POPULATION OF N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25394, 17 January 1948, Page 6

POPULATION OF N.Z.

BIG INCREASE IN NORTH SINCE 1911 g L ven in the Census and statistics Department’s report on population for 1946-47, show the progressive increase in the population of the North Island—including Maoris—since 1911, while for the South Island the number of people has increased only slightly. In 1911, there were 610,365 persons living in the North Island, and this increased to 1,146,292, according to the 1945 census. The estimated population on April 1, 1947, was 1,211,087. In the South Island there were 447,698 persons in 1911, and by the 1945 census this had increased to only 556,006. The estimate on April 1 last was 582,138. The estimated population of New Zealand last year was 1,793,225. compared with 1.058,312 in 1911. Canterbury has shown the greatest increase in the South Island. In 1911 there were 174,513 persons in the province, and this rose to an estimated 259,638 last year. Otago had 132,881 persons in 1911 and an estimated population of 150,300 last year. There was a record number of births, excluding Maoris, in New Zealand* (43.144) during 1946-47, and the rate of 25.84 per 1000 of mean population was the highest since 1917. Although the number of deaths (16164) in 1946-47 was slightly higher than in 1945-46, the rate of 9.68 was appreciably lower. The natural increase of 26,980 accounted for 87.54 per cent, of the increase ’ in population, exclusive of Maoris.