National Overview: The Scale of Australian Internal Migration 🇦🇺

Australian moving statistics 2026 tell a story that has been building since the pandemic years and has not reversed. Australians are moving in significant numbers, and the direction of that movement has shifted structurally away from the patterns that defined the previous two decades.

The ABS records internal migration as the movement of people between Statistical Areas within Australia. At the interstate level, the data reveals a country in genuine geographic transition. Roughly 400,000 Australians change their state or territory of residence each year, with net flows showing a consistent redistribution away from New South Wales and Victoria toward Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia.

For the full analytical context behind these numbers, including what is driving the trend and how it compares to historical migration cycles, see our interstate moving trends guide. This article focuses on the data itself.

Net Interstate Migration by State and Territory 🗺️

The table below shows net interstate migration positions based on ABS data and trend projections. A positive figure indicates more people arriving from other states than departing to them. A negative figure indicates net outflow.

Source: ABS Regional Internal Migration, Cat. 3412.0. Net positions reflect most recently published data and trend projections. Exact figures update with each ABS release.

Top 10 Destination Cities for Internal Migrants 🏆

At the city level, the data shows a clear pattern: southeast Queensland dominates, with Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast all ranking among Australia's most sought-after internal migration destinations. Secondary cities in Western Australia and South Australia round out the top tier.

Rankings based on ABS internal migration arrival data and BRT platform booking destination volumes. City boundaries follow ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Areas where applicable.

Southeast Queensland's concentration at the top of this list is not coincidental. The region is actively absorbing population that was previously captured by Sydney and Melbourne. For suburb-level detail on Brisbane, see our complete Brisbane relocation guide. For those drawn to the coastal lifestyle further north and south of Brisbane, our guides to the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast cover what to expect in each market.

The Five Cities Australians Are Leaving Most 🚪

Net outflow cities are not necessarily in decline in absolute population terms. Most are still growing through international migration and natural increase. What the internal migration data captures is the preference signal: when Australians have a free choice of where to live, these are the cities they are choosing to leave.

Departure rankings based on ABS net internal migration outflow data. Sydney and Melbourne figures are substantially larger in volume than other entries on this list.

Sydney's outflow story is particularly significant. The city continues to attract international migrants and holds strong economic weight, but it is losing domestic residents to Queensland at a rate that has been sustained for more than five years. The housing affordability gap between Sydney and Brisbane has narrowed but remains substantial, and it continues to drive decisions.

Queensland's Population Story: The Data Behind the Headlines 🌟

Queensland has been Australia's domestic migration winner for the period following the 2020 pandemic and the data shows no meaningful reversal as of the most recent ABS releases. The state recorded its largest annual interstate arrivals in recorded history in the 2021-2022 period, with numbers moderating but remaining strongly positive through 2023-2024.

The distribution within Queensland matters. The bulk of internal migration flows into Southeast Queensland, with Brisbane absorbing the largest share. However, regional Queensland is growing meaningfully too, with Cairns, Townsville, and the Central Highlands all recording positive net internal arrivals on the back of resources sector activity and affordability-driven decentralisation.

Key factors sustaining Queensland's position as Australia's top internal migration destination:

•      Median house prices in Brisbane remain below Sydney and Melbourne despite significant appreciation since 2020

•      No state income tax differential, but lower overall cost of living drives real household income comparisons favourably

•      The 2032 Brisbane Olympics is generating long-term infrastructure investment that is accelerating development timelines and attracting businesses

•      Remote work flexibility has decoupled employment location from residential location for a significant portion of knowledge workers

•      Climate preference continues to drive decisions, particularly among retirees and semi-retirees from Victoria and New South Wales

What BRT Platform Data Shows About Where Australians Are Moving 📱

Best Rated Transport's booking platform provides a real-time view of removalist demand that complements the ABS lag in official statistical releases. The following observations are drawn from our 2024 to 2025 platform data:

BRT platform data reflects booking volumes and self-reported move reasons from the BRT quote and booking system, 2024-2025 period. Figures are indicative and based on platform sample.

