The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,239,300 at 30 September 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today. The population increased by 42,700 (1.0 percent) in the September 2007 year, compared with 50,700 (1.2 percent) in the September 2006 year.

Population growth during the September 2007 year was mainly due to a natural increase (excess of births over deaths) of 34,400. Natural increase was higher in the September 2007 year compared with the previous year (31,000), because of a rise in the number of births. Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 8,300 in the latest year, down from a net migration gain of 13,200 in the September 2006 year.

At 30 September 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 September years.

In the September 2007 year, the rate of population growth was highest in the 65 years and over age group at 2.9 percent, followed by a 1.0 percent increase for the 15–64 year age group. The number of children (aged 0–14 years) remained about the same at 30 September 2007, compared with the previous year. In the ten years ended September 2007, the number of children has increased just 1.9 percent, compared with respective increases of 13.6 percent and 21.2 percent for the 15–64 year and 65 years and over age groups.

ENDS

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