Overseas departures by state: how many people leave each Australian state and territory?

The Australian Capital Territory recorded the highest rate of overseas migrant departures of any state or territory in 2024-25, at 13.4 per 1,000 residents¹. New South Wales recorded 11.2 departures per 1,000 residents and Victoria 10.4.

Tasmania recorded the lowest rate, at 4.1 overseas migrant departures per 1,000 residents, followed by South Australia at 5.6¹.

Despite having the highest departure rate, the Australian Capital Territory recorded only the sixth-largest number of departures among the eight states and territories in 2024-25, at 6,422 people.¹

Western Australia was the only state or territory to record more overseas migrant departures than interstate departures in 2024-25, with 29,489 people leaving for overseas compared with 28,007 moving to another state or territory¹.

Every other state and territory recorded more people moving to other parts of Australia than moving overseas.¹

New South Wales recorded 94,770 overseas migrant departures and 109,594 interstate departures in 2024-25, compared with 72,556 and 77,896 respectively in Victoria.¹ Overseas departures made up 46.4 per cent of all departures from New South Wales and 48.2 per cent of departures from Victoria when both overseas and interstate moves are counted.

The Northern Territory recorded the lowest share of overseas migrant departures when compared with all overseas and interstate departures, at 11.3 per cent, with 2,033 overseas migrant departures compared with 15,962 interstate departures¹. Tasmania recorded the second-lowest share, at 13.9 per cent.

State-to-state flows and the ages of people who move are covered in Interstate migration in Australia.

Net overseas migration (the difference between people arriving from overseas and those leaving) was the largest component of population growth in every state and territory in 2024-25, according to the ABS National, state and territory population data¹.

In New South Wales, 181,686 people arrived from overseas and 94,770 departed, resulting in a net gain of 86,916 people.¹ The state's total population increased by 95,319 people over the same period.

The Australian Capital Territory recorded the highest number of overseas migrant departures relative to arrivals, at 59 departures per 100 arrivals, followed by New South Wales at 52¹. The Northern Territory and South Australia recorded the lowest figures, at 34 and 35 departures per 100 arrivals respectively.

Net overseas migration contributed to population growth in every state and territory in 2024-25, while more people moved out than moved in through interstate migration in six of the eight states and territories¹. Queensland and Western Australia were the only states or territories to record gains from both net overseas and net interstate migration, with net interstate migration of 21,964 and 11,377 people respectively.

Victoria recorded the largest population increase of any state or territory in 2024-25, at 113,080 people, with net overseas migration adding 85,603 people, while interstate migration resulted in a net loss of 3,558¹.

Western Australia recorded the highest growth rate of any state or territory in 2024-25, at 2.2 per cent, while Tasmania recorded the lowest, at 0.5 per cent¹. Tasmania's population grew by 3,062 people, with 339 more births than deaths, a net gain of 3,324 people from overseas migration and a net loss of 601 people through interstate migration.

Population growth and the demand for new homes are covered in What is driving housing demand.