Population grows to 4.28 million

The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,280,000 at 30 September 2008, Statistics New Zealand said today. The population increased by 40,100 (0.9 percent) in the September 2008 year, compared with 43,300 (1.0 percent) in the September 2007 year.

The main contribution to population growth during the September 2008 year came from natural increase (excess of births over deaths) of 35,700, up 700 on the previous September year. However, population growth was lower in the September 2008 year compared with the previous year, because of a fall in net migration. Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 4,400 in the latest year, down from a net migration gain of 8,300 in the September 2007 year.

At 30 September 2008, 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 37.2 years. The median age has increased 2.5 years for males and 2.8 years for females between the 1998 and 2008 September years.

In the September 2008 year, the rate of population growth was highest in the 65 years and over age group (at 2.1 percent), followed by an increase for the 15–64-year age group (at 1.0 percent). The number of children (aged 0–14 years) increased 0.1 percent in the same period. In the 10 years ended September 2008, the number of children increased 1.5 percent, compared with respective increases of 13.9 percent and 22.1 percent for the 15–64-year and 65 years and over age groups.