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Population in Australia compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Australia was 27,196,812 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Australia's population is 27,799,169 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • Australia's population is 5.17 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • Australia is ranked the 55th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.34% for Australia vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Australia has had an average growth rate of +1.49% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Australia has increased from 20.5M people to 27.8M (35.9% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Australia vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Australia
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Australia New Zealand
2100 44,031,396 5,918,837
2099 43,809,392 5,923,132
2098 43,581,416 5,927,206
2097 43,339,542 5,930,263
2096 43,103,046 5,932,907
2095 42,875,281 5,934,847
2094 42,654,231 5,936,183
2093 42,420,140 5,938,804
2092 42,183,554 5,939,085
2091 41,942,760 5,940,665
2090 41,703,255 5,941,752
2089 41,471,675 5,944,871
2088 41,232,214 5,945,635
2087 41,005,392 5,948,586
2086 40,785,916 5,951,745
2085 40,573,592 5,955,275
2084 40,363,192 5,959,115
2083 40,140,606 5,963,613
2082 39,925,452 5,966,943
2081 39,703,018 5,968,511
2080 39,490,533 5,971,082
2079 39,277,415 5,972,331
2078 39,063,163 5,972,928
2077 38,847,269 5,971,804
2076 38,637,253 5,971,386
2075 38,425,571 5,970,985
2074 38,212,169 5,969,834
2073 38,002,408 5,968,506
2072 37,795,438 5,964,548
2071 37,589,598 5,964,493
2070 37,376,868 5,963,811
2069 37,159,014 5,962,551
2068 36,939,616 5,960,918
2067 36,721,604 5,958,438
2066 36,504,952 5,954,539
2065 36,297,175 5,950,378
2064 36,095,981 5,946,851
2063 35,883,588 5,944,910
2062 35,673,924 5,940,838
2061 35,465,080 5,939,601
2060 35,260,552 5,936,094
2059 35,055,719 5,931,426
2058 34,839,385 5,925,816
2057 34,630,577 5,919,823
2056 34,422,531 5,913,287
2055 34,208,970 5,904,352
2054 33,996,776 5,894,795
2053 33,788,097 5,884,875
2052 33,580,016 5,876,162
2051 33,366,925 5,864,176
2050 33,152,099 5,852,896
2049 32,937,633 5,844,165
2048 32,711,001 5,833,178
2047 32,496,856 5,822,035
2046 32,269,549 5,809,860
2045 32,047,969 5,795,785
2044 31,829,535 5,780,884
2043 31,610,306 5,764,579
2042 31,387,780 5,746,528
2041 31,168,179 5,727,253
2040 30,952,283 5,708,874
2039 30,740,454 5,690,018
2038 30,521,772 5,669,959
2037 30,307,856 5,650,253
2036 30,085,861 5,630,126
2035 29,862,898 5,609,155
2034 29,641,453 5,588,315
2033 29,418,053 5,565,507
2032 29,191,922 5,542,488
2031 28,959,421 5,517,391
2030 28,722,798 5,491,320
2029 28,484,745 5,462,926
2028 28,236,324 5,432,752
2027 27,984,287 5,399,898
2026 27,730,530 5,364,771
2025 27,466,430 5,327,462
2024 27,196,812 5,287,500
2023 26,659,922 5,200,000
2022 26,018,721 5,081,700
2021 25,685,412 5,084,600
2020 25,649,248 5,072,400
2019 25,334,826 4,970,300
2018 24,963,258 4,900,600
2017 24,592,588 4,813,600
2016 24,190,907 4,714,100
2015 23,815,995 4,609,400
2014 23,475,686 4,516,500
2013 23,128,129 4,442,100
2012 22,733,465 4,408,100
2011 22,340,024 4,384,000
2010 22,031,750 4,350,700
2009 21,691,653 4,302,600
2008 21,249,199 4,259,800
2007 20,827,622 4,223,800
2006 20,450,966 4,184,600
2005 20,176,844 4,133,900
2004 19,932,722 4,087,500
2003 19,720,737 4,027,200
2002 19,495,210 3,948,500
2001 19,274,701 3,880,500
2000 19,028,802 3,857,700
1999 18,812,264 3,835,100
1998 18,607,584 3,815,000
1997 18,423,037 3,781,300
1996 18,224,767 3,732,000
1995 18,004,882 3,673,400
1994 17,805,468 3,620,000
1993 17,634,808 3,572,200
1992 17,478,635 3,531,700
1991 17,284,036 3,495,100
1990 17,065,128 3,329,800
1989 16,814,416 3,299,200
1988 16,532,164 3,283,400
1987 16,263,874 3,274,400
1986 16,018,350 3,246,300
1985 15,788,312 3,247,100
1984 15,579,391 3,227,100
1983 15,393,472 3,199,300
