Australia has experienced its first decline in migration numbers since lifting COVID-era border restrictions in early 2022, driven primarily by a decrease in international student arrivals. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), net overseas migration fell to 4.46 lakh during the year ending June 30, 2024, marking a nearly 17% drop from the previous year’s figure of 5.36 lakh.
Net overseas migration reflects the net gain or loss of population due to international migration to and from Australia. Historically, Australia has consistently seen more people migrating to the country than leaving. However, during 2020 and 2021, this trend reversed due to pandemic-induced border closures. Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 marks the first decline in migration since these restrictions were lifted, attributed to a drop in migrant arrivals, primarily temporary visa holders, while migrant departures increased during the same period.
Despite a continued lead in migrant arrivals, numbers from India saw a sharp decline. In FY 2023-24, 87,600 Indians migrated to Australia, a 19% drop from the previous year’s figure of 1.08 lakh. The net migration figure (arrivals minus departures) for Indians stood at 72,360, down from 94,840 in FY 2022-23.
China was the second-largest source country for migrants. During FY 2023-24, 75,830 Chinese citizens arrived in Australia, representing an 8% decline from the previous year’s figure. The net migration statistic for China was 49,720, compared to 59,530 the previous year.
Across all nationalities, total migrant arrivals to Australia fell nearly 10% to 6.67 lakh in FY 2023-24, down from 7.39 lakh in FY 2022-23. Conversely, migrant departures rose by 8%, increasing to 2.21 lakh from 2.04 lakh the previous year.
The most significant decrease was observed in international student arrivals. During FY 2023-24, 2.07 lakh international students entered Australia, a steep 26% decline compared to 2.78 lakh in the previous year.
Immigration experts attribute this decline to several factors, including higher visa fees, a rising cost of living, and a proposed cap on student inflows to 2.7 lakh. Although the controversial bill to cap international student enrolments for 2025 was blocked in Parliament, it has reportedly damaged Australia’s reputation as a sought-after destination for international students.
While the ABS data set does not provide country-wise figures for international students, the Australian Department of Education released a report showing a total of 8.03 lakh international students during the January-August 2024 period. Among these, 1.33 lakh were Indian students, reflecting a 12% growth, while 1.74 lakh were Chinese students, marking a 13% increase.
The decline in migration and international student numbers comes at a critical time when Australia is striving to maintain its appeal as a global hub for education and skilled labour.
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