New Zealand Census Uncovers Changes in Family Dynamics and Ethnic Diversity
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Synopsis
The New Zealand 2023 Census reveals significant changes in family structures, including an increase in adult children living at home and a rise in male sole parents, alongside growing ethnic diversity across households.
Key Takeaways
- 34.5% of families with children have at least one adult child living at home.
- Male sole-parent families increased from 15.8% to 17.8% since 2013.
- 79% of households include at least one European member.
- Household net disposable income grew by 1.5% in December 2024.
- Household savings improved by 429 million NZ dollars.
Wellington, April 10 (NationPress) Recent findings from the New Zealand 2023 Census unveil significant transformations in family dynamics, shifting social structures, and a notable rise in ethnic diversity within households.
The census report, released on Thursday, offers a closer look at the lifestyles of New Zealanders and the evolving nature of family setups, revealing an increase in adult children residing at home and a growing number of male sole parents.
In 2023, 34.5% of families with children had at least one adult child living with them, a rise from 27.3% in 2013, according to Xinhua news agency. This trend is particularly prevalent among Pacific peoples families, where the figure reached 38.7%.
“This might indicate the impact of rising living costs,” noted Stats NZ principal analyst Rosemary Goodyear.
The count of sole-parent families with dependent children hit approximately 138,000, with 17.8% led by men, an increase from 15.8% in 2013, the latest figures indicate.
Male sole parents are typically more common when children are older and are often employed full-time, while female sole parents frequently care for younger kids, Goodyear added.
The statistics further highlight New Zealand's increasing diversity: in 2023, around 79% of households included at least one European member, a decline since 2018, while more than 17% featured at least one Asian member.
The shares of Maori, Pacific, and Asian households all rose since the previous census, according to the data.
European households are the most likely to consist of one or two individuals, whereas Pacific households are more inclined to have five or more members, the report noted.
Additionally, figures released by the statistics department, Stats NZ, on Thursday indicated that New Zealand’s household net disposable income grew 1.5% to 59.4 billion NZ dollars in the December 2024 quarter.
This increase was primarily fueled by a 6.5% rise in income from self-employed business owners, Stats NZ reported.
“The growth in income from self-employed individuals and partnerships led to a rise in household income during the December 2024 quarter, despite a decline in salaries and wages for the second consecutive quarter,” remarked Stats NZ institutional sectors spokesperson James Mitchell.
The surge in income for self-employed business owners mainly stemmed from sectors like agriculture, forestry, and residential rental properties, Mitchell explained.
Household expenditures also increased by 0.8% to 60.9 billion NZ dollars in the last quarter of 2024, driven by heightened spending on services, especially travel, dining out, and takeaway meals, he highlighted.
As disposable income grew faster than spending, household savings improved by 429 million NZ dollars, reducing the deficit to -1.4 billion NZ dollars in the December 2024 quarter.
Household net disposable income refers to the money available for households to spend, save, or invest.
