Kiwis closing in on 5 million

The total number of New Zealanders worldwide has surged closer to five million, but overcrowding shouldn't be an issue as an estimated 600,000 live overseas.

Statistics New Zealand figures issued yesterday show the population in New Zealand increased by more than 40,000, to 4.28 million, in the year to the end of September.

New Zealand remains a drop in a global population ocean of more than 6 billion but with about 600,000 Kiwis overseas, has the second-highest overseas population per head, behind Ireland.

Last year 35,700 more people were born than died. Since 1978, the number of Kiwis living past 85 has risen from 18,500 to 63,900.

Government statistician Geoff Bascand said New Zealand, along with other OECD countries, had an aging population because of low fertility and low mortality.

Aging "baby boomers" contributed to the highest rate of population growth in the 65 years and over group, at 2.1 per cent. However, in the past decade, the biggest growth was in the number of men and women aged 90 and over.

The male population aged 90 plus rose 72.8 per cent to 5600 and women increased 50.3 per cent to 14,700. The Health Ministry says lower smoking rates and better and earlier intervention in heart disease are among reasons we're living longer.

- © Fairfax NZ News