Births still on downward trend

Fewer births were registered in the year ending September 2012, Statistics New Zealand said today. A total of 60,462 live births were registered in New Zealand during this period, down 1,799 (3 percent) from the September 2011 year.

By region, the largest decreases were in Auckland (down 409, or 2 percent) and Canterbury (down 390, or 6 percent).

"Within Canterbury, Christchurch had the largest decrease, with 329 fewer births than in the September 2011 year," population statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said. "Within Christchurch, the largest decreases occurred in the eastern wards, which include suburbs that were significantly affected by the Canterbury earthquakes."

Nationally, deaths increased in the September 2012 year compared with 2011, up 249 to 29,956. Deaths are increasingly concentrated in the older age groups. The median age at death was 77 years for males and 83 years for females in 2012, compared with 72 and 79 years, respectively, two decades ago.

Live births minus deaths resulted in a natural increase of 30,506 people in the September 2012 year. This is the lowest natural increase since 2005, when it was 29,889.

See also:  Births and Deaths: Year ended September 2012  –  Information release