Population reaches 3.83 million

National Population Estimates: March 2000 quarter

Population reaches 3.83 million

New Zealand's resident population is estimated to have been 3,829,600 at 31 March 2000, Deputy Government Statistician Dianne Macaskill said today when releasing the first set of quarterly population estimates for the year 2000. This represents an increase of 20,700 or 0.5 per cent over the 31 March 1999 figure, which is less than half of the average annual growth rate for the previous five years (1.2 per cent).

Net out-migration has been the main factor in the slower growth. Permanent and long-term departures exceeded arrivals by 9,000 during the March 2000 year, which partially offset the natural increase (excess of births over deaths) of just under 30,000.

The estimated population increase during the March 2000 quarter was 4,000 or 0.1 per cent. This resulted from a natural increase of 8,000, and a net loss of 4,000 through permanent and long-term migration. The corresponding population increases for the March quarters of 1999 and 1998 were 3,400 and 7,900 respectively.

Population ageing is continuing. Half of all New Zealanders are now over 34.2 years of age, compared with a median age of 31.3 years in 1991. Children under 15 years now number 877,000 while those of working age (15-64 years) number 2,503,000. People aged 65 years and over total 450,000.

Dianne Macaskill DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN END

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