Female population of New Zealand 1991-2019

Of late, New Zealand has been in the spotlight for its progressive policies concerning gender equality and women empowerment, with women such as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the helm. As of 2019, the country was home to 2.5 million women reflecting a steady rise in the female population since 1991.

Female population demographics

In a pattern mirroring that of the overall female population growth in New Zealand, the number of indigenous women dwelling there has tremendously increased with the number of Māori women in New Zealand exceeding 400 thousand residents in 2019. Women’s lifespans in New Zealand were expected to range between 78 and 90 years in 2018, with Chinese women figuring at the higher end of the spectrum and Māori women at the lower end.

Work and family

Over the past three decades, women in New Zealand have been opting to get married later in life with the average age of females at their first marriage being 29.2 years in 2018. Child-bearing is another such life choice opted for later, with the highest birth rate being recorded among females aged 30 to 34 years old. Women accounted for a large share of the healthcare and social assistance industry, which had a workforce of over 200 thousand female employees.