8 February 2008
Population grows to 4.25 million
The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,252,000 at 31 December 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today.
The population increased by 40,600 (1.0 percent) in the December 2007 year, compared with 50,400 (1.2 percent) in the
December 2006 year.
Population growth during the December 2007 year was mainly due to a natural increase (excess of births over deaths) of
35,100. Natural increase was higher in the December 2007 year than in the previous year (31,500), because of a rise in
the number of births. Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 5,500 in the latest year, down from a net
migration gain of 14,600 in the December 2006 year.
At 31 December 2007, the median age for males was 35.4 years (half are younger, and half older, than this age). The
median age for the female population was 37.0 years. The median age has increased 2.7 years for males and 2.9 years for
females between the 1997 and 2007 December years.
In the December 2007 year, the rate of population growth was highest in the 65 years and over age group at 2.6 percent,
followed by a 0.9 percent increase for the 15–64 year age group. The number of children (aged 0–14 years) increased 0.1
percent in the same period. In the ten years ended December 2007, the number of children has increased just 1.8 percent,
compared with respective increases of 13.7 percent and 21.4 percent for the 15–64 year and 65 years and over age groups.
Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
8 February 2008
ENDS