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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,324,700 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,380,024 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 45.5 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.01% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.38M (28.6% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

New Zealand vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Nigeria
2100 5,915,768 481,640,156
2099 5,920,061 481,456,918
2098 5,924,133 481,181,892
2097 5,927,189 480,838,161
2096 5,929,831 480,422,467
2095 5,931,770 479,938,579
2094 5,933,105 479,395,022
2093 5,935,725 478,769,369
2092 5,936,005 478,059,864
2091 5,937,584 477,236,907
2090 5,938,671 476,329,495
2089 5,941,788 475,326,347
2088 5,942,552 474,231,442
2087 5,945,502 473,035,563
2086 5,948,659 471,732,001
2085 5,952,187 470,328,175
2084 5,956,025 468,806,172
2083 5,960,521 467,187,453
2082 5,963,849 465,472,417
2081 5,965,417 463,643,190
2080 5,967,986 461,705,493
2079 5,969,234 459,644,523
2078 5,969,831 457,477,264
2077 5,968,708 455,218,871
2076 5,968,290 452,849,991
2075 5,967,889 450,367,356
2074 5,966,738 447,789,885
2073 5,965,412 445,117,028
2072 5,961,455 442,340,440
2071 5,961,400 439,464,323
2070 5,960,718 436,505,329
2069 5,959,460 433,437,998
2068 5,957,827 430,286,232
2067 5,955,348 427,032,499
2066 5,951,452 423,702,640
2065 5,947,293 420,285,359
2064 5,943,767 416,778,394
2063 5,941,828 413,198,800
2062 5,937,757 409,551,159
2061 5,936,521 405,827,482
2060 5,933,016 402,041,765
2059 5,928,350 398,197,311
2058 5,922,743 394,284,767
2057 5,916,754 390,311,065
2056 5,910,221 386,267,580
2055 5,901,290 382,162,992
2054 5,891,739 378,000,511
2053 5,881,824 373,769,779
2052 5,873,115 369,472,476
2051 5,861,135 365,120,741
2050 5,849,861 360,706,317
2049 5,841,135 356,243,287
2048 5,830,154 351,724,743
2047 5,819,016 347,142,279
2046 5,806,848 342,505,549
2045 5,792,780 337,807,869
2044 5,777,886 333,050,132
2043 5,761,590 328,230,652
2042 5,743,549 323,363,366
2041 5,724,283 318,443,989
2040 5,705,914 313,468,061
2039 5,687,068 308,450,008
2038 5,667,019 303,399,842
2037 5,647,323 298,327,800
2036 5,627,207 293,227,654
2035 5,606,247 288,115,630
2034 5,585,417 282,995,818
2033 5,562,621 277,875,880
2032 5,539,615 272,747,599
2031 5,514,530 267,645,657
2030 5,488,472 262,562,767
2029 5,460,094 257,484,616
2028 5,429,936 252,445,821
2027 5,397,099 247,437,680
2026 5,361,990 242,458,365
2025 5,324,700 237,527,782
2024 5,290,000 232,679,478
2023 5,200,000 227,882,945
2022 5,081,700 223,150,896
2021 5,084,600 218,529,286
2020 5,072,400 213,996,181
2019 4,970,300 209,485,641
2018 4,900,600 204,938,755
2017 4,813,600 200,254,579
2016 4,714,100 195,443,700
2015 4,609,400 190,671,878
2014 4,516,500 185,896,915
2013 4,442,100 181,049,443
2012 4,408,100 176,200,625
2011 4,384,000 171,379,598
2010 4,350,700 166,642,886
2009 4,302,600 162,049,464
2008 4,259,800 157,595,014
2007 4,223,800 153,267,261
2006 4,184,600 149,077,334
2005 4,133,900 145,017,253
2004 4,087,500 141,057,045
2003 4,027,200 137,202,644
2002 3,948,500 133,471,989
2001 3,880,500 129,862,595
2000 3,857,700 126,382,494
1999 3,835,100 123,047,320
1998 3,815,000 119,846,254
1997 3,781,300 116,754,792
1996 3,732,000 113,754,779
1995 3,673,400 110,819,428
1994 3,620,000 107,935,714
1993 3,572,200 105,122,069
1992 3,531,700 102,372,770
1991 3,495,100 99,720,162
1990 3,329,800 97,120,925
1989 3,299,200 94,531,014
1988 3,283,400 92,020,090
1987 3,274,400 89,591,716
1986 3,246,300 87,235,953
1985 3,247,100 84,897,973
1984 3,227,100 82,526,443
