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National Population Projections: 2024(base)-2078

Stats NZ

Demographics & Data
Brief
Stats NZ
Published June 2025
Authority5/5Freshness5/5Relevance5/5KB value5/5
Evidence class

Official data

Official primary

Reviewed

August 2026

Next review not yet scheduled

Scope

New Zealand

High confidence

Status

published

SNZ editorial review

Evidence boundary: This record summarises the cited source. It does not establish local availability, individual eligibility, or professional advice.

Short Answer

Stats NZ's 2024-base national projections establish the demographic case for PiP.

Key Points

  • •873,900 New Zealanders were aged 65+ in 2024 in the median projection series.
  • •The 65+ population is projected to reach 932,200 in 2026 and 1,023,100 in 2029.
  • •The 65+ population reaches 1,332,400 by 2043 in the median series.
  • •The 85+ cohort rises from 95,000 in 2024 to 275,000-322,000 by 2051.
  • •By the 2050s, about one in five people aged 65+ will be 85+, compared with one in nine in 2024.

Full Summary & Notes

Stats NZ's 2024-base national projections establish the demographic case for PiP. The median series records 873,900 people aged 65+ in 2024, 932,200 in 2026, 1,023,100 in 2029 and 1,332,400 by 2043. The 85+ cohort rises from 95,000 in 2024 to between 275,000 and 322,000 by 2051, roughly tripling the group most likely to use aged-care and ageing-in-place support.

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