Embargoed until 10:45am – 21 August 2007

Population growth continues

The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,228,000 at 30 June 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today. This is the first release of population estimates to be based on the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings. The population increased by 43,400 (1.0 percent) in the June 2007 year, from a new estimated resident population base of 4,184,600 at 30 June 2006.

Population growth during the June 2007 year was mainly due to a natural increase (excess of births over deaths) of 33,300. Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 10,100 in the latest year, compared with a net migration gain of 10,700 in the June 2006 year.

At 30 June 2007, the median age for males was 35.3 years (half are younger, and half older, than this age).

The median age for the female population was 36.9 years. The median age has increased by 2.8 years for males and 2.9 years for females between the 1997 and 2007 June years.

Strong growth across all major ethnic groups in New Zealand is a reflection of greater diversity as well as an increasing population, with more people identifying with two or more ethnic groups. New estimates based on the 2006 Census show the estimated resident populations of all the major ethnic groups at 30 June 2006 increased significantly from the census usually resident population counts. This is because the estimated resident population adjusts for census undercount, residents temporarily overseas, and nonresponse to the census question on ethnicity. The proportions of each ethnic group as a percentage of the total population, however, remained similar.

Cathryn Ashley-Jones
Acting Government Statistician

ENDS

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