Australia's migrant intake rose 3.4 per cent in 1999-2000 to 70,200, just 200 above the government's target for the financial year.

Once again, skilled migrants made up the single biggest category of the non-humanitarian migrant intake, with 35,330 people allowed to emigrate under the various skills categories.

That's 330 more than in 1998-99.

"The continued emphasis on skilled migration re-reinforces the government's commitment to maintaining the improvements already achieved in the economic, budgetary and employment impact of immigration," Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said.

"Such improvements have done much to restore the community's confidence in the migration program over the past few years."

Mr Ruddock said there had also been an encouraging increase in the number of migrants travelling to areas other than Sydney.

A total of 3,309 visas were issued under state specific migration schemes, under which migrants travel to a specific state.

Half of these went to Victoria, with South Australia the next most popular state.

There were 32,040 migrants accepted under the family program in 1998-99, including 22,970 spouses, up 1,340 on the previous year and 3,360 fiancees.

The migrant intake figures do not include refugees and others allowed to enter Australia under the humanitarian program, which was set at 12,000 for 1999-2000.

That figure is likely to come in under target, but Mr Ruddock said Australia's success in meeting immigration targets contrasted well with similar countries.

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