• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

NZ to Get More Ethnically Diverse in 20 Years: Statistics

Posted on: Saturday, 23 April 2005, 09:00 CDT

NZ to get more ethnically diverse in 20 years: statistics

WELLINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will become more ethnically diverse, with Maori, Asian and Pacific populations growing faster than the European population.

According to figures released Friday by Statistics New Zealand based on 2001-base national population projections, the population of Maori, a member of a people of New Zealand with Polynesian- Melanesian descent, is projected to increase by 29 percent, from an estimated 590,000 in 2001 to 760,000 in 2021; the Asian population by 145 percent from 270,000 to 670,000; the Pacific population by 59 percent from 260,000 to 420,000; and the European population by 5 percent, from 3.07 million to 3.23 million.

The rapid growth of the Asian population is mainly driven by migration, with a netflow of about 300,000 migrants over the 20- year period.

Maori and Pacific population growth will be mainly driven by births.

The slower growth of the European population reflects the combination of lower fertility rates, a net migration outflow of about 70,000 over the 20-year period, and an older age structure.

All ethnic groups are projected to experience population ageing. The median age of Europeans will increase from 36.9 years in 2001 to 44.3 years in 2021; that of the Asian population from 28.6 years to 36.2 years, said Statistics New Zealand.

Acting Government Statistician Ian Ewing said the projection were only an indication, but not an exact forecast.

"Ethnic population projections are more uncertain than projections of the total population because of the added uncertainties of changing ethnic identification and ethnic miscegenation," said Ewing.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

More News in this Category