Queensland Leads in Interstate Migration as New South Wales and Victorian Residents Depart

Australians are leaving two of the most populous states and choosing to live in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia, according to the latest government figures.

Queensland and Western Australia had the most significant net interstate migration in the year 2022, based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Queensland’s net increase of more than 34,000 residents from interstate was followed by Western Australia with more than 10,000 interstate migrants.

Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>

South Australia was the only other state with more interstate arrivals than residents leaving, at 667.

Every other state had more residents departing than interstate arrivals.

New South Wales, Australia’s most populated state, had negative interstate migration of 31,000 people with more than 121,000 people leaving and only 89,000 moving in.

The other negative interstate migrations were Victoria at net 9,995 people, NT 2123, ACT 1228, and Tasmania 941.

ABS head of demography Beidar Cho said there was an emerging trend when comparing the 2022 data to previous years, with more people choosing to move to Queensland and Western Australia.

“Queensland has traditionally had strong interstate net migration, but in recent years it’s gotten a little bit stronger,” she said.

“WA too, pre-pandemic they were losing people to interstate migration, but they are now pulling people to the state from interstate migration.

“The figures of people leaving NSW is a little bit stronger than the pre-pandemic years. But traditionally, NSW does lose between 20,000 and 25,000 on a given year, pre-pandemic.”

The ABS found Australia’s overall population grew 1.9 per cent in the last year to 26.3 million.

Western Australia had the biggest increase in population at 2.3 per cent, followed by Queensland at 2.2 per cent.

“Recovery of international student arrivals is driving net overseas migration to historic highs, while (international student) departures are lagging behind levels typically seen over the past decade,” Cho said.

“This pattern is expected to continue as international students return following the reopening of international borders. However, there are fewer students ready to depart because very few arrived during the pandemic.”