According to the New Zealand population clock, we’re currently sitting on 4,240,179.

I think it’s fair to say that ‘getting away from it all’ is a Kiwi pastime, so it’s hard to imagine our country being overcrowded, without beautiful areas of unspoilt wilderness. I hope we always stay this way – and now statistics seem to be backing me up on this…

New Zealand’s population will continue to rise at its current rate until it reaches around five million. Our permanently small population offers some opportunities (tourism, great lifestyle, a beautiful environment) but it also means limitations for our economy and society. The rate of population expansion will drop as the number of deaths overtakes the number of births annually. At present, one person is born about every 14 minutes and 20 seconds. Statistics New Zealand projections show population growth beginning to slow, with the population peaking at just over the five million in the late 2020′s. The rate of growth has been around 1.4 percent per year since 2001.

Some things you may not have known about the NZ population:

• In relation to the size of our resident population, we have a high rate of inward and outward migration
• Our population reached 4 million at 5.30 pm on Thursday 24 April 2003
• The natural increase in population (births outnumbering deaths) has been around 30,000 people every year since the late 1980′s.
• Between 1990 and 2000, life expectancy increased by 2.4 years for females and 3.4 years for males

Find more stats ‘n stuff in our New Zealand information section, or take a look at the Government-run New Zealand population project, examining issues as they relate to sustainability and development.