Stock of Overseas-born population

New Zealand's population

Statistics New Zealand estimated the total resident population of New Zealand to be 4,315,800 at 30 June 2009.^[17] This was an increase of 46,900 (1.1 percent) from an estimated 4,268,900 at 30 June 2008.^[18] This population growth was mainly due to a natural increase (an excess of births over deaths) of 34,400. Net migration was 12,500 in 2008/09 compared with 4,700 in 2007/08.

New Zealand's overseas-born population has continued to increase. In 2006, 23 percent of people usually living in New Zealand (879,543 people) were born overseas compared with 20 percent in 2001 and 18 percent in 1996.^[19]

Statistics New Zealand provides information on regions where migrants were born.^[20] Table 12 shows that the percentage of overseas-born people from the United Kingdom and Ireland (New Zealand's most significant source of migrants historically) has decreased over 10 years (from 38 percent in 1996 to 29 percent in 2006). In contrast, the percentage of overseas-born people from Asia increased from 19 percent in 1996 to 29 percent in 2006, equalling the percentage born in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Table 12: Usually resident population by birthplace for overseas born in 1996, 2001, and 2006 (New Zealand census years)

Birthplace (overseas)	Census year
	1996		2001		2006
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Total overseas born	605,061	100	698,628	100	879,543	100
Australia	54,711	9	56,259	8	62,742	7
Pacific Islands	99,261	16	117,987	17	135,852	15
UK and Ireland	230,049	38	225,120	32	251,688	29
Europe (excl UK and Ireland)	55,599	9	59,550	9	68,070	8
North America	19,230	3	21,279	3	26,940	3
Asia	117,918	19	165,777	24	251,133	29
Other countries	28,293	5	52,659	8	83,124	9

Source: Statistics New Zealand.

Characteristics of overseas-born people

There were more new migrants in New Zealand at the 2006 census than at the 2001 census. In 2006, almost one-third (32 percent) of people born overseas had been living in New Zealand for four years or less compared with 27 percent in 2001. In 2006, one-third of those born overseas (33 percent) had been living in New Zealand for 20 years or more.

The median age^[21] of people arriving to live in New Zealand differed by region of birth. In 2006, the median age of people born in both Asia^[22] and the Pacific Islands who had been living in New Zealand for four years or less was 26.2 years. Those from the United Kingdom and Ireland tended to be older, with a median age of 32.4 years. This compares with a national median age of 35.5 years for all males and 37.4 years for all females at 30 June 2009.^[23] The overall median age increased by 2.3 years for males and 2.7 years for females from 1998/99 to 2008/09. On average, overseas-born women have lower fertility rates than New Zealand-born women (see Table 13).

Table 13: Average number of children born per woman by age group and birthplace, 2006 (New Zealand census)

Age group (years)	New Zealand born	Overseas born	Not elsewhere included*
Total	1.84	1.69	2.46
Age standardised^	1.85	1.67	2.01
15-19	0.05	0.02	0.08
20-24	0.34	0.15	0.43
25-29	0.87	0.56	1.10
30-34	1.42	1.19	1.65
35-39	1.92	1.75	2.12
40-44	2.16	2.01	2.36
45-49	2.29	2.13	2.54
50-54	2.36	2.25	2.54
55-59	2.46	2.34	2.63
60-64	2.69	2.53	2.95
65 and over	3.00	2.73	3.12

Note: Does not include people who objected to answering the live birth questions.

* Includes Unidentifiable, Outside Scope, and Not Stated.

^ Age standardised rate = Σ(ri Pi)/ΣPi.

Source: Statistics New Zealand.

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