What Migration Demand Means for Removalist Costs 💰

High demand corridors carry higher removalist costs and lower availability, particularly during peak periods. The average cost of moving house in Australia varies significantly by route, and migration pressure is a direct factor in pricing on the highest-demand corridors.

Cost ranges are indicative for a standard 3-bedroom house. Actual quotes depend on volume, access, packing requirements, and service type. Source: BRT platform data and published rate analysis.

On the highest-demand routes, backloading remains the most effective tool for reducing cost. Brisbane backloading is particularly well-developed given the volume of two-way traffic on the Brisbane corridor, with savings of 30 to 50 percent achievable for moves with flexible delivery windows.

For a comprehensive breakdown of interstate removalist costs by route and home size, see the interstate removalist costs guide for 2026, which covers all major Australian corridors with current pricing data.

Regional Australia Is Gaining Ground Too 🌾

The internal migration story is not only about capital cities. ABS Regional Internal Migration data shows meaningful growth in non-metropolitan areas driven by the pandemic-era decentralisation that has partially but not fully reversed.

The regional migration story has matured since 2021. The initial pandemic-driven scramble for space has settled into a more sustainable pattern where genuine lifestyle and economic factors, rather than lockdown escape, are driving decisions. Remote work flexibility remains the key enabler, but it is now combined with more realistic expectations about regional living than characterised the early pandemic period.

Frequently Asked Questions ❓

Q: Which state has the highest net interstate migration in Australia?

A: Queensland consistently records the highest positive net interstate migration of any Australian state. It has maintained this position for five or more consecutive years based on ABS data, with the annual net gain exceeding 30,000 people at peak periods.

Q: Are people really leaving Sydney and Melbourne?

A: The net internal migration data is clear: both cities record negative net internal migration, meaning more Australian residents leave for other states than arrive from them. This does not mean their populations are shrinking overall, as international migration and natural increase offset the domestic outflow. But the domestic preference signal is unambiguous.

Q: What is the most common reason Australians move interstate?

A: Housing affordability and lifestyle are the dominant self-reported reasons, representing the majority of surveyed movers in most studies. Employment-related moves remain significant, particularly for the resources sector and defence, but have declined as a primary driver relative to lifestyle and cost factors.

Q: How current is the ABS migration data?

A: The ABS publishes Regional Internal Migration data with a lag of approximately 12 to 18 months. The most recently published ABS figures at time of writing reflect 2023-2024 data. Trend extrapolations in this article are based on those figures and directional indicators from more recent sources including platform data and property market activity.

Q: Is Queensland's population growth sustainable?

A: Infrastructure capacity and housing supply are the binding constraints. The Queensland government has accelerated housing approvals and infrastructure spending, including Olympic Games-related investment, but housing supply has not kept pace with demand in southeast Queensland. This is contributing to rental and purchase price pressure in Brisbane and coastal SEQ markets.

Q: Where can I cite the source data from this article?

A: Primary sources are the ABS Regional Internal Migration publication (Catalogue 3412.0) and the ABS National, State and Territory Population publication (Catalogue 3101.0), both available at abs.gov.au. BRT platform data referenced here is proprietary and available on request for media and research purposes.

Planning Your Own Australian Move in 2026?

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Related Reading and Data Resources 📚

•     Interstate Moving Trends in Australia: What's Changed in 2025 — The companion editorial piece: what these numbers mean and how to navigate the new landscape

•     Moving to Brisbane: Complete Relocation Guide — Deep dive into Australia's top internal migration destination

•     Moving to the Sunshine Coast: Complete Relocation Guide — The SEQ region's second-ranked migration destination in detail

•     Moving to the Gold Coast — Gold Coast relocation guide for one of Australia's fastest-growing internal migration destinations

•     Brisbane Backloading: How to Save 50% on Your Interstate Move — How to reduce costs on Australia's busiest interstate moving corridor

•     Average Cost of Moving House in Australia — National cost benchmarks across all major moving scenarios

•     Interstate Removalist Costs Australia 2026 — Route-by-route pricing guide for every major Australian corridor