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Population in New Zealand compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,324,700 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,380,024 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 4.96 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.38M (28.6% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

New Zealand vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand North Korea
2100 5,915,768 19,601,003
2099 5,920,061 19,729,897
2098 5,924,133 19,859,274
2097 5,927,189 19,989,589
2096 5,929,831 20,120,795
2095 5,931,770 20,252,653
2094 5,933,105 20,384,384
2093 5,935,725 20,516,457
2092 5,936,005 20,649,140
2091 5,937,584 20,781,939
2090 5,938,671 20,914,434
2089 5,941,788 21,046,685
2088 5,942,552 21,178,406
2087 5,945,502 21,310,103
2086 5,948,659 21,441,361
2085 5,952,187 21,571,843
2084 5,956,025 21,701,761
2083 5,960,521 21,830,989
2082 5,963,849 21,960,135
2081 5,965,417 22,088,774
2080 5,967,986 22,216,836
2079 5,969,234 22,344,442
2078 5,969,831 22,471,597
2077 5,968,708 22,598,635
2076 5,968,290 22,725,293
2075 5,967,889 22,852,140
2074 5,966,738 22,979,532
2073 5,965,412 23,107,165
2072 5,961,455 23,234,961
2071 5,961,400 23,363,260
2070 5,960,718 23,491,789
2069 5,959,460 23,621,167
2068 5,957,827 23,750,741
2067 5,955,348 23,880,460
2066 5,951,452 24,010,584
2065 5,947,293 24,140,518
2064 5,943,767 24,269,765
2063 5,941,828 24,397,924
2062 5,937,757 24,525,403
2061 5,936,521 24,651,788
2060 5,933,016 24,776,326
2059 5,928,350 24,898,430
2058 5,922,743 25,018,630
2057 5,916,754 25,135,871
2056 5,910,221 25,250,670
2055 5,901,290 25,361,704
2054 5,891,739 25,469,578
2053 5,881,824 25,574,137
2052 5,873,115 25,675,211
2051 5,861,135 25,772,870
2050 5,849,861 25,866,886
2049 5,841,135 25,957,363
2048 5,830,154 26,043,774
2047 5,819,016 26,126,594
2046 5,806,848 26,205,638
2045 5,792,780 26,281,344
2044 5,777,886 26,353,455
2043 5,761,590 26,422,173
2042 5,743,549 26,486,580
2041 5,724,283 26,547,651
2040 5,705,914 26,604,634
2039 5,687,068 26,656,882
2038 5,667,019 26,703,458
2037 5,647,323 26,744,185
2036 5,627,207 26,778,348
2035 5,606,247 26,805,065
2034 5,585,417 26,823,948
2033 5,562,621 26,834,263
2032 5,539,615 26,835,978
2031 5,514,530 26,827,992
2030 5,488,472 26,809,850
2029 5,460,094 26,782,161
2028 5,429,936 26,744,278
2027 5,397,099 26,696,504
2026 5,361,990 26,638,530
2025 5,324,700 26,571,036
2024 5,290,000 26,498,823
2023 5,200,000 26,418,204
2022 5,081,700 26,328,845
2021 5,084,600 26,232,534
2020 5,072,400 26,136,312
2019 4,970,300 26,037,632
2018 4,900,600 25,931,147
2017 4,813,600 25,817,709
2016 4,714,100 25,698,326
2015 4,609,400 25,575,350
2014 4,516,500 25,451,262
2013 4,442,100 25,329,451
2012 4,408,100 25,211,728
2011 4,384,000 25,097,874
2010 4,350,700 24,987,258
2009 4,302,600 24,878,332
2008 4,259,800 24,764,618
2007 4,223,800 24,646,383
2006 4,184,600 24,524,507
2005 4,133,900 24,396,433
2004 4,087,500 24,254,943
2003 4,027,200 24,090,380
2002 3,948,500 23,943,973
2001 3,880,500 23,815,358
2000 3,857,700 23,665,910
1999 3,835,100 23,497,599
1998 3,815,000 23,311,564
1997 3,781,300 23,110,830
