Population Growth Continues

Population Growth Continues

New Zealand's estimated resident population at 30 June 2003 was 4,009,100, according to the latest population estimates released by Statistics New Zealand. The four million milestone was reached in late April.

During the June 2003 year, the population grew by 70,000 (or 1.8 percent) compared with an increase of 58,600 (1.5 percent) in the June 2002 year. Three-fifths of the growth was due to a net migration gain, with permanent and long-term arrivals exceeding departures by 42,500. This compares with a net inflow of 32,800 during the June 2002 year. The remaining two-fifths of population growth was due to natural increase (excess of births over deaths). Natural increase was 27,500 in the June 2003 year, and lower in the June 2002 year at 25,800.

An age analysis shows that the New Zealand resident population of just over four million can be split into four 'single million' groups by age. In round terms, the youngest one million New Zealanders are aged 0 to 16, one million are aged 17 to 34, one million are aged 35 to 51 and the oldest one million are 52 years and over. Overall, half of all New Zealanders are now aged over 35 years, compared with a median age of 32 years a decade ago in 1993.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

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