1983 3,199,300 80,438,260
1982 3,156,100 78,378,701
1981 3,124,900 76,068,103
1980 3,112,900 73,764,641
1979 3,109,000 71,498,242
1978 3,121,200 69,326,532
1977 3,120,200 67,234,590
1976 3,110,500 65,258,009
1975 3,083,100 63,410,815
1974 3,023,700 61,679,144
1973 2,961,300 60,082,139
1972 2,903,900 58,601,748
1971 2,853,000 57,214,684
1970 2,810,700 55,893,838
1969 2,772,800 54,631,914
1968 2,748,100 53,432,783
1967 2,724,100 52,293,065
1966 2,675,900 51,188,234
1965 2,628,400 50,086,764
1964 2,585,400 49,012,016
1963 2,531,800 47,973,575
1962 2,482,000 46,965,292
1961 2,419,700 45,989,310
1960 2,371,800 45,053,782

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) New Zealand's population will grow by 8.73% to 5,849,861 people with a rank change from 124th to 122nd. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Nigeria
2100 -0.07% 0.04%
2099 -0.07% 0.06%
2098 -0.05% 0.07%
2097 -0.04% 0.09%
2096 -0.03% 0.1%
2095 -0.02% 0.11%
2094 -0.04% 0.13%
2093 -0.005% 0.15%
2092 -0.03% 0.17%
2091 -0.02% 0.19%
2090 -0.05% 0.21%
2089 -0.01% 0.23%
2088 -0.05% 0.25%
2087 -0.05% 0.28%
2086 -0.06% 0.3%
2085 -0.06% 0.32%
2084 -0.08% 0.35%
2083 -0.06% 0.37%
2082 -0.03% 0.39%
2081 -0.04% 0.42%
2080 -0.02% 0.45%
2079 -0.01% 0.47%
2078 0.02% 0.5%
2077 0.007% 0.52%
2076 0.007% 0.55%
2075 0.02% 0.58%
2074 0.02% 0.6%
2073 0.07% 0.63%
2072 0.001% 0.65%
2071 0.01% 0.68%
2070 0.02% 0.71%
2069 0.03% 0.73%
2068 0.04% 0.76%
2067 0.07% 0.79%
2066 0.07% 0.81%
2065 0.06% 0.84%
2064 0.03% 0.87%
2063 0.07% 0.89%
2062 0.02% 0.92%
2061 0.06% 0.94%
2060 0.08% 0.97%
2059 0.09% 0.99%
2058 0.1% 1.02%
2057 0.11% 1.05%
2056 0.15% 1.07%
2055 0.16% 1.1%
2054 0.17% 1.13%
2053 0.15% 1.16%
2052 0.2% 1.19%
2051 0.19% 1.22%
2050 0.15% 1.25%
2049 0.19% 1.28%
2048 0.19% 1.32%
2047 0.21% 1.35%
2046 0.24% 1.39%
2045 0.26% 1.43%
2044 0.28% 1.47%
2043 0.31% 1.51%
2042 0.34% 1.54%
2041 0.32% 1.59%
2040 0.33% 1.63%
2039 0.35% 1.66%
2038 0.35% 1.7%
2037 0.36% 1.74%
2036 0.37% 1.77%
2035 0.37% 1.81%
2034 0.41% 1.84%
2033 0.42% 1.88%
2032 0.45% 1.91%
2031 0.47% 1.94%
2030 0.52% 1.97%
2029 0.56% 2%
2028 0.61% 2.02%
2027 0.65% 2.05%
2026 0.7% 2.08%
2025 0.66% 2.08%
2024 1.73% 2.1%
2023 2.33% 2.12%
2022 -0.06% 2.11%
2021 0.24% 2.12%
2020 2.05% 2.15%
2019 1.42% 2.22%
2018 1.81% 2.34%
2017 2.11% 2.46%
2016 2.27% 2.5%
2015 2.06% 2.57%
2014 1.67% 2.68%
2013 0.77% 2.75%
2012 0.55% 2.81%
2011 0.77% 2.84%
2010 1.12% 2.83%
2009 1% 2.83%
2008 0.85% 2.82%
2007 0.94% 2.81%
2006 1.23% 2.8%
2005 1.14% 2.81%
2004 1.5% 2.81%
2003 1.99% 2.8%
2002 1.75% 2.78%
2001 0.59% 2.75%
2000 0.59% 2.71%
1999 0.53% 2.67%
1998 0.89% 2.65%
1997 1.32% 2.64%
1996 1.6% 2.65%
1995 1.48% 2.67%
1994 1.34% 2.68%
1993 1.15% 2.69%
1992 1.05% 2.66%
1991 4.96% 2.68%
1990 0.93% 2.74%
1989 0.48% 2.73%
1988 0.27% 2.71%
1987 0.87% 2.7%
1986 -0.02% 2.75%
1985 0.62% 2.87%
1984 0.87% 2.6%
1983 1.37% 2.63%
1982 1% 3.04%
1981 0.39% 3.12%
1980 0.13% 3.17%
1979 -0.39% 3.13%
1978 0.03% 3.11%
1977 0.31% 3.03%
1976 0.89% 2.91%
1975 1.96% 2.81%
1974 2.11% 2.66%
1973 1.98% 2.53%
1972 1.78% 2.42%
1971 1.5% 2.36%
1970 1.37% 2.31%
1969 0.9% 2.24%
1968 0.88% 2.18%
1967 1.8% 2.16%
1966 1.81% 2.2%
1965 1.66% 2.19%
1964 2.12% 2.16%
1963 2.01% 2.15%
1962 2.57% 2.12%
1961 2.02% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of New Zealand grew by 0.66%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Nigeria
Current population
5380024
245016045
Population rank 124/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 2.95%
One net population change
15.2 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
9.01 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
