Sri Lanka → New Zealand
Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows
- From
- Sri Lanka
- To
- New Zealand
- Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
- 7,044
- Change since 2018
- +326.9%
- Share of all arrivals in New Zealand, 2023
- 3.39%
Inflow 20237,044OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Sri Lanka to New Zealand
Inflows of nationals of Sri Lanka recorded by New Zealand; stock of nationals of Sri Lanka living there; and acquisitions of New Zealand's nationality (OECD).
Inflows by year
Data table
| 2000 | 708 |
| 2001 | 760 |
| 2002 | 805 |
| 2003 | 581 |
| 2004 | 445 |
| 2005 | 439 |
| 2006 | 536 |
| 2007 | 747 |
| 2008 | 1,091 |
| 2009 | 666 |
| 2010 | 693 |
| 2011 | 878 |
| 2012 | 906 |
| 2013 | 1,011 |
| 2014 | 957 |
| 2015 | 1,236 |
| 2016 | 1,443 |
| 2017 | 1,698 |
| 2018 | 1,650 |
| 2019 | 1,875 |
| 2020 | 780 |
| 2021 | 246 |
| 2022 | 2,241 |
| 2023 | 7,044 |
| Year | Inflow | Stock | Acquired nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7,044 | — | 618 |
| 2022 | 2,241 | — | 807 |
| 2021 | 246 | — | 286 |
| 2020 | 780 | — | 325 |
| 2019 | 1,875 | — | 545 |
| 2018 | 1,650 | — | 637 |
| 2017 | 1,698 | — | 679 |
| 2016 | 1,443 | — | 519 |
| 2015 | 1,236 | — | 439 |
| 2014 | 957 | — | 330 |
| 2013 | 1,011 | — | 263 |
| 2012 | 906 | — | 201 |
| 2011 | 878 | — | 157 |
| 2010 | 693 | — | 242 |
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023
Migrant population
People born in Sri Lanka who live in New Zealand: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).
Migrant population by year
Data table
| 1990 | 2,338 |
| 1995 | 3,820 |
| 2000 | 5,878 |
| 2005 | 7,109 |
| 2010 | 8,728 |
| 2015 | 11,883 |
| 2020 | 16,729 |
| 2024 | 20,823 |
- Estimate, 2024
- 20,823
- Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
- 1.4%
- Rank among countries of birth, 2024
- 13
- Counted by
- country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024
Compared with other corridors
Nationalities with the most arrivals in New Zealand, 2023; Sri Lanka ranks 6.
- India47,163
- Philippines38,838
- China26,214
- Fiji11,157
- South Africa8,667
- Sri Lanka7,044
- Vietnam5,919
- United Kingdom5,847
- Australia5,196
- United States4,191
- Samoa2,994
- Nepal2,811
- Japan11,328
- South Korea8,576
- Australia6,055
- Finland3,260
- Italy2,877
- Canada2,710
- United States2,280
- Germany2,058
- France1,883
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023
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