Story: Pacific Island health

Pacific and total population by age group and sex, 2013

This pyramid shows the age and gender of the Pacific population (overlaid in lighter colours) relative to the total New Zealand population. It highlights that over half of Pacific people were aged 24 and under. This pattern was due to a number of factors, including the high birth rate of Pacific women, the increasing proportion of Pacific people in New Zealand, and lower immigration rates among older Pacific people.

In contrast, the total New Zealand population has a high proportion of people aged 40 to 64, highlighting the high birth rates from the 1950s to the 1970s (including the baby-boomer generation). Particularly striking is the relatively low proportion of people aged under 10. This reflects a trend toward smaller families among Pākehā.

If these trends continue, Pacific people will increase as a proportion of the New Zealand population.

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

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How to cite this page:

Colin Tukuitonga, 'Pacific Island health - Births, deaths and health attitudes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/27749/pacific-and-total-population-by-age-group-and-sex-2013 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Colin Tukuitonga, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 9 Jan 2019