New Zealand's population is growing at a faster rate than Australia and at its fastest rate for more than a decade, according to new estimates.

Statistic New Zealand figures released today show the country's population grew by 86,900 people, or by 1.9 per cent, in the year to June 30. The latest figures show Australia's population growing at 1.4 percent a year.

Net migration (arrivals minus departures) was 58,300, and the "natural increase" - births minus deaths - was 28,700.

New Zealand's estimated resident population was 4.6 million.

"The last time New Zealand's population grew at this rate was in 2003 when the increase was 2 percent," population statistics manager Vina Cullum said.

"The last time New Zealand's growth rate exceeded Australia's was 2004."

There are also changes in the age structure with the younger (15-39 years) and older (40-64 years) working-age populations now similar in size (33.3 and 32.2 percent of the total population, respectively).

In comparison, two decades ago, those in the 15-39 age bracket accounted for 38.7 percent of the population while those aged between 40 and 64 years comprised only 26.7 percent.

"The working-age population is now equally split between younger and older people," Ms Cullum said.

"The population has aged over the last 20 years with a larger proportion of the population in the 40-64 age group than there was in 1995."

(Source NZ Herald)