The current population of New Zealand is 5,374,272 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 5,287,500 in 2024.
- New Zealand accounts for 0.06% of the world's population.
- New Zealand is ranked 124/197 by population and was ranked 122nd in 2006.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth in 20 years).
- For the last 20 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of 1.42% per year.
- New Zealand is projected to reach 5.97M people in 2078.
New Zealand population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 5,918,837 | -0.07% |
| 2099 | 5,923,132 | -0.07% |
| 2098 | 5,927,206 | -0.05% |
| 2097 | 5,930,263 | -0.04% |
| 2096 | 5,932,907 | -0.03% |
| 2095 | 5,934,847 | -0.02% |
| 2094 | 5,936,183 | -0.04% |
| 2093 | 5,938,804 | -0.005% |
| 2092 | 5,939,085 | -0.03% |
| 2091 | 5,940,665 | -0.02% |
| 2090 | 5,941,752 | -0.05% |
| 2089 | 5,944,871 | -0.01% |
| 2088 | 5,945,635 | -0.05% |
| 2087 | 5,948,586 | -0.05% |
| 2086 | 5,951,745 | -0.06% |
| 2085 | 5,955,275 | -0.06% |
| 2084 | 5,959,115 | -0.08% |
| 2083 | 5,963,613 | -0.06% |
| 2082 | 5,966,943 | -0.03% |
| 2081 | 5,968,511 | -0.04% |
| 2080 | 5,971,082 | -0.02% |
| 2079 | 5,972,331 | -0.01% |
| 2078 | 5,972,928 | 0.02% |
| 2077 | 5,971,804 | 0.007% |
| 2076 | 5,971,386 | 0.007% |
| 2075 | 5,970,985 | 0.02% |
| 2074 | 5,969,834 | 0.02% |
| 2073 | 5,968,506 | 0.07% |
| 2072 | 5,964,548 | 0.001% |
| 2071 | 5,964,493 | 0.01% |
| 2070 | 5,963,811 | 0.02% |
| 2069 | 5,962,551 | 0.03% |
| 2068 | 5,960,918 | 0.04% |
| 2067 | 5,958,438 | 0.07% |
| 2066 | 5,954,539 | 0.07% |
| 2065 | 5,950,378 | 0.06% |
| 2064 | 5,946,851 | 0.03% |
| 2063 | 5,944,910 | 0.07% |
| 2062 | 5,940,838 | 0.02% |
| 2061 | 5,939,601 | 0.06% |
| 2060 | 5,936,094 | 0.08% |
| 2059 | 5,931,426 | 0.09% |
| 2058 | 5,925,816 | 0.1% |
| 2057 | 5,919,823 | 0.11% |
| 2056 | 5,913,287 | 0.15% |
| 2055 | 5,904,352 | 0.16% |
| 2054 | 5,894,795 | 0.17% |
| 2053 | 5,884,875 | 0.15% |
| 2052 | 5,876,162 | 0.2% |
| 2051 | 5,864,176 | 0.19% |
| 2050 | 5,852,896 | 0.15% |
| 2049 | 5,844,165 | 0.19% |
| 2048 | 5,833,178 | 0.19% |
| 2047 | 5,822,035 | 0.21% |
| 2046 | 5,809,860 | 0.24% |
| 2045 | 5,795,785 | 0.26% |
| 2044 | 5,780,884 | 0.28% |
| 2043 | 5,764,579 | 0.31% |
| 2042 | 5,746,528 | 0.34% |
| 2041 | 5,727,253 | 0.32% |
| 2040 | 5,708,874 | 0.33% |
| 2039 | 5,690,018 | 0.35% |
| 2038 | 5,669,959 | 0.35% |
| 2037 | 5,650,253 | 0.36% |
| 2036 | 5,630,126 | 0.37% |
| 2035 | 5,609,155 | 0.37% |
| 2034 | 5,588,315 | 0.41% |
| 2033 | 5,565,507 | 0.42% |
| 2032 | 5,542,488 | 0.45% |
