How coronavirus helped New Zealand population top 5 million

19:48, May 18 2020
New Zealand's resident population was 5,002,100 on March 31, Statistics NZ says.
Monique Ford/Stuff
New Zealand's resident population was 5,002,100 on March 31, Statistics NZ says.

New Zealand's population has climbed above 5 million - and the coronavirus pandemic helped take us there.

The milestone was passed in March, Statistics NZ estimates. The figure excludes visitors from overseas, and Kiwis living abroad.

Statistics NZ manager Brooke Theyers said it was a "significant event" for the country.

The country's population reached 4 million just 17 years ago in 2003 and is not expected to reach 6 million until some time in the 2040s, the department calculates.

Theyers said it was not possible to tell who the '5 millionth' New Zealander actually was.

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Based on the country's population growth, it was most likely to have been a migrant arriving by plane, but it could have been a newborn baby, she said.

New Zealand's population reached 1 million in 1908, 2 million in 1952 and 3 million in 1973.

Statistics NZ had expected the new milestone would be reached some time this year, but it appears possible the coronavirus outbreak may have accelerated the timing.

"The global Covid-19 pandemic has caused unusual international travel and migration patterns in recent months," Theyers said.

"Net migration has been boosted by more New Zealand citizens returning home after living overseas.

"At the same time, New Zealand citizens may have been unable or reluctant to head offshore."

Sustained lower birth rates and an ageing population mean that the population was likely to grow at a slower pace in the future, than it had in recent decades, she said.