Fewer births in Canterbury

The number of live births in Canterbury decreased in the year ended March 2012, Statistics New Zealand said today. There were 6,539 live births registered in Canterbury for the year, a decrease of 641 (9 percent) from the March 2011 year.

"The decrease in births in Canterbury was bigger than for any other region," Population Statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said. "Births decreased in all regions except Otago and the West Coast."

Nationally, 60,860 live births were registered in the March 2012 year, down 2,323 (4 percent) from 2011.
Meanwhile, deaths increased slightly in the March 2012 year. There were 29,811 deaths registered in New Zealand in the year, up 705 (2 percent) from the March 2011 year. The increase in deaths is not unexpected.

The number of deaths is gradually increasing due to population growth in the older age groups, although this is partly offset by longer life expectancy.

Live births, combined with the deaths, resulted in a natural increase (live births minus deaths) of 31,049, down from 34,077 in the March 2011 year.

See also:
Births and Deaths: Year ended March 2012  –  Information release