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Migration: More now say levels are too high Migration: More now say levels are too high
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, net overseas migration reached its peak in 2023 at nearly 540,000 people. Since then, the number has steadily declined, falling to 430,000 in 2024 and then to 306,000 in 2025.
A majority of Australians (55%) say the total number of migrants coming to Australia is ‘too high’. While this result is within the margin of error of last year’s Poll (53%), it still represents a seven-point increase from 2024 and is on par with the previous high of 54%, recorded in 2018.
About the author
Charles Lyons-Jones
Charles Lyons-Jones is a Research Fellow in the Lowy Institute’s Foreign Policy and Public Opinion Program. He oversees the annual Lowy Institute Poll and the Global Diplomacy Index.
