Australia’s Migration Trends

Since September 2005 Net Overseas Migration (NOM) has overtaken natural increase as the main component of Australia’s population growth. For the year March 2011 to March 2012, NOM added 197 200 people to Australia’s population, or 59.5 per cent of total growth for that period.

In 2011–12, the Migration Program delivered 184 998 places, 125 755 of these places went to Skill Stream migrants. The Family Stream outcome for 2011–12 was 58 604 places, a 7.4 per cent increase on the 2010–11 level of 54 543.

India, the People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom were the top three source countries for the Migration Program visa places, comprising 43.1 per cent of the total places in 2011–12.

Main source countries of Australia’s Migration Program (2011–12):

India - 29 018 visa places 

People’s Republic of China - 25 509 visa places 

United Kingdom - 25 274 visa places 

Philippines - 12 933 visa places 

South Africa - 7 640 visa places 

Other countries - 84 624 visa places 

Total: 184 998 visa places 

The planning level for the 2012–13 Migration Program is 190 00 places. This is an increase of 5000 places from 2011–12 and the highest figure on record for Australia. Of the additional 5000 places, there are 3400 Skill Stream places, 1585 Family Stream places and 15 more places planned for Special Eligibility.

Soursed from the DIAC