WELLINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's population could hit five million by the end of the year, according to the country's statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday.
At the moment, New Zealand's population is more than 4.93 million, according to the Stats NZ population clock.
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 demographer Kim Dunstan.
Based on forecasts around births, deaths and net migration, Stats NZ estimates that the country's population increases by one person every five minutes and 26 seconds.
The four-million milestone was reached back in 2003, Dunstan said, adding over the last few years, the population has grown particularly quickly.
In the year ending September 2018 the population had grown by 90,000, he said, adding it was growing as fast as 2.1 percent in 2016 and 2017.
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.
