National Population Estimates: March 2005 quarter
26 April 2005 Population Growth Slowing
The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,092,900 at 31 March 2005, Statistics New Zealand said today. In
the March 2005 year, the population growth was estimated to be 38,600 (1.0 percent), compared with 56,800 (1.4 percent)
in the March 2004 year. The March 2005 year estimate is below the average annual increase of 42,900 for the March years
from 1995 to 2005.
The lower population growth during the March 2005 year was due to a fall in permanent and long-term migration. Permanent
and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 10,000 (26 percent of the population growth) in the March 2005 year,
whereas in the March 2004 year the net migration gain was 28,000 (49 percent of the population growth).
Natural increase (excess of births over deaths) was 28,600 in the March 2005 year, marginally lower than the natural
increase recorded in the March 2004 year (28,800). During the March 2005 year, the number of children (aged 0–14 years)
decreased by 4,400 (0.5 percent) to reach 880,800 at 31 March 2005. The working-age population (15–64 years), which
accounted for 66.4 percent of the population, was estimated to be 2,717,800 at 31 March 2005.
This is an increase of 320,700 (13.4 percent) compared with the March 1995 year. The number of children grew by 35,800
(4.2 percent) during the same decade. The population aged 65 years and over (65+) increased by 72,800 (17.3 percent)
over the last decade, to reach 494,300 at 31 March 2005. The largest population growth in this category over the last
decade was in the 90 years and over age group, at 65.6 percent. The 80–89-year and 65–79-year age groups grew by 35.4
and 11.2 percent respectively, during the same period. The 65+ age group accounted for 12.1 percent of the population at
31 March 2005.
At 31 March 2005, half the New Zealand female population was over the age of 36.3 years and half the New Zealand male
population was over the age of 34.5 years. The median age has increased by 3.1 years for women and 2.8 years for men
between the March 1995 and 2005 years.
Ian Ewing
Acting Government Statistician
ENDS