Australian and New Zealander immigrants
Australian and New Zealander immigrants to the United States have historically been a small but notable demographic, with their immigration peaking in various waves since the mid-19th century. The initial influx during the California gold rush in the 1840s drew many from these countries seeking fortune, while subsequent developments such as the opening of the Suez Canal and advancements in transportation facilitated continued migration. Post-World War II, the number of immigrants surged, especially following American service members marrying Australian women, known as war brides. By the late 20th century, many immigrants from Australia and New Zealand brought significant educational qualifications, with a high percentage holding bachelor’s or advanced degrees. Despite the relatively low numbers in the context of overall U.S. immigration, those from these countries are often recognized for their potential contributions to American society, particularly in cultural and professional spheres. The majority of these immigrants reside in California, where many carve out successful careers and integrate into the local community. Overall, while the population of Australian and New Zealander immigrants remains modest compared to other groups, their impact is felt across various sectors in the United States.
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Australian and New Zealander immigrants
SIGNIFICANCE: The number of Australians and New Zealanders who have immigrated to the United States (US) has never been great, but the increasing numbers of highly skilled and educated immigrants who entered the country during the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century brought with them the potential to make significant contributions to their new homeland.
The earliest waves of Australian and New Zealander immigration to the US coincided with significant cultural developments. During the late 1840s and early 1850s, colonials from Australia and New Zealand arrived along with a flood of immigrants from other parts of the world to California after news of the California gold rush beginning in January 1848. The discovery of gold represented an important push-pull factor between the US, Australia, and New Zealand during this period. Just as California’s gold rush attracted thousands of Australian and New Zealanders hungry for gold, a gold rush that began in Australia during the early 1850s attracted thousands of American prospectors. Meanwhile, the building of faster steamships made long-distance transoceanic transportation cheaper and more endurable, and the opening in 1869 of both the Suez Canal and the transcontinental railroad in the US increased the flow of people between the continental US and Australia and New Zealand.
Between 1861 and 1976, 133,299 Australians and New Zealanders were recorded as entering the US. This flow peaked during the years following World War II (1941-1945) as the American economy boomed. The war itself played a role in immigration. In 1944, American service members married 15,000 Australian women who came to the US as war brides. During the 1950s, immigration steadily increased, with 3,976 Australians entering the US between 1951 and 1959. A sharp increase occurred during the 1960s, when 19,562 Australians immigrated to the US. Another sharp increase in both Australian and New Zealander immigration occurred between 1971 and 1990 when more than 86,400 Australians and New Zealanders arrived in the US. The number of people emigrating from Australia and New Zealand to the US grew steadily between 1960 and 1990.
By 1990, the US Census reported that slightly more than 52,000 Americans reported having Australian or New Zealander ancestry. This figure represented less than 0.05 percent of the total U.S. population. The 2000 U.S. Census reported the presence of 45,650 Australian-born noncitizens and 15,315 Australian-born U.S. citizens in the US. A little more than one-half of these people were female. Though those numbers have increased significantly as the twenty-first century progressed, immigrants from Australia and New Zealand still represented a small percentage of immigration to the US. In 2021, 92,504 people in the US claimed a connection to Australian ancestry, and data showed over 19,000 Americans claimed a connection to ancestry from New Zealand. California is home to an overwhelming majority of immigrants from Australia and New Zealand, with many choosing to live near major ports of entry, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Several well-known people living in the US have connections to Australia and New Zealand, including actor Simon Baker, who was born in Tasmania before becoming a US citizen, actor Mia Farrow, musician Flea, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, and actor Kristen Stewart. Celebrities with New Zealand ancestry include model Rachel Hunter and Phil Keoghan, who hosts the television program The Amazing Race.
“Brain Drain”
As an immigrant group, Australian immigrants are comparatively highly educated. Among those counted in the US in 2000, 26 percent held bachelor's degrees, and 20.3 percent held graduate or professional degrees. Over the next several years, record numbers of Australians left their homeland. Most of these emigrants were younger and better educated than Australia’s general population. Their major destinations have been North America, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that over half of those of Australian descent held bachelor’s degrees or higher. Emigrants have been motivated primarily by the attractions of higher salaries, better working conditions, better educational opportunities, and the possibility of better lifestyles in other countries. Although the number of emigrants has been relatively small in comparison to Australia’s total population, the consequences of their leaving their country have been significant because they represent a much higher proportion of the country’s future cultural, intellectual, and economic leaders. The other side of this issue is the significant contributions that these well-educated immigrants make to their new homelands.
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