Births and Deaths: Year ended March 2012

In the March 2012 year:

• 60,860 live births and 29,811 deaths were registered in New Zealand, resulting in a natural increase (live births minus deaths) of 31,049.
• There were 2,323 fewer births and 705 more deaths compared with the March 2011 year.
• The total fertility rate was 2.0 births per woman.
• The infant mortality rate was 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.