1996 3,732,000 22,895,746
1995 3,673,400 22,669,304
1994 3,620,000 22,393,975
1993 3,572,200 22,073,352
1992 3,531,700 21,750,911
1991 3,495,100 21,428,638
1990 3,329,800 21,112,137
1989 3,299,200 20,804,367
1988 3,283,400 20,503,161
1987 3,274,400 20,205,483
1986 3,246,300 19,910,855
1985 3,247,100 19,620,388
1984 3,227,100 19,335,043
1983 3,199,300 19,054,034
1982 3,156,100 18,776,357
1981 3,124,900 18,501,295
1980 3,112,900 18,236,786
1979 3,109,000 17,983,470
1978 3,121,200 17,735,995
1977 3,120,200 17,492,798
1976 3,110,500 17,243,450
1975 3,083,100 16,971,055
1974 3,023,700 16,673,121
1973 2,961,300 16,350,367
1972 2,903,900 15,975,069
1971 2,853,000 15,572,457
1970 2,810,700 15,172,775
1969 2,772,800 14,767,615
1968 2,748,100 14,365,596
1967 2,724,100 13,958,350
1966 2,675,900 13,569,094
1965 2,628,400 13,219,369
1964 2,585,400 12,889,770
1963 2,531,800 12,567,057
1962 2,482,000 12,262,882
1961 2,419,700 11,990,713
1960 2,371,800 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand North Korea
2100 -0.07% -0.65%
2099 -0.07% -0.65%
2098 -0.05% -0.65%
2097 -0.04% -0.65%
2096 -0.03% -0.65%
2095 -0.02% -0.65%
2094 -0.04% -0.64%
2093 -0.005% -0.64%
2092 -0.03% -0.64%
2091 -0.02% -0.63%
2090 -0.05% -0.63%
2089 -0.01% -0.62%
2088 -0.05% -0.62%
2087 -0.05% -0.61%
2086 -0.06% -0.6%
2085 -0.06% -0.6%
2084 -0.08% -0.59%
2083 -0.06% -0.59%
2082 -0.03% -0.58%
2081 -0.04% -0.58%
2080 -0.02% -0.57%
2079 -0.01% -0.57%
2078 0.02% -0.56%
2077 0.007% -0.56%
2076 0.007% -0.56%
2075 0.02% -0.55%
2074 0.02% -0.55%
2073 0.07% -0.55%
2072 0.001% -0.55%
2071 0.01% -0.55%
2070 0.02% -0.55%
2069 0.03% -0.55%
2068 0.04% -0.54%
2067 0.07% -0.54%
2066 0.07% -0.54%
2065 0.06% -0.53%
2064 0.03% -0.53%
2063 0.07% -0.52%
2062 0.02% -0.51%
2061 0.06% -0.5%
2060 0.08% -0.49%
2059 0.09% -0.48%
2058 0.1% -0.47%
2057 0.11% -0.45%
2056 0.15% -0.44%
2055 0.16% -0.42%
2054 0.17% -0.41%
2053 0.15% -0.39%
2052 0.2% -0.38%
2051 0.19% -0.36%
2050 0.15% -0.35%
2049 0.19% -0.33%
2048 0.19% -0.32%
2047 0.21% -0.3%
2046 0.24% -0.29%
2045 0.26% -0.27%
2044 0.28% -0.26%
2043 0.31% -0.24%
2042 0.34% -0.23%
2041 0.32% -0.21%
2040 0.33% -0.2%
2039 0.35% -0.17%
2038 0.35% -0.15%
2037 0.36% -0.13%
2036 0.37% -0.1%
2035 0.37% -0.07%
2034 0.41% -0.04%
2033 0.42% -0.006%
2032 0.45% 0.03%
2031 0.47% 0.07%
2030 0.52% 0.1%
2029 0.56% 0.14%
2028 0.61% 0.18%
2027 0.65% 0.22%
2026 0.7% 0.25%
2025 0.66% 0.27%
2024 1.73% 0.31%
2023 2.33% 0.34%
2022 -0.06% 0.37%
2021 0.24% 0.37%
2020 2.05% 0.38%
2019 1.42% 0.41%
2018 1.81% 0.44%
2017 2.11% 0.46%
2016 2.27% 0.48%
2015 2.06% 0.49%
2014 1.67% 0.48%
2013 0.77% 0.47%
2012 0.55% 0.45%
2011 0.77% 0.44%
2010 1.12% 0.44%
2009 1% 0.46%
2008 0.85% 0.48%
2007 0.94% 0.5%
2006 1.23% 0.52%
2005 1.14% 0.58%
2004 1.5% 0.68%
2003 1.99% 0.61%
2002 1.75% 0.54%
2001 0.59% 0.63%
2000 0.59% 0.72%
1999 0.53% 0.8%
1998 0.89% 0.87%
1997 1.32% 0.94%
1996 1.6% 1%
1995 1.48% 1.23%
1994 1.34% 1.45%
1993 1.15% 1.48%
1992 1.05% 1.5%
1991 4.96% 1.5%
1990 0.93% 1.48%
1989 0.48% 1.47%
1988 0.27% 1.47%
1987 0.87% 1.48%
1986 -0.02% 1.48%
1985 0.62% 1.48%
1984 0.87% 1.47%
1983 1.37% 1.48%
1982 1% 1.49%
1981 0.39% 1.45%
1980 0.13% 1.41%
1979 -0.39% 1.4%