13.9 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +95 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +34,700 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +0.66% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 118/197 45/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 -15,258
Net migration rank 35/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -15,258
2024 20,631 18,766 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 19,031 21,404 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 20,276 21,404 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 23,745 -14,944 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 25,007 42,124 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 25,349 69,770 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 24,797 59,139 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 26,282 68,349 4,706,183 78,685
2016 28,237 75,512 4,761,594 75,265
2015 29,408 70,870 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 26,196 57,974 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 29,096 26,385 4,811,751 40,201
2012 31,077 -1,015 4,774,508 71,138
2011 31,302 -2,196 4,728,363 67,808
2010 35,458 6,722 4,629,173 47,966
2009 33,560 12,700 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 35,143 4,804 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 35,480 3,053 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 30,924 14,542 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 30,674 19,212 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 29,634 24,521 3,877,376 46,370
2003 28,150 42,456 3,751,120 33,857
2002 25,941 48,195 3,606,814 69,594
2001 27,939 17,793 3,478,370 64,163
2000 29,897 -6,604 3,343,196 74,535
1999 28,916 -7,634 3,155,425 97,195
1998 29,146 -1,387 3,003,946 145,575
1997 30,137 12,040 2,936,500 96,885
1996 28,997 25,169 2,882,205 84,448
1995 29,828 26,743 2,830,771 73,243
1994 30,372 20,420 2,735,198 128,134
1993 31,685 12,638 2,673,675 90,200
1992 32,067 6,460 2,596,173 138,412
1991 33,518 31,156 2,527,807 42,760
1990 33,298 70,432 2,491,928 135,959
1989 30,749 -8,818 2,452,324 99,588
1988 29,846 -17,005 2,376,419 93,510
1987 27,603 -7,631 2,322,397 64,418
1986 25,549 -10,234 2,295,003 29,682
1985 24,126 -13,462 2,289,784 61,514
1984 26,043 -901 2,278,060 113,758
1983 24,315 11,464 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 24,207 7,982 2,233,401 101,116
1981 25,374 -7,606 2,179,884 106,723
1980 23,658 -15,423 2,121,618 198,672
1979 26,675 -26,694 2,074,807 137,721
1978 26,156 -28,783 2,019,621 111,258
1977 28,020 -22,697 1,923,917 129,075
1976 29,456 -9,138 1,827,289 72,889
1975 31,355 13,196 1,718,623 75,603
1974 33,896 27,580 1,624,813 44,281
1973 35,239 28,261 1,525,485 -618
1972 38,244 17,779 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 40,000 7,547 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 37,101 4,511 1,295,507 7,953
1969 38,098 -5,212 1,213,484 6,912
1968 37,594 -11,853 1,168,254 9,615
1967 37,974 -2,289 1,082,884 18,683
1966 36,151 9,161 1,095,582 12,513
1965 36,982 9,245 1,061,840 32,988
1964 39,375 9,806 1,028,272 26,411
1963 42,027 10,226 995,116 27,115
1962 42,865 12,697 966,452 27,906
1961 43,482 10,689 932,111 25,515
1960 41,791 3,846 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 36% of the population change in New Zealand is from natural causes (a gain of 242,763 people) and 64% is from migration (a gain of 432,394 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

Biggest 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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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