Embargoed until 10:45am – 17 November 2009
Slight decrease in deaths in September year

There were 28,680 deaths registered during the September 2009 year, down 2 percent from 29,130 in 2008, Statistics New Zealand said today. The largest numerical decreases were in the Auckland (down 370 or 5 percent), Waikato (down 100 or 3 percent), and Wellington (down 90 or 3 percent) regions. Despite the overall decrease, the latest national figure is the second-highest number of deaths recorded for any September year. Between 2007 and 2008, deaths had increased 3 percent (980).

The number of deaths has gradually increased over time due to population growth in the older age-groups, partly offset by longer life expectancy. The number of deaths is projected to continue to increase, surpassing 40,000 a year by 2029 and 50,000 by 2042.

The median age (half are younger and half are older than this age) at death in the September 2009 year was 77 years for males and 83 years for females, up from 71 for males and 78 for females in 1989.

Birth registrations in the year ended September 2009 totalled 63,160, down 2 percent from 2008.

The decrease was mainly due to 1,200 fewer registations in the June 2009 quarter compared with the June 2008 quarter. The latest annual figure is still 7 percent higher than the average of 58,770 births per year over the last decade.

The birth rate was 2.1 births per woman in the year ended September 2009, down from 2.2 in 2008. The current birth rate is around half the peak of 4.3 births per woman reached in 1961.

Births exceeded deaths (natural increase) by 34,480 in the September 2009 year. The 2009- base mid-range national population projections show that natural increase is likely to decline over the next 50 years, dropping to 5,500 in 2061.

Births And Deaths Sep 09 (pdf)

Births And Deaths Sep 09 - Tables (xls)

ENDS

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