1978 0.03% 1.39%
1977 0.31% 1.45%
1976 0.89% 1.61%
1975 1.96% 1.79%
1974 2.11% 1.97%
1973 1.98% 2.35%
1972 1.78% 2.59%
1971 1.5% 2.63%
1970 1.37% 2.74%
1969 0.9% 2.8%
1968 0.88% 2.92%
1967 1.8% 2.87%
1966 1.81% 2.65%
1965 1.66% 2.56%
1964 2.12% 2.57%
1963 2.01% 2.48%
1962 2.57% 2.27%
1961 2.02% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of New Zealand grew by 0.66%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

New Zealand North Korea
Current population
5380024
26668308
Population rank 124/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
15.2 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
9.01 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
13.9 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +95 +198
Annual growth/decline +34,700 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +0.66% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 118/197 146/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +17,403 -2,787
Net migration rank 35/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -2,787
2024 20,631 18,766 79,496 -2,473
2023 19,031 21,404 86,203 -1,997
2022 20,276 21,404 96,495 -1,997
2021 23,745 -14,944 99,710 -1,585
2020 25,007 42,124 95,920 -1,585
2019 25,349 69,770 106,208 -3,142
2018 24,797 59,139 113,164 -3,225
2017 26,282 68,349 120,181 -3,224
2016 28,237 75,512 125,048 -3,222
2015 29,408 70,870 127,365 -3,208
2014 26,196 57,974 127,078 -3,042
2013 29,096 26,385 122,519 -2,933
2012 31,077 -1,015 118,773 -2,919
2011 31,302 -2,196 114,798 -2,957
2010 35,458 6,722 112,443 -3,053
2009 33,560 12,700 111,530 -3,058
2008 35,143 4,804 122,015 -3,051
2007 35,480 3,053 120,521 -3,021
2006 30,924 14,542 129,171 -2,948
2005 30,674 19,212 132,765 -2,861
2004 29,634 24,521 155,838 -2,758
2003 28,150 42,456 178,775 -2,717
2002 25,941 48,195 119,504 -2,763
2001 27,939 17,793 143,321 -2,884
2000 29,897 -6,604 161,591 -3,142
1999 28,916 -7,634 181,613 -3,443
1998 29,146 -1,387 197,589 -3,706
1997 30,137 12,040 211,325 -3,745
1996 28,997 25,169 226,095 -3,512
1995 29,828 26,743 233,381 -3,094
1994 30,372 20,420 320,861 -517
1993 31,685 12,638 320,880 0
1992 32,067 6,460 324,002 0
1991 33,518 31,156 320,551 0
1990 33,298 70,432 312,460 0
1989 30,749 -8,818 303,078 0
1988 29,846 -17,005 299,305 0
1987 27,603 -7,631 296,030 0
1986 25,549 -10,234 293,227 0
1985 24,126 -13,462 287,714 0
1984 26,043 -901 282,987 0
1983 24,315 11,464 279,046 0
1982 24,207 7,982 276,332 0
1981 25,374 -7,606 273,800 0
1980 23,658 -15,423 255,206 0
1979 26,675 -26,694 251,409 0
1978 26,156 -28,783 243,533 0
1977 28,020 -22,697 242,870 0
1976 29,456 -9,138 255,841 0
1975 31,355 13,196 288,966 0
1974 33,896 27,580 306,902 0
1973 35,239 28,261 338,600 0
1972 38,244 17,779 411,997 0
1971 40,000 7,547 393,220 0
1970 37,101 4,511 406,129 0
1969 38,098 -5,212 404,189 0
1968 37,594 -11,853 399,837 0
1967 37,974 -2,289 414,632 0
1966 36,151 9,161 363,882 0
1965 36,982 9,245 335,587 0
1964 39,375 9,806 323,623 0
1963 42,027 10,226 321,805 0
1962 42,865 12,697 286,534 0
1961 43,482 10,689 257,788 0
1960 41,791 3,846 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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