Man drought for over-30s

New Zealand's man drought in the over 30s age groups is official.

New population estimates released by Statistics New Zealand today show there are significantly fewer men than women in the age groups over 30.

For those aged 30 to 34, women outnumber men by 7270, while for 35 to 39s, the gap widens to more than 12,000.

But for those in their 20s, the numbers are reversed, with men outnumbering women.

The new estimates also show New Zealand's population is getting older. The median age has increased by five years over the past two decades, with half of New Zealand's population now older than 37.1 years.

In June 1993 the median age was 32.

Population projections show half of all Kiwis will be older than 39.9 by 2031.

The median age is higher for women (38.4) than for men (35.8), which reflects women's longer life expectancy.

Over 65s now make up 14 per cent of the population, up from 11 per cent in 1993.

The number of over 65s has doubled since the early 1980s, and is likely to double again by 2040.

Meanwhile children - those aged up to 14 - make up 20 per cent of the population, down from 23 per cent since 1993.

Population growth in the year to June was due to natural increase - 29,800 more births than deaths - and net migration of 7900.

Natural population increase is dropping, due to a decreasing number of births. The natural increase in the year to June was the lowest since 2005.

The 2013 population estimates were calculated using 2006 census data, adjusted according to numbers of deaths, births and net migration.

Data from the 2013 census is still being calculated.