| 2031 | 5,517,391 | 0.47% |
| 2030 | 5,491,320 | 0.52% |
| 2029 | 5,462,926 | 0.56% |
| 2028 | 5,432,752 | 0.61% |
| 2027 | 5,399,898 | 0.65% |
| 2026 | 5,364,771 | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 5,327,462 | 0.76% |
| 2024 | 5,287,500 | 1.68% |
| 2023 | 5,200,000 | 2.33% |
| 2022 | 5,081,700 | -0.06% |
| 2021 | 5,084,600 | 0.24% |
| 2020 | 5,072,400 | 2.05% |
| 2019 | 4,970,300 | 1.42% |
| 2018 | 4,900,600 | 1.81% |
| 2017 | 4,813,600 | 2.11% |
| 2016 | 4,714,100 | 2.27% |
| 2015 | 4,609,400 | 2.06% |
| 2014 | 4,516,500 | 1.67% |
| 2013 | 4,442,100 | 0.77% |
| 2012 | 4,408,100 | 0.55% |
| 2011 | 4,384,000 | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 4,350,700 | 1.12% |
| 2009 | 4,302,600 | 1% |
| 2008 | 4,259,800 | 0.85% |
| 2007 | 4,223,800 | 0.94% |
| 2006 | 4,184,600 | 1.23% |
| 2005 | 4,133,900 | 1.14% |
| 2004 | 4,087,500 | 1.5% |
| 2003 | 4,027,200 | 1.99% |
| 2002 | 3,948,500 | 1.75% |
| 2001 | 3,880,500 | 0.59% |
| 2000 | 3,857,700 | 0.59% |
| 1999 | 3,835,100 | 0.53% |
| 1998 | 3,815,000 | 0.89% |
| 1997 | 3,781,300 | 1.32% |
| 1996 | 3,732,000 | 1.6% |
| 1995 | 3,673,400 | 1.48% |
| 1994 | 3,620,000 | 1.34% |
| 1993 | 3,572,200 | 1.15% |
| 1992 | 3,531,700 | 1.05% |
| 1991 | 3,495,100 | 4.96% |
| 1990 | 3,329,800 | 0.93% |
| 1989 | 3,299,200 | 0.48% |
| 1988 | 3,283,400 | 0.27% |
| 1987 | 3,274,400 | 0.87% |
| 1986 | 3,246,300 | -0.02% |
| 1985 | 3,247,100 | 0.62% |
| 1984 | 3,227,100 | 0.87% |
| 1983 | 3,199,300 | 1.37% |
| 1982 | 3,156,100 | 1% |
| 1981 | 3,124,900 | 0.39% |
| 1980 | 3,112,900 | 0.13% |
| 1979 | 3,109,000 | -0.39% |
| 1978 | 3,121,200 | 0.03% |
| 1977 | 3,120,200 | 0.31% |
| 1976 | 3,110,500 | 0.89% |
| 1975 | 3,083,100 | 1.96% |
| 1974 | 3,023,700 | 2.11% |
| 1973 | 2,961,300 | 1.98% |
| 1972 | 2,903,900 | 1.78% |
| 1971 | 2,853,000 | 1.5% |
| 1970 | 2,810,700 | 1.37% |
| 1969 | 2,772,800 | 0.9% |
| 1968 | 2,748,100 | 0.88% |
| 1967 | 2,724,100 | 1.8% |
| 1966 | 2,675,900 | 1.81% |
| 1965 | 2,628,400 | 1.66% |
| 1964 | 2,585,400 | 2.12% |
| 1963 | 2,531,800 | 2.01% |
| 1962 | 2,482,000 | 2.57% |
| 1961 | 2,419,700 | 2.02% |
| 1960 | 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/new-zealand | CC BY 
New Zealand has a population of 5.37M as of 2026, compared to 4.71M in 2016, 4.18M in 2006, and 3.73M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 1.4% per year. New Zealand is ranked 78th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) New Zealand will have 5,809,860 people (8.11% growth) with a rank change from 124th to 122nd.
