Population Nears 4 Million Mark

National Population Estimates: December 2000 quarter

Population Nears 4 Million Mark

New Zealand's estimated resident population at 31 December 2000 was 3,842,800 - just 157,200 short of the 4 million mark, Deputy Government Statistician Dianne Macaskill said today. During the 12 months ended 31 December 2000, the New Zealand population grew by an estimated 17,000 or 0.4 per cent. This is down on the increase of 20,200 recorded for the year ended December 1999, and considerably smaller than the average annual increase of 1.1 per cent for the 1991-99 period.

The increase was smaller in the December 2000 year than in the previous year, due to both a smaller natural increase of population (excess of births over deaths) of 28,300, and a larger net permanent and long-term migration outflow of 11,300.

The estimated population increase during the December 2000 quarter was 6,500 or 0.2 per cent. This resulted from a natural increase of 6,700, and a net migration outflow of 200 through permanent and long-term migration. The corresponding population increases for the December quarters of 1999 and 1998 were 9,700 and 7,800 respectively.

Population ageing is continuing. Half of the New Zealand population is now over 34.5 years of age, up 3 years over the median age of 31.5 years in 1991. Children under 15 years now make up 22.8 per cent of all New Zealanders, down from 23.1 per cent in 1991. The population aged 65 years and over now number 454,100 and make up 11.8 per cent of the New Zealand population, up from 11.3 per cent in 1991.

Dianne Macaskill
DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN
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