New Zealand saw its lowest annual natural increase in population in 80 years during 2023, according to new data from Stats NZ.
It said there were 19,071 more births than deaths last year, the lowest natural increase since 1943 — when there were 17,562 more births than deaths. The natural increase in 2022 was 20,313.
Altogether, there were 56,955 live births registered in 2023, down from 2022's 58,887.
There were 37,884 deaths registered last year, down from 2022's 38,574. The median age at death was 79 for men and 83 for women.
Stats NZ's population insights analyst Rebekah Hennessey said 2023 had seen the "lowest number of births registered in 20 years".
Hennessey explained this is because the number of deaths "generally increases as the population both grows and becomes older".
"The number of births, however, is driven by a more complex mix of social and demographic factors that change over time."
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