A large majority of Australians – including first-generation migrants – support cutting the country’s migration intake, according to a new survey that highlights growing concern about population growth and its impacts.
The poll of 1,936 people, conducted by research firm Fox and Hedgehog between 24 and 27 February, found 79 per cent of respondents favoured an annual migration intake of 100,000 or fewer. This compares with recent net overseas migration levels that have been significantly higher.
Support for lower migration extended across demographic groups, with 75 per cent of first-generation migrants, 74 per cent of non-citizens and 72 per cent of young adults aged 18 to 24 backing a reduced intake.
The view was also shared across the political spectrum, including 73 per cent of Labor voters and 67 per cent of Greens voters.
The survey, released by the Institute of Public Affairs, also found 60 per cent of respondents believe Australia has too many migrants, while 17 per cent think there are too few. Among first-generation migrants, 59 per cent said migration levels were too high.
More than half of those surveyed – 54 per cent – said they no longer recognise the country they grew up in, reflecting broader concerns about social and cultural change.
Deputy executive director Daniel Wild said the findings challenged assumptions that migrant communities are broadly supportive of high immigration levels, arguing there was “broad-based support” for a reduction. He also criticised successive governments for failing to match population growth with infrastructure and policy settings.
The survey further found 77 per cent of Australians support requiring migrants to commit to a set of national values, with potential consequences for those who fail to uphold them. Only 7 per cent opposed such measures.
Nearly half of respondents – 48 per cent – said they believed the federal government was deliberately increasing migration for electoral advantage, although views on this question were sharply divided along party lines.
The findings come amid record population inflows. Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show net permanent and long-term arrivals reached 494,540 in the year to January 2026, the highest level on record.
Despite this, most Australians appear to underestimate both the size of the migrant population and the scale of recent increases. Between 84 and 86 per cent of respondents misjudged the number of temporary visa holders and the growth in migration since 2022.
The survey also points to shifting political dynamics around the issue. While respondents indicated they would be more likely to support the Coalition if it committed to substantially reducing migration, only a minority believed it would follow through. Voters were more likely to nominate Pauline Hanson’s One Nation as the party they trust most to cut migration levels.
The results underscore the growing prominence of migration as a political issue, as policymakers face pressure to balance economic needs with infrastructure capacity and public sentiment.
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