While the number of people claiming the age pension grew 17% to 2.3 million between 2007 and 2012, the number of aged pensioners who have moved overseas while still claiming the retirement pensions has increased by 30% to 73,158 people.

Immigrants returning home lead with Italy topping the list with 17,050, Greece 11,400, New Zealand 8,174, Spain 3,976 and the Netherlands with 3,919. Traditional Australians however are also discovering Thailand, Bali and the Philippines.