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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 26,659,144 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 +1.6% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% 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 5,918,837 19,604,631
2099 5,923,132 19,733,548
2098 5,927,206 19,862,949
2097 5,930,263 19,993,288
2096 5,932,907 20,124,518
2095 5,934,847 20,256,401
2094 5,936,183 20,388,156
2093 5,938,804 20,520,253
2092 5,939,085 20,652,961
2091 5,940,665 20,785,785
2090 5,941,752 20,918,305
2089 5,944,871 21,050,580
2088 5,945,635 21,182,325
2087 5,948,586 21,314,047
2086 5,951,745 21,445,329
2085 5,955,275 21,575,835
2084 5,959,115 21,705,777
2083 5,963,613 21,835,029
2082 5,966,943 21,964,199
2081 5,968,511 22,092,862
2080 5,971,082 22,220,948
2079 5,972,331 22,348,577
2078 5,972,928 22,475,755
2077 5,971,804 22,602,817
2076 5,971,386 22,729,499
2075 5,970,985 22,856,369
2074 5,969,834 22,983,784
2073 5,968,506 23,111,441
2072 5,964,548 23,239,261
2071 5,964,493 23,367,583
2070 5,963,811 23,496,136
2069 5,962,551 23,625,538
2068 5,960,918 23,755,136
2067 5,958,438 23,884,879
2066 5,954,539 24,015,027
2065 5,950,378 24,144,985
2064 5,946,851 24,274,257
2063 5,944,910 24,402,439
2062 5,940,838 24,529,941
2061 5,939,601 24,656,350
2060 5,936,094 24,780,911
2059 5,931,426 24,903,037
2058 5,925,816 25,023,260
2057 5,919,823 25,140,523
2056 5,913,287 25,255,342
2055 5,904,352 25,366,397
2054 5,894,795 25,474,292
2053 5,884,875 25,578,870
2052 5,876,162 25,679,963
2051 5,864,176 25,777,639
2050 5,852,896 25,871,673
2049 5,844,165 25,962,167
2048 5,833,178 26,048,593
2047 5,822,035 26,131,429
2046 5,809,860 26,210,487
2045 5,795,785 26,286,208
2044 5,780,884 26,358,331
2043 5,764,579 26,427,062
2042 5,746,528 26,491,482
2041 5,727,253 26,552,564
2040 5,708,874 26,609,557
2039 5,690,018 26,661,815
2038 5,669,959 26,708,400
2037 5,650,253 26,749,134
2036 5,630,126 26,783,304
2035 5,609,155 26,810,026
2034 5,588,315 26,828,912
2033 5,565,507 26,839,229
2032 5,542,488 26,840,944
2031 5,517,391 26,832,957
2030 5,491,320 26,814,812
2029 5,462,926 26,787,117
2028 5,432,752 26,749,227
2027 5,399,898 26,701,444
2026 5,364,771 26,643,460
2025 5,327,462 26,575,953
2024 5,287,500 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% 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 8.91% to 5,852,896 people with a rank change from 124th to 122nd. The population of North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 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 0.76% 0.29%
2024 1.68% 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

New Zealand North Korea
Current population
5374272
26659144
Population rank 124/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +221
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 150/197
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 - 18,766 - -2,473
2023 18,876 21,404 86,203 -1,997
2022 20,123 21,404 96,495 -1,997
2021 23,644 -14,944 99,710 -1,585
2020 24,905 42,124 95,920 -1,585
2019 25,299 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/north-korea | 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). In North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 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 (1960–2024, 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/north-korea | 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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