National Population Estimates: December 2005

National Population Estimates: December 2005

10:45am — 7 February 2006

Population Reaches 4.12 Million

The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,120,900 at 31 December 2005, Statistics New Zealand said today. The population increased by 37,000 (0.9 percent) in the December 2005 year, compared with 44,500 (1.1 percent) in the December 2004 year.

The lower population growth during the December 2005 year was due to the fall in net permanent and long-term migration. Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 7,000 in the December 2005 year, compared with a net migration gain of 15,100 in the December 2004 year. Natural increase (excess of births over deaths) was 30,000 in the December 2005 year, slightly higher than that recorded in the December 2004 year (29,400).

At 31 December 2005, half of New Zealand's female population was over the age of 36.5 years and half of the males were over the age of 34.8 years. The median age increased by 3.1 years for women and 2.8 years for men between the 1995 and 2005 December years. The age composition of the New Zealand population has changed over the last decade. The number of children (0–14 years) grew by 22,100 (2.6 percent) to 876,600 between the 1995 and 2005 December years. However, during the December 2004 and 2005 years the number of children decreased by 1,800 and 6,000, respectively. At 31 December 2005, children made up 21.3 percent of the New Zealand population.

In comparison, the working-age population (15–64 years) accounted for 66.5 percent of the population. Between the 1995 and 2005 December years, the working-age population increased by 313,000 (12.9 percent) to 2,738,500. The 65+ age group grew by 79,200 (18.6 percent) to 505,800 over the same period.

At 31 December 2005, the median ages of the working-age population (15–64 years) and the population aged 65 years and over were 38.7 and 74.2 years, respectively, up from 36.2 and 73.3 years, respectively, in 1995.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

ENDS

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