	111 600	52 500
2004–2005	123 400	60 800
2005–2006	131 600	63 700
2006–2007	140 100	68 000
2007–2008	149 400	72 400
2008–2009	158 021	77 000
2009–2010	140 610	54 300
2010–2011	127 460	39 000

Source: overseas arrivals and departures

Settler arrivals by region of birth between July 2010 and June 2011

Region of birth	Arrivals	% Variation
Oceania and Antarctica	29 614	37.0
Europe	16 936	-25.4
North Africa and the Middle East	9 508	-8.0
South East Asia	17 938	-12.8
North East Asia	18 813	-11.5
Southern Asia	18 348	-26.3
Central Asia	1 909	19.0
Northern America	2 245	-3.8
South and Central America and the Caribbean	1 754	-27.3
Sub-Saharan Africa	9 471	-30.2
Supplementary country codes	904	11.5
Not stated/not elsewhere included	18	-33.3
Grand total	127 458	-9.4

Major source countries

July 2010 to June 2011 settler arrivals, by country of birth

Country of birth	Arrivals	% Variation
New Zealand	25 772	42.2
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)	14 611	-12.2
United Kingdom	10 944	-29.6
India	10 566	-32.4
Philippines	5 048	-15.3
South Africa	4 752	-33.6
Vietnam	3 339	-10.9
Sri Lanka	3 225	-27.4
Iraq	2 988	16.4

By way of comparison: settler arrivals by region of birth for 2000–01

Region of birth	Arrivals	% of total
Oceania and Antarctica	30 134	28.1
Europe	18 338	17.1
North Africa and the Middle East	6 942	6.5
South East Asia	13 798	12.9
North East Asia	14 881	13.9
Southern Asia	10 816	10.1
Central Asia	533	0.5
Northern America	1 949	1.8
South and Central America and the Caribbean	833	0.8
Sub-Saharan Africa	8 316	7.7
Supplementary – country codes	788	0.7
Grand total	107 366

Population

At 30 September 2011, the estimated population for Australia was 22.69 million. This is an annual increase of 319 600 people and a population growth rate of 1.4 percent. There has been a sudden decline from the peak growth rate of 2.2 percent for the year ending 31 December 2008, followed by a steady decline until 31 December 2010 after which it has remained steady at 1.4 percent.

Population growth has two components:

• Natural increase (the excess of births over deaths)
• Net migration to Australia (net permanent and long-term migration to Australia plus adjustments for changes in traveller duration intention).

The graph below shows the contributions of natural growth and net migration to Australia's population growth between 2007 and 2011.

Source: Australian Demographic Statistics, September 2011 (ABS Cat 3101.0)

2012–13 Migration Program

The number of places available in the Migration Program for 2012–13 is 190 000, which is 5000 more than the 2011–12 planning level. Of the 5000 places, 3400 are allocated to the Skilled stream. This is to help meet the demand for skilled migrants.

The Family stream has increased to 60 185 places. This is an increase of 1585 places from the 2011–12 program year. Most of this increase will be in the uncapped Child and Partner visa categories to help keep families together.
See: Fact Sheet 20 – Migration Program Planning Levels

Previous Migration Program planning levels:

Migration program	Places available
2002–03	108 070
2003–04	114 360
2004–05	120 060
2005–06	142 933
2006–07	148 200
2007–08	158 630
2008–09	171 318
2009–10	168 623
2010–11	168 685
2011–12	185 000
2012–13	190 000

Migration Program as a percentage of Australia’s population

While the size of the 2012–13 Migration Program is the largest program delivered, it remains consistent with the longer-term average.

The graph below shows the Migration Program intakes since the 1950s in proportion to the population of Australia.

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Migration Program Statistics

The Migration Program figures are made up of the total number of visas issued overseas, plus the number of permanent residence approvals for people who have come to Australia as temporary entrants, and then applied to remain permanently.
See: Migration Program Statistics

Reports on Migration Programs

Reports on the permanent Migration Program outcomes against planning levels since program year 2007–08.
Note: The Migration Program 2010-11 report was updated on 18 August 2011 to provide data clarification on page 12.
See:

• Report on Migration Program 2011–12 (523KB PDF file)
• Report on Migration Program 2010–11 (362K B PDF file)
• Report on Migration Program 2009–10 (401KB PDF file)
• Report on Migration Program 2008–09 (535KB PDF file)
• Report on Migration Program 2007–08 (371KB PDF file)

Diversity and Social Cohesion Program (DSCP)

The Diversity and Social Cohesion Program is an Australian Government initiative that evolved from the 'Living in Harmony' program which was established in 1998. The primary objective of DSCP is to help not for profit community organisations turn plans into reality. If your idea promotes respect, fairness and sense of belonging for everyone, then we might be able to help you. Commencing in 2011–12, the DSCP also includes a new small grants program for multicultural arts and festivals.

Key objectives

The program is a major component of the Government's approach to cultural diversity. The key objectives are:

• the importance of all Australians respecting one another regardless of cultural, racial or religious differences
• the fair treatment of all Australians, encouraging people to recognise that our interactions should be accepting of, and responsive to, each other’s backgrounds, circumstances, needs and preferences
• opportunities for people to participate equitably in Australian society and to understand the rights and responsibilities that we share as part of that society
• a sense of belonging for everyone by helping communities work towards a spirit of inclusiveness and a shared identity as Australians
• the benefits of living in a culturally diverse society
• to build the capacity of specific communities who are under significant pressure because of their culture or religion.

What we do

The Diversity and Social Cohesion Program has two key elements.
See:
DSCP Grants
Multicultural Arts and Festivals Grants