New Zealand’s population is estimated to reach 4,444,444 today according to Statistics New Zealand:
“While the new resident could be a New Zealander flying home after living overseas, or a new migrant, they’re most likely to be a new baby, as that’s where most of our population growth is coming from,” population statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said.
“And who knows? That new boy or girl might even be born at 4.44 in the morning.”
The symmetrical milestone matches one the Australian state of Queensland reached three years ago, and puts our population very close to that of Ireland or Croatia, Mrs Blackburn said.
“These types of landmarks are quite rare. Our population hit 3,333,333 in the mid-1980s and based on our projections, we probably won’t get to 5,555,555 for another 30 years.
“It will also pass quite quickly. The population is currently growing by roughly 100 people every day, so it will only be at 4,444,444 for about quarter of an hour.”
Mrs Blackburn said the population estimate is based on births, deaths, and migration since the census in 2006. At that time, the population was about 4.2 million.
Last year’s scheduled five-yearly census was postponed after the Christchurch earthquake in February. The next one is scheduled to take place on March 5th next year.
but but but I thought we were losing people at 50,000 per year so how can the population be increasing??