By the year 2100, New Zealand's population is projected to grow by 10.1% from its current level to 5.92M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | 17,403 |
| 2024 | - | - | 18,766 |
| 2023 | 40,280 | 18,876 | 21,404 |
| 2022 | 41,527 | 20,123 | 21,404 |
| 2021 | 8,700 | 23,644 | -14,944 |
| 2020 | 67,029 | 24,905 | 42,124 |
| 2019 | 95,069 | 25,299 | 69,770 |
| 2018 | 83,936 | 24,797 | 59,139 |
| 2017 | 94,631 | 26,282 | 68,349 |
| 2016 | 103,749 | 28,237 | 75,512 |
| 2015 | 100,278 | 29,408 | 70,870 |
| 2014 | 84,170 | 26,196 | 57,974 |
| 2013 | 55,481 | 29,096 | 26,385 |
| 2012 | 30,062 | 31,077 | -1,015 |
| 2011 | 29,106 | 31,302 | -2,196 |
| 2010 | 42,180 | 35,458 | 6,722 |
| 2009 | 46,260 | 33,560 | 12,700 |
| 2008 | 39,947 | 35,143 | 4,804 |
| 2007 | 38,533 | 35,480 | 3,053 |
| 2006 | 45,466 | 30,924 | 14,542 |
| 2005 | 49,886 | 30,674 | 19,212 |
| 2004 | 54,155 | 29,634 | 24,521 |
| 2003 | 70,606 | 28,150 | 42,456 |
| 2002 | 74,136 | 25,941 | 48,195 |
| 2001 | 45,732 | 27,939 | 17,793 |
| 2000 | 23,293 | 29,897 | -6,604 |
| 1999 | 21,282 | 28,916 | -7,634 |
| 1998 | 27,759 | 29,146 | -1,387 |
| 1997 | 42,177 | 30,137 | 12,040 |
| 1996 | 54,166 | 28,997 | 25,169 |
| 1995 | 56,571 | 29,828 | 26,743 |
| 1994 | 50,792 | 30,372 | 20,420 |
| 1993 | 44,323 | 31,685 | 12,638 |
| 1992 | 38,527 | 32,067 | 6,460 |
| 1991 | 64,674 | 33,518 | 31,156 |
| 1990 | 103,730 | 33,298 | 70,432 |
| 1989 | 21,931 | 30,749 | -8,818 |
| 1988 | 12,841 | 29,846 | -17,005 |
| 1987 | 19,972 | 27,603 | -7,631 |
| 1986 | 15,315 | 25,549 | -10,234 |
| 1985 | 10,664 | 24,126 | -13,462 |
| 1984 | 25,142 | 26,043 | -901 |
| 1983 | 35,779 | 24,315 | 11,464 |
| 1982 | 32,189 | 24,207 | 7,982 |
| 1981 | 17,768 | 25,374 | -7,606 |
| 1980 | 8,235 | 23,658 | -15,423 |
| 1979 | -19 | 26,675 | -26,694 |
| 1978 | -2,627 | 26,156 | -28,783 |
| 1977 | 5,323 | 28,020 | -22,697 |
| 1976 | 20,318 | 29,456 | -9,138 |
| 1975 | 44,551 | 31,355 | 13,196 |
| 1974 | 61,476 | 33,896 | 27,580 |
| 1973 | 63,500 | 35,239 | 28,261 |
| 1972 | 56,023 | 38,244 | 17,779 |
| 1971 | 47,547 | 40,000 | 7,547 |
| 1970 | 41,612 | 37,101 | 4,511 |
| 1969 | 32,886 | 38,098 | -5,212 |
| 1968 | 25,741 | 37,594 | -11,853 |
| 1967 | 35,685 | 37,974 | -2,289 |
| 1966 | 45,312 | 36,151 | 9,161 |
| 1965 | 46,227 | 36,982 | 9,245 |
| 1964 | 49,181 | 39,375 | 9,806 |
| 1963 | 52,253 | 42,027 | 10,226 |
| 1962 | 55,562 | 42,865 | 12,697 |
| 1961 | 54,171 | 43,482 | 10,689 |
| 1960 | 45,637 | 41,791 | 3,846 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 34.4% of the population change in New Zealand 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, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 956,982 and 22% in 2010.
New Zealand population clock
New Zealand
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5374272
|
124/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 124/197 |
| One net population change |
6.01 minutes
|
93/197 |
| One birth every |
9.31 minutes
|
128/196 |
| One death every |
14 minutes
|
118/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +240 | 93/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +87,500 | 93/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.68% | 65/197 |
| One migration net change every |
30.3 minutes
|
35/196 |
| Annual migration change | +17,403 | 35/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,467,989 | 45/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 28.2% | 20/195 |
Largest cities by population
|
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
New Zealand population statistics
|
New Zealand
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 82.5 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 39.8 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 38.6 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.56 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 52.8 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/new-zealand | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.