The flow of people leaving NSW for other parts of the country has reached its highest level in five years.

But the state also experienced the biggest population boost from overseas migration of any state or territory in 2016-17, Bureau of Statistics figures show.

A net total of 15,160 people moved from NSW to other states and territories that year, a bigger loss than any other state, and the most since 2011-12.

In 2014-15 the net population loss from NSW to other states was only about 6700.

Three inner-Sydney districts – the inner-south west, eastern suburbs and Parramatta - lost more people to other parts of Australia than any comparable region in 2016-17.