Key findings about population 

New Zealand has changed dramatically since the 19th century, both in size and diversity of population.

• Census night and usually resident population, 1911–2013
  New Zealand’s population rose from just over 1 million in 1911 to 4.2 million in 2013.
• Māori census night and usually resident populations, 1911–2013
  In 1911, Māori made up 5 percent of the total census night population. In 2013, Māori made up 14.1 percent of the population.
• Distribution of the population, 1858–2013
  The population has increasingly shifted towards the North Island. 
• Change in North and South island populations, 1901–2013
  The North Island grew at a much faster rate than the South in the 20th and 21st centuries.
• Population density, 1874–2013
  Over the past century, the population density of the North Island has increased more quickly than that of the South.
• Population density of most densely populated districts, 1926–2013
  Central Auckland has the greatest population density in New Zealand.
• Age group distribution, 1911–2013
  The proportion of children in the population has fallen since 1911, while the proportion of older people has increased.
• People born overseas, 1881–2013
  In 2013, around one-quarter of New Zealand’s population was born overseas. This was about the same proportion as in 1921.
• Migration, 1971–2013
  Migration within New Zealand and from overseas increased in the 2000s, but slowed in 2013.
• Number of children born, 1916–2013
  In 1916, married women had given birth to an average of 3.2 children, compared with 2.4 in 2013.

See also: A century of censuses – dwellings and households

Published 14 July 2015