Our changing population
New Zealanders are living longer, and our older population is growing faster than our younger population.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
On this page
New Zealanders are living longer
Independent life expectency at birth, non-Māori females
Source: Ministry of Health, Independent Life Expectancy in New Zealand 2013
Independent life expectancy at birth, Māori females
Source: Ministry of Health, Independent Life Expectancy in New Zealand 2013
Many of our later years are lived with a disability
Māori and non-Māori life expectancy at age 65
Source: Ministry of Health, Independent Life Expectancy in New Zealand 2013
Our older population is becoming more ethnically diverse
Projected growth of population 75+ by ethnicity (with 20-year percentage increase)
Source: Statistics NZ, National population projections, by age and sex, 2014 (base)–2068
Our older population is growing faster than our younger population
Not only is our older population growing, it is growing faster than the overall population. This will result in higher percentages of people in older age groups.
Projected population growth, by age group
Source: Statistics NZ, National population projections, by age and sex, 2014 (base)–2068
Percentage of population in older age groups
Source: Statistics NZ, National population projects by age and sex, 2014 (base)–2068