1982 15,184,247 3,156,100
1981 14,923,260 3,124,900
1980 14,692,000 3,112,900
1979 14,514,000 3,109,000
1978 14,358,000 3,121,200
1977 14,192,000 3,120,200
1976 14,033,000 3,110,500
1975 13,893,000 3,083,100
1974 13,723,000 3,023,700
1973 13,380,000 2,961,300
1972 13,177,000 2,903,900
1971 12,937,000 2,853,000
1970 12,507,000 2,810,700
1969 12,263,000 2,772,800
1968 12,009,000 2,748,100
1967 11,799,000 2,724,100
1966 11,651,000 2,675,900
1965 11,388,000 2,628,400
1964 11,167,000 2,585,400
1963 10,950,000 2,531,800
1962 10,742,000 2,482,000
1961 10,483,000 2,419,700
1960 10,276,477 2,371,800

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Australia increased by 3,739,941 people (a 18.3% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Australia gained 3,608,262 people (a 14.9% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Australia was ranked 54th most populous country in 2006 and is 55th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Australia's population will grow by 19.3% to 33,152,099 people with a rank change from 55th to 59th. The population of New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Australia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 44M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Australia
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Australia New Zealand
2100 0.51% -0.07%
2099 0.52% -0.07%
2098 0.56% -0.05%
2097 0.55% -0.04%
2096 0.53% -0.03%
2095 0.52% -0.02%
2094 0.55% -0.04%
2093 0.56% -0.005%
2092 0.57% -0.03%
2091 0.57% -0.02%
2090 0.56% -0.05%
2089 0.58% -0.01%
2088 0.55% -0.05%
2087 0.54% -0.05%
2086 0.52% -0.06%
2085 0.52% -0.06%
2084 0.55% -0.08%
2083 0.54% -0.06%
2082 0.56% -0.03%
2081 0.54% -0.04%
2080 0.54% -0.02%
2079 0.55% -0.01%
2078 0.56% 0.02%
2077 0.54% 0.007%
2076 0.55% 0.007%
2075 0.56% 0.02%
2074 0.55% 0.02%
2073 0.55% 0.07%
2072 0.55% 0.001%
2071 0.57% 0.01%
2070 0.59% 0.02%
2069 0.59% 0.03%
2068 0.59% 0.04%
2067 0.59% 0.07%
2066 0.57% 0.07%
2065 0.56% 0.06%
2064 0.59% 0.03%
2063 0.59% 0.07%
2062 0.59% 0.02%
2061 0.58% 0.06%
2060 0.58% 0.08%
2059 0.62% 0.09%
2058 0.6% 0.1%
2057 0.6% 0.11%
2056 0.62% 0.15%
2055 0.62% 0.16%
2054 0.62% 0.17%
2053 0.62% 0.15%
2052 0.64% 0.2%
2051 0.65% 0.19%
2050 0.65% 0.15%
2049 0.69% 0.19%
2048 0.66% 0.19%
2047 0.7% 0.21%
2046 0.69% 0.24%
2045 0.69% 0.26%
2044 0.69% 0.28%
2043 0.71% 0.31%
2042 0.7% 0.34%
2041 0.7% 0.32%
2040 0.69% 0.33%
2039 0.72% 0.35%
2038 0.71% 0.35%
2037 0.74% 0.36%
2036 0.75% 0.37%
2035 0.75% 0.37%
2034 0.76% 0.41%
2033 0.77% 0.42%
2032 0.8% 0.45%
2031 0.82% 0.47%
2030 0.84% 0.52%
2029 0.88% 0.56%
2028 0.9% 0.61%
2027 0.92% 0.65%
2026 0.96% 0.7%
2025 0.99% 0.76%
2024 2.01% 1.68%
2023 2.46% 2.33%
2022 1.3% -0.06%
2021 0.14% 0.24%
2020 1.24% 2.05%
2019 1.49% 1.42%
2018 1.51% 1.81%
2017 1.66% 2.11%
2016 1.57% 2.27%
2015 1.45% 2.06%
2014 1.5% 1.67%
2013 1.74% 0.77%
2012 1.76% 0.55%
2011 1.4% 0.77%
2010 1.57% 1.12%
2009 2.08% 1%
2008 2.02% 0.85%
2007 1.84% 0.94%
2006 1.36% 1.23%
2005 1.22% 1.14%
2004 1.07% 1.5%
2003 1.16% 1.99%
2002 1.14% 1.75%
2001 1.29% 0.59%
2000 1.15% 0.59%
1999 1.1% 0.53%
1998 1% 0.89%
1997 1.09% 1.32%
1996 1.22% 1.6%
1995 1.12% 1.48%
1994 0.97% 1.34%
1993 0.89% 1.15%
1992 1.13% 1.05%
1991 1.28% 4.96%
1990 1.49% 0.93%
1989 1.71% 0.48%
1988 1.65% 0.27%
1987 1.53% 0.87%
1986 1.46% -0.02%
1985 1.34% 0.62%
1984 1.21% 0.87%
1983 1.38% 1.37%
1982 1.75% 1%
1981 1.57% 0.39%
1980 1.23% 0.13%
1979 1.09% -0.39%
1978 1.17% 0.03%
1977 1.13% 0.31%
1976 1.01% 0.89%
1975 1.24% 1.96%
1974 2.56% 2.11%
1973 1.54% 1.98%
1972 1.86% 1.78%
1971 3.44% 1.5%
1970 1.99% 1.37%
1969 2.12% 0.9%
1968 1.78% 0.88%
1967 1.27% 1.8%
1966 2.31% 1.81%
1965 1.98% 1.66%
1964 1.98% 2.12%
1963 1.94% 2.01%
1962 2.47% 2.57%
1961 2.01% 2.02%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Australia grew by 2.01%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Australia New Zealand
Current population
27799169
5374272
Population rank 55/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.34% 0.06%
