Embargoed until 10:45am – 15 May 2009
New Zealand's population 4.31 million

The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,306,400 at 31 March 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today. The population increased by 42,800 (1.0 percent) in the March 2009 year, compared with 40,800 (1.0 percent) in the March 2008 year. Population growth increased slightly from the March 2008 year level due to increased net migration.

The main contribution to population growth during the March 2009 year came from natural increase (excess of births over deaths) of 35,300, down 800 on the previous March year. Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 7,500 in the latest year, up from a net migration gain of 4,700 in the March 2008 year.

At 31 March 2009, the median age for males was 35.5 years (half are younger, and half older, than this age). The median age for the female population was 37.3 years. The median age has increased 2.4 years for males and 2.7 years for females between the 1999 and 2009 March years.

In the March 2009 year, the growth rate was highest for the population aged 65 years and over (at 2.5 percent), followed by an increase of 1.6 percent for the population aged 40–64 years. The number of people aged 15–39 years increased by 0.4 percent, while the number of children (aged 0–14 years) increased 0.2 percent in the same period.

Geoff Bascand Government Statistician 15 May 2009

National Population Estimates March 09 (pdf)

National Population Estimates March 09 – Tables (xls)

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