Drop in Population Growth

Drop in Population Growth

The resident population of New Zealand was estimated to be 4,061,300 at 30 June 2004, according to the latest population estimates released by Statistics New Zealand. In the year to June 2004, the population growth was estimated to be 52,200 (1.3 percent). This was lower than the growth of 70,000 (1.8 percent) for the year to June 2003. The population change for the June 2004 year is still higher than the average annual increase of 44,100 (1.2 percent) for June years from 1994 to 2004.

The lower population growth during the June 2004 year was due to a fall in permanent and long-term migration. Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 22,000 in the June 2004 year (42 percent of the population growth), whereas in the June 2003 year the net gain from permanent and long-term migration was 42,500 (61 percent of the population growth). Natural increase (excess of births over deaths) was 30,200 in the June 2004 year, an increase of 2,700 when compared with the June 2003 year (27,500).

The population aged 65 years and over (65+) continues to be the age group with the highest population growth. The 65+ age group has grown by 69,600 (16.7 percent) over the last decade, to reach 485,600 at 30 June 2004. The working-age population (15–64 years), which accounted for 66.2 percent of the population in the June 2004 year, was estimated to be 2,690,200 at 30 June 2004. This is an increase of 321,400 (13.6 percent) when compared with the June 1994 year. The number of children aged under 15 years grew by 50,300 (6.0 percent) during the same 10-year period, to reach 885,500 at 30 June 2004.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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