New Zealand's population 4.31 million

The estimated resident population of New Zealand was 4,306,400 at 31 March 2009, Statistics New
Zealand said today. The population increased by 42,800 (1.0 percent) in the March 2009 year, compared
with 40,800 (1.0 percent) in the March 2008 year. Population growth increased slightly from the March 2008
year level due to increased net migration.

The main contribution to population growth during the March 2009 year came from natural increase (excess
of births over deaths) of 35,300, down 800 on the previous March year. Permanent and long-term arrivals
exceeded departures by 7,500 in the latest year, up from a net migration gain of 4,700 in the March 2008
year.

At 31 March 2009, the median age for males was 35.5 years (half are younger, and half older, than this
age). The median age for the female population was 37.3 years. The median age has increased 2.4 years
for males and 2.7 years for females between the 1999 and 2009 March years.

In the March 2009 year, the growth rate was highest for the population aged 65 years and over (at 2.5
percent), followed by an increase of 1.6 percent for the population aged 40–64 years. The number of people
aged 15–39 years increased by 0.4 percent, while the number of children (aged 0–14 years) increased 0.2
percent in the same period.

Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
15 May 2009

END

See also the Hot Off The Press information release National Population Estimates: March 2009 quarter.