Stats NZ

Population growth rebounds on removal of COVID border restrictions

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.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14Annual changeAnnual change in the New Zealand population, year ended 30 June 1992–2023Population changeNatural increaseNet migration19921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023050k100k-50k150kStats NZ

Annual change in the New Zealand population, year ended 30 June 1992–2023

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14Annual changeAnnual change in the New Zealand population, year ended 30 June 1992–2023Population changeNatural increaseNet migration19921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023-50k050k100k150kStats NZ
At 30 JunePopulation changeNatural increaseNet migration
199236,60033,0003,600
199340,50031,8008,700
199447,80031,00016,800
199553,40030,70022,700
199658,60029,10029,500
199749,30029,80016,800
199833,70030,500500
199920,10028,700-11,400
200022,60029,600-9,800
200122,70029,200-9,300
200268,00026,50032,800
200378,80027,50042,500
200460,30029,60022,000
200546,30029,1008,600
200650,70031,30010,700
200739,20033,80010,100
200836,00035,9004,700
200942,80035,00012,500
201048,10036,20016,500
201133,30034,1003,900
201224,10031,900-3,200
201334,00030,8007,900
201474,40029,30033,500
201592,90027,70053,400
2016104,70028,40064,600
201799,50028,30059,500
201887,00026,70049,000
201978,60026,50052,100
2020111,00026,20084,800
202121,10027,700-6,600
20225,80023,500-17,600
2023105,90019,10086,800

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.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14PopulationEstimates for 2022 and 2023 are provisional.New Zealand population by broad age group, at 30 June 1991–20230–1415–3940–6465+1991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220230500k1 000k1 500k2 000kStats NZ

New Zealand population by broad age group, at 30 June 1991–2023

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14PopulationNew Zealand population by broad age group, at 30 June 1991–20230–1415–3940–6465+1991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220230500k1 000k1 500k2 000kStats NZ
At 30 June0–1415–3940–6465+
1991807,2001,399,100897,500391,300
1992814,3001,402,500915,300399,600
1993824,7001,405,700934,100407,800
1994835,3001,412,200956,600415,900
1995847,5001,421,100981,400423,400
1996859,5001,433,9001,008,500430,100
1997869,5001,437,2001,038,300436,300
1998876,3001,429,6001,067,000442,200
1999877,3001,413,6001,096,200447,900
2000878,7001,400,7001,124,900453,500
2001877,2001,388,8001,153,900460,600
2002883,6001,405,7001,191,800467,500
2003890,0001,430,7001,230,900475,700
2004893,1001,443,4001,266,400484,600
2005890,2001,452,1001,295,200496,400
2006888,3001,463,7001,321,000511,600
2007891,3001,463,7001,343,500525,300
2008895,5001,460,4001,368,800535,000
2009901,1001,461,0001,392,100548,300
2010908,1001,464,6001,414,400563,500
2011910,7001,459,1001,434,100580,100
2012909,8001,450,5001,444,700603,000
2013908,8001,452,3001,455,000626,000
2014911,7001,484,5001,471,700648,500
2015916,2001,533,8001,489,200670,200
2016924,6001,590,0001,507,500692,000
2017936,8001,637,1001,525,800713,800
2018946,4001,676,9001,542,300734,900
2019956,0001,705,6001,557,700759,800
2020966,4001,750,1001,581,800791,900
2021967,9001,738,7001,587,200817,500
2022963,7001,725,1001,588,600839,700
2023968,3001,781,3001,609,900863,600

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.

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