One net population change
58.7 seconds
6.01 minutes
One birth every
1.83 minutes
9.31 minutes
One death every
2.86 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,471 +240
Annual growth/decline +536,890 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +2.01% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 51/197 65/197
One migration net change every
3.84 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change +137,109 +17,403
Net migration rank 11/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 8,111,404 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 9/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 30.4% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 18/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Australia
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Australia New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 137,109 - 17,403
2024 - 138,510 - 18,766
2023 103,974 140,232 18,876 21,404
2022 111,881 140,972 20,123 21,404
2021 138,701 116,768 23,644 -14,944
2020 133,376 44,447 24,905 42,124
2019 136,808 207,142 25,299 69,770
2018 157,269 226,412 24,797 59,139
2017 150,015 255,023 26,282 68,349
2016 152,403 254,648 28,237 75,512
2015 150,041 212,350 29,408 70,870
2014 154,940 200,177 26,196 57,974
2013 159,584 215,823 29,096 26,385
2012 161,408 235,776 31,077 -1,015
2011 156,380 197,657 31,302 -2,196
2010 158,628 166,752 35,458 6,722
2009 160,518 235,628 33,560 12,700
2008 155,119 275,773 35,143 4,804
2007 154,124 249,873 35,480 3,053
2006 132,931 191,985 30,924 14,542
2005 129,132 131,371 30,674 19,212
2004 115,610 110,072 29,634 24,521
2003 118,325 104,437 28,150 42,456
2002 116,971 108,852 25,941 48,195
2001 117,575 117,552 27,939 17,793
2000 119,882 111,186 29,897 -6,604
1999 118,517 92,900 28,916 -7,634
1998 120,949 81,310 29,146 -1,387
1997 121,592 67,661 30,137 12,040
1996 125,751 82,965 28,997 25,169
1995 131,436 80,456 29,828 26,743
1994 131,761 51,941 30,372 20,420
1993 137,551 23,833 31,685 12,638
1992 139,829 40,767 32,067 6,460
1991 138,273 68,847 33,518 31,156
1990 143,347 100,093 33,298 70,432
1989 127,789 144,042 30,749 -8,818
1988 127,298 153,330 29,846 -17,005
1987 128,484 136,421 27,603 -7,631
1986 123,342 113,061 25,549 -10,234
1985 143,674 98,327 24,126 -13,462
1984 123,077 79,617 26,043 -901
1983 130,844 73,251 24,315 11,464
1982 126,030 111,722 24,207 7,982
1981 125,356 121,921 25,374 -7,606
1980 117,536 89,189 23,658 -15,423
1979 116,112 52,137 26,675 -26,694
1978 116,299 45,832 26,156 -28,783
1977 117,793 44,946 28,020 -22,697
1976 115,070 32,792 29,456 -9,138
1975 123,648 25,336 31,355 13,196
1974 128,996 56,167 33,896 27,580
1973 136,476 62,928 35,239 28,261
1972 155,488 54,895 38,244 17,779
1971 165,593 223,991 40,000 7,547
1970 145,081 256,295 37,101 4,511
1969 143,477 108,770 38,098 -5,212
1968 132,099 100,963 37,594 -11,853
1967 126,249 80,904 37,974 -2,289
1966 126,996 110,864 36,151 9,161
1965 122,990 118,891 36,982 9,245
1964 128,420 91,588 39,375 9,806
1963 140,161 73,237 42,027 10,226
1962 143,943 58,315 42,865 12,697
1961 150,955 64,495 43,482 10,689
1960 141,816 85,707 41,791 3,846

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/new-zealand | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Australia is from natural causes (a gain of 1,389,408 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,798,171 people). In New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 8,111,404 residents or 30.4% of the population were not native-born in Australia, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

Biggest cities by population

Australia
City Population
Sydney 5.45M
Melbourne 5.35M
Brisbane 2.71M
Perth 2.14M
Adelaide 1.39M
Gold Coast 608K
Canberra 381K
Sunshine Coast 284K
Wollongong 262K
Ipswich 233K
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/australia/new-zealand | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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