National Population Projections: 2006 (base) - 2061

Highlights

New Zealand's population will reach five million by the late 2020s, according to the mid-range projection scenario (series 5).
The population growth rate will slow steadily under all projection scenarios because of the narrowing gap between births and deaths.
Deaths are projected to exceed births in the 2050s under series 5.
The age structure of the population will continue to undergo gradual but significant changes resulting in more older people and further ageing of the population.
Under all projection scenarios, the number of New Zealanders aged 65 years and over is projected to exceed one million by the late 2020s, compared with half a million in 2006.
People aged 65 years and over are projected to outnumber those aged under 15 years in the mid-2020s.

Graph, New Zealand Population.

Graph, Age Distribution of Population.

Geoff Bascand	24 October 2007
Government Statistician	ISSN 1178-0584