Over-65s to top one million by 2020s

The number of New Zealanders aged over 65 is expected to top one million within 20 years.

According to population projections by Statistics New Zealand those aged over 65 will by the late 2020s comprise one in five New Zealanders, exceeding the number of children aged under 15 .

There are currently 550,000 people aged over 65 and 890,000 children under 15.

The ageing population trend largely reflected the higher fertility rates of the 1950s and 1960s, the much lower fertility rates since then, and the continuing gains in life expectancy, said acting Government Statistician Cathryn Ashley-Jones.

New Zealand's population was projected to reach 5m in the mid-2020s and 5.75m in 2061.

- NZPA