The people of New Zealand

The estimated population of New Zealand is approximately 4,408,765million, with an annual growth rate of 1.3%. New Zealand's population is estimated to increase by one person every 29 minutes and 19 seconds.

This is based on the estimated resident population at 31 March 2011 and the following factors:

• One birth every 8 minutes and 26 seconds
• One death every 18 minutes and 15 seconds
• A net migration loss of one New Zealand resident every 33 minutes and 36 seconds.

New Zealand’s ageing population

New Zealand’s population is ageing, as with most other OECD countries. Over fifteen percent of the country’s population is over 65 years old. The 65+ population reached 564,500 at 31 March 2010, an increase of 2.8% over the previous year. In particular New Zealand’s women are living longer than ever before, averaging at 82 years, whereas men are living until they are 78, on average. In 2050, the population is forecast to reach 5.3 million, the median age to rise from 36 years to 43 years and the percentage of people 60 years of age and older to rise from 18% to 29%.

New Zealand in urban areas

New Zealand is a largely an urban country, with 72% of the population living in 16 main urban areas and 53% living in the four largest cities of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Hamillton. New Zealand cities generally rank highly on international livability measures. In 2010, the Mercer Quality of Life Survey ranked  Aucklandthe world's 4th most liveable city and Wellington the 12th.

New Zealand's ethnic diversity

New Zealand is becoming increasingly ethnically diverse. Although 80% of the population regard themselves as of European origin, there is a growing trend across ethnic groups, with 20% of children identifying with two ethnic origins. Fifteen percent of the population identify as Maori, 6.9% as Pacific Islander and 9.2% as Asian. Interestingly the Asian population in New Zealand has doubled since 1991, while individuals identifying as of ‘other’ ethnic origin have increased by 300%.

Literacy in New Zealand

New Zealand has a 99% literacy rate. Ninety-six percent of girls and 94% of boys attend secondary school and 63% of students go on to study some form of tertiary education. Seventy-six percent of New Zealanders aged between 25 and 64 have some form of secondary or tertiary qualification.

Empoyment in New Zealand

Compared with other OECD countries New Zealand has an above-average employment rate, even following the GFC. The most recently available figures (March 2011) put unemployment in New Zealand at 6.6%. New Zealand has the 11th lowest unemployment rate of the 34 OECD countries and is below the average OECD rate of 8.2%.