Stats NZ: NZ population continuing to age

New Zealand's population continues to age, with the number of New Zealanders aged over 85 having tripled in the past 30 years, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) says.

Figures released today by SNZ show the estimated resident population, at March 31 was 4,403,000.

Half of New Zealanders were now aged over 36.8 years, compared with 34.6 a decade earlier.

The increase in longevity meant one out of every 60 New Zealanders was over the age of 85, Population Statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said.

That compared with one out of every 150 New Zealanders in 1981.

The estimated median age of New Zealanders is expected to reach 43.5 years in 2061.

- NZPA