Population Reaches 4.12 Million
According to Statistics NZ, the estimated resident population of NZ was 4,120,900 at 31 December 2005. The population increased by 37,000 (0.9 percent) in the December 2005 year, compared with 44,500 (1.1 percent) in the December 2004 year. The lower population growth during the December 2005 year was due to the fall in net permanent and long-term migration.
At 31 December 2005, half of NZ's female population was over the age of 36.5 years and half of the males were over the age of 34.8 years. The median age increased by 3.1 years for women and 2.8 years for men between the 1995 and 2005 December years.
The age composition of the NZ population has changed over the last decade. The number of children (0-14 years) grew by 22,100 (2.6 percent) to 876,600 between the 1995 and 2005 December years. However, during the December 2004 and 2005 years, the number of children decreased by 1,800 and 6,000, respectively. At 31 December 2005, children made up 21.3 percent of the NZ population.
In comparison, the working-age population (15-64 years) accounted for 66.5 percent of the population. Between the 1995 and 2005 December years, the working-age population increased by 313,000 (12.9 percent) to 2,738,500. The 65+ age group grew by 79,200 (18.6 percent) to 505,800 over the same period.
At 31 December 2005, the median ages of the working-age population (15-64 years) and the population aged 65 years and over were 38.7 and 74.2 years, respectively, up from 36.2 and 73.3 years, respectively, in 1995.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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