Statistics NZ > Analytical reports > Children in New Zealand

Children in New Zealand

Statistics on children, defined in this 1998 report as those aged under 15 years, illustrate their demographic, social and economic position. This report, based on data from the 1996 census, provides information on changes in the child population, family structure, health and education, patterns of work among parents, and other factors which determine children's levels of economic well-being.


For more information read NZ Now Children.

Table of Contents



Children, a fluctuating population
More children born overseas
Growing ethnic diversity
Four in five children urban dwellers
Fewer children in coming decades
NZ children living longer
Infant mortality ranking slips
More children hospitalised
GPs are the health professional children see the most often
Disability affects one in nine children
Increasing participation in early childhood education
School achievement in maths and science
Ethnic disparities in maths and sciences
More overseas born children bilingual
More sole-parent families
De facto parents more common
Sole parents younger on average
Children in shared households
Children in sole-parent families more likely to live in rented accommodation
More employed mothers in two-parent families
Fewer employed fathers
Both parents employed more common
Children without a parent in paid employment
Sole-parent family income