Population Surge Post-Lifting of COVID Border Curbs

New Zealand's resident population provisionally grew by 2.1 percent (105,900 people) over the preceding 12 months, to reach 5.22 million at 30 June 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

"Growth of 2.1 percent is a sizeable rebound," estimates and projections manager Michael MacAskill said.

"New Zealand's net migration during the June 2023 year was the main driver of population growth over this period."

Net migration rebounded to a gain of 86,800 in the June 2023 year, reversing a net migration loss of 17,600 in the June 2022 year.

Reduced migration due to COVID-19 border restrictions resulted in low population growth in the preceding two years (0.4 percent to June 2021 and 0.1 percent to June 2022).

New Zealand's population change is a combination of natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration (migrant arrivals minus migrant departures).

"Natural increase had a smaller impact on population growth than in previous years, due to fewer live births and slightly more deaths," MacAskill said.

"The natural increase of 19,100 was the smallest New Zealand has experienced since 1943."

International migration: June 2023 has more information on the latest migration figures.

Diagram showing components of NZ population change year ended June 2023

Text alternative for Components of New Zealand population change, Year ended June 2023

New Zealand has an ageing population resulting in an increasing number of deaths each year. The higher number of deaths in the June 2023 year (3.8 percent more than in 2022) also reflects more deaths in the September and December quarters in 2022, which includes the impacts of the pandemic.

Births and deaths: Year ended June 2023 has more information on registered births and deaths.

At 30 JunePopulation changeNatural increaseNet migration
199236600330003600
199340500318008700
1994478003100016800
1995534003070022700
1996586002910029500
1997493002980016800
19983370030500500
19992010028700-11400
20002260029600-9800
20012270029200-9300
2002680002650032800
2003788002750042500
2004603002960022000
200546300291008600
2006507003130010700
2007392003380010100
200836000359004700
2009428003500012500
2010481003620016500
201133300341003900
20122410031900-3200
201334000308007900
2014744002930033500
2015929002770053400
20161047002840064600
2017995002830059500
2018870002670049000
2019786002650052100
20201110002620084800
20212110027700-6600
2022580023500-17600
20231059001910086800

Growth at different ages

Among broad age groups, young working-age adults (15-39 years) had the highest growth, up 3.3 percent over the June year 2023. This is an increase of 56,200 people, or about 154 people per day. Net migration was the main driver of this increase, with young working-age adults making up two-thirds of the net migration gain.

In contrast, the number of people aged 0-14 had the lowest increase, at 0.5 percent, or 4,600 people (just under 13 each day). This reflects the fewer births in 2023, which was the lowest annual number since 2005.

The population aged 65+ continues to grow, increasing by 2.8 percent (23,900 people, or about 65 people per day).

"People born in the late 1950s are now entering this age group and exceeding the numbers exiting this age group through death," MacAskill said.

At 30 June0-1415-3940-6465+
19918072001399100897500391300
19928143001402500915300399600
19938247001405700934100407800
19948353001412200956600415900
19958475001421100981400423400
199685950014339001008500430100
199786950014372001038300436300
199887630014296001067000442200
199987730014136001096200447900
200087870014007001124900453500
200187720013888001153900460600
200288360014057001191800467500
200389000014307001230900475700
200489310014434001266400484600
200589020014521001295200496400
200688830014637001321000511600
200789130014637001343500525300
200889550014604001368800535000
200990110014610001392100548300
201090810014646001414400563500
201191070014591001434100580100
201290980014505001444700603000
201390880014523001455000626000
201491170014845001471700648500
201591620015338001489200670200
201692460015900001507500692000
201793680016371001525800713800
201894640016769001542300734900
201995600017056001557700759800
202096640017501001581800791900
202196790017387001587200817500
202296370017251001588600839700
202396830017813001609900863600

Text alternative for Components of New Zealand population change, Year ended June 2023

Diagram shows estimated population change for the year ended June 2023. Overall, the estimated population growth of 105,900 is made up of a natural increase of 19,100 (difference between 57,500 live births and 38,300 deaths) and a net migration gain of 86,800 (difference between 195,200 migrant arrivals and 108,400 migrant departures). All estimates are provisional.

/Stats NZ Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.