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Australian Migration Statistics 2026: Population, Visas & Migration Data
Australia's migration system is often discussed through isolated numbers: visa grants, permanent migration planning levels, overseas arrivals, international students and net overseas migration. These measures describe different things. This Top10Migration data hub brings the latest official figures together and explains how to read them correctly.
Last updated: 15 September 2026. We use primary Australian Government sources wherever possible and update this page as new official datasets are released.
Australia migration statistics: key figures
Measure | Latest figure | Reference period |
Estimated resident population | 27,801,023 | 31 Dec 2025 |
Annual population growth | 412,500 (1.5%) | Year to 31 Dec 2025 |
Net overseas migration | 301,000 | Year to 31 Dec 2025 |
Overseas migration arrivals | 563,500 | Year to 31 Dec 2025 |
Overseas migration departures | 262,600 | Year to 31 Dec 2025 |
2024–25 Migration Program delivered | 185,001 places | 2024–25 |
2026–27 Family stream planning level | 52,460 places | 2026–27 |
Primary population source: Australian Bureau of Statistics — National, state and territory population, December 2025.
Primary migration-program source: Department of Home Affairs — 2024–25 Migration Program Report.
What is net overseas migration?
Net overseas migration, usually shortened to NOM, is not the same as the number of people who cross Australia's border. NOM measures the net addition to Australia's resident population from international migration under the Australian Bureau of Statistics methodology. It is calculated from people arriving and departing who meet the residence criteria used for population estimates.
This distinction matters. Visitor arrivals, student arrivals, temporary visa grants and permanent visa grants cannot be added together and treated as net migration. A person may enter Australia several times, change visa status while already in Australia, or leave after a period of residence.
Population growth by state and territory
Western Australia recorded the fastest annual population growth to December 2025 at 2.2%. Victoria grew by 1.7%, Queensland and the Northern Territory by 1.6%, the Australian Capital Territory by 1.3%, New South Wales by 1.2%, South Australia by 1.0% and Tasmania by 0.5%.
In absolute terms, Victoria added about 117,300 people over the year, New South Wales 104,600, Queensland 92,200 and Western Australia 65,500.
Image: Perth skyline, Unsplash free-use image.
Australia's permanent Migration Program
Australia's permanent Migration Program is separate from net overseas migration. The Migration Program allocates permanent visa places across Skill, Family and Special Eligibility streams. Many people counted in the permanent program are already living in Australia when their permanent visa is granted.
The Department of Home Affairs reported that the 2024–25 Migration Program delivered 185,001 places against a planning level of 185,000. Of those, 132,148 places were delivered through the Skill stream, 52,500 through the Family stream and 353 through Special Eligibility.
Family migration in 2026–27
For the 2026–27 program year, the Australian Government has allocated 52,460 places to the Family stream. The Department states that 41,500 Partner visas and 3,500 Child visas are estimated for planning purposes.
Partner and Child categories are demand driven, so planning figures should not be interpreted as a guaranteed cap on every type of family visa application or as a forecast of processing times.
Skilled migration and temporary work visas
The Skill stream remains the largest component of Australia's permanent Migration Program. Skilled categories include employer-sponsored, independent, regional and state or territory nominated pathways, among other categories.
Temporary and short-stay work visas operate differently. The Department of Home Affairs states that most temporary and short-stay work visas are demand driven and do not have annual grant limits, although specific programs can have caps or other numerical limits.
Visa applications and refusal rates
The Department reported more than 9.48 million temporary and permanent visa applications lodged between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, an increase of about 1.7% from the previous financial year. It finalised almost 9.45 million applications during the same period.
Across those temporary and permanent visa applications, the reported refusal rate was about 7.3%. This is an aggregate figure across a very large range of visa types and should not be used as the refusal probability for any particular subclass.
Why migration numbers are often misunderstood
Four figures frequently appear in public discussion but measure different concepts: permanent Migration Program places, temporary visa grants, overseas arrivals and net overseas migration. None is a substitute for the others.
A permanent visa grant is an immigration decision. An arrival is a border movement. NOM is a population measure. A planning level is a government program setting. Accurate analysis requires keeping those concepts separate.
How Top10Migration compiles this data
Top10Migration prioritises primary datasets and publications from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Where a statistic relates to a different reference period, we identify that period rather than presenting figures from different datasets as if they were directly comparable.
This page is designed as a living reference. We will update the statistics as new ABS population releases, Migration Program reports and Department of Home Affairs program data become available.
Official sources
About this Australian migration statistics hub
Top10Migration is an independent Australian migration industry directory and information platform. This page provides general statistical information and does not constitute migration or legal advice. Migration settings, visa criteria and published statistics can change, so readers should confirm current requirements with the responsible government agency or obtain professional advice for individual circumstances.
