ER2 2013 Census, demographic trends and the impact on home ownership outcomes (March 2015)

New Zealand’s housing market outcomes have changed significantly over the last 25 years with a fall in home ownership rates and more younger people living in rented accommodation for longer than previous generations.

Data from the 2013 Census confirms a number of demographic trends evident in previous Census results. New Zealand’s population is aging, and as a consequence, there is a growing number of households with people aged 65 years and older.  In conjunction with the increase in the age of the people living in households, the number of couple-only and one-person households is also increasing. 

In addition to the change in the demographic composition of households, the proportion of owner-occupied households has continued to decline as the proportion of renter households has increased.