WELLINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's annual net migration has fallen to its lowest level in three years, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Thursday.
For the year ended October 2018, migration fell to 61,800, down 8,900 year-on-year, statistics showed.
Net migration for October 2018 was 6,700, down 1,000 compared to the same period last year, Stats NZ said.
"Although migrant departures continue to be the driving force behind falling annual net migration, October also had a noticeable fall in the number of migrant arrivals," population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said in a statement.
"Both trends helped bring annual net migration to its lowest level since the year ended September 2015," Theyers said.
Departures for non-New Zealand citizens were 31,800, up 4,400 for the year. Arrivals for non-New Zealand citizens dropped to 96,700, down 2,800, he said.
