New Zealand emigration has hit a 13-year high, with youth departures surging amid economic slump and rising unemployment.
New Zealand emigration has hit a 13-year high, with youth departures surging amid economic slump and rising unemployment.
New Zealand is experiencing its highest level of citizen departures in more than a decade, with young people driving the trend amid economic headwinds and rising unemployment.
Data from Statistics New Zealand, released on Friday, shows that 71,800 citizens left the country in the year to June 2025 — up from 67,500 in the previous year, and just shy of the record 72,400 departures in February 2012. More than a third (38%) of those leaving were aged between 18 and 30.
The surge in departures comes as the country faces one of its deepest economic downturns since 1991, which economists attribute to low productivity and policy missteps. Unemployment reached a near five-year high of 5.2% in the second quarter, while labour force participation fell to its lowest level since early 2021.
Net migration has also declined sharply, with arrivals of foreign nationals nearly halving compared to 2024.
Since August 2024, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has cut its cash rate by 225 basis points in an effort to revive growth, following a recession last year. While the economy showed modest improvement with 0.8% GDP growth in the first quarter, job opportunities remain limited and the cost of living continues to bite.
Many New Zealanders are heading to Australia, Britain, and other destinations, with Australia proving particularly attractive. Canberra has been offering relocation packages to fill skill shortages, taking advantage of the fact that New Zealand citizens can work there without visas.
The proportion of young people among emigrants remains below historical peaks — in 1979, 60% of those leaving were aged under 30 — but analysts warn the current outflow could worsen if economic conditions fail to improve.
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