Wellington, Jan 10 (IANS): New Zealand's population could hit five million by the end of 2019, the country's statistics department said on Thursday.
At present, New Zealand's population is more than 4.93 million, according to the Stats NZ population clock, Xinhua news agency reported.
Given current trends, New Zealand's population could reach the five-million milestone by the end of 2019 or early 2020, said Stats NZ senior official Kim Dunstan.
Based on forecasts around births, deaths and net migration, Stats NZ estimates that the country's population increases by one person every 5 minutes and 26 seconds.
Over the last few years, the population has grown particularly quickly, Dunstan said.
New Zealand's population reached one million in 1908. The second million was reached in 1952. The population hit three million in 1973 and four million in 2003, according to Stats NZ.