Largest population growth ever – Media release

12 August 2016

New Zealand's population grew by 97,300, or 2.1 percent, in the year ended June 2016, Statistics New Zealand said today. This is the largest annual increase ever. New Zealand’s estimated resident population was 4.69 million at 30 June 2016.

“Annual population growth over 2 percent is high by New Zealand standards,” said population statistics senior manager Jo-Anne Skinner. “The last time we experienced population growth over 2 percent was in 1974. And before that, at the peak of the baby boom in the 1950s and early 1960s.”

The record increase in population was driven by record levels of international migration. Net migration was 69,100 over the year to June 2016, with 125,100 migrant arrivals less 56,000 migrant departures. Natural increase (births minus deaths) contributed the remaining 28,200. To put this in context, the average annual net migration over the last decade has been 21,800 and average annual natural increase has been 32,300.

The large net inflow of migrants meant the younger working-age population (15–39 years) grew by 3.6 percent in the year ended June 2016, to reach 1.58 million. The older segment of our population (65+ years) also grew by 3.6 percent, to reach 700,000.

Ends

For more information about these statistics:
• Visit National Population Estimates: At 30 June 2016
• Open the attached files
NationalPopulationEstimatesAt30Jun16.pdf
npejun16tables.xlsx

© Scoop Media