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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 5,572,279 people in Norway in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 5,671,119 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Norway's population is 1.06 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.85% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.67M (21.7% growth).

New Zealand vs Norway: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Norway
2100 5,918,837 5,441,855
2099 5,923,132 5,454,583
2098 5,927,206 5,466,669
2097 5,930,263 5,478,174
2096 5,932,907 5,490,010
2095 5,934,847 5,502,418
2094 5,936,183 5,514,598
2093 5,938,804 5,527,174
2092 5,939,085 5,539,172
2091 5,940,665 5,551,172
2090 5,941,752 5,564,044
2089 5,944,871 5,576,715
2088 5,945,635 5,590,047
2087 5,948,586 5,604,159
2086 5,951,745 5,617,935
2085 5,955,275 5,631,413
2084 5,959,115 5,645,116
2083 5,963,613 5,658,044
2082 5,966,943 5,670,485
2081 5,968,511 5,682,427
2080 5,971,082 5,694,199
2079 5,972,331 5,705,317
2078 5,972,928 5,715,984
2077 5,971,804 5,726,145
2076 5,971,386 5,735,898
2075 5,970,985 5,745,619
2074 5,969,834 5,755,683
2073 5,968,506 5,765,642
2072 5,964,548 5,775,295
2071 5,964,493 5,784,119
2070 5,963,811 5,793,594
2069 5,962,551 5,802,341
2068 5,960,918 5,811,630
2067 5,958,438 5,821,550
2066 5,954,539 5,831,535
2065 5,950,378 5,841,333
2064 5,946,851 5,851,085
2063 5,944,910 5,860,548
2062 5,940,838 5,869,700
2061 5,939,601 5,877,754
2060 5,936,094 5,885,488
2059 5,931,426 5,892,036
2058 5,925,816 5,897,922
2057 5,919,823 5,904,330
2056 5,913,287 5,910,291
2055 5,904,352 5,915,286
2054 5,894,795 5,919,312
2053 5,884,875 5,922,325
2052 5,876,162 5,923,483
2051 5,864,176 5,923,938
2050 5,852,896 5,923,557
2049 5,844,165 5,922,138
2048 5,833,178 5,919,215
2047 5,822,035 5,916,146
2046 5,809,860 5,912,426
2045 5,795,785 5,907,334
2044 5,780,884 5,902,175
2043 5,764,579 5,896,614
2042 5,746,528 5,889,741
2041 5,727,253 5,881,692
2040 5,708,874 5,873,512
2039 5,690,018 5,864,063
2038 5,669,959 5,853,639
2037 5,650,253 5,842,734
2036 5,630,126 5,830,991
2035 5,609,155 5,818,882
2034 5,588,315 5,805,966
2033 5,565,507 5,792,030
2032 5,542,488 5,777,062
2031 5,517,391 5,760,828
2030 5,491,320 5,743,814
2029 5,462,926 5,725,891
2028 5,432,752 5,706,765
2027 5,399,898 5,686,336
2026 5,364,771 5,665,477
2025 5,327,462 5,626,258
2024 5,287,500 5,572,279
2023 5,200,000 5,519,601
2022 5,081,700 5,457,127
2021 5,084,600 5,408,320
2020 5,072,400 5,379,475
2019 4,970,300 5,347,896
2018 4,900,600 5,311,916
2017 4,813,600 5,276,968
2016 4,714,100 5,234,519
2015 4,609,400 5,188,607
2014 4,516,500 5,137,232
2013 4,442,100 5,079,623
2012 4,408,100 5,018,573
2011 4,384,000 4,953,088
2010 4,350,700 4,889,252
2009 4,302,600 4,828,726
2008 4,259,800 4,768,212
2007 4,223,800 4,709,153
2006 4,184,600 4,660,677
2005 4,133,900 4,623,291
2004 4,087,500 4,591,910
2003 4,027,200 4,564,855
2002 3,948,500 4,538,159
2001 3,880,500 4,513,751
2000 3,857,700 4,490,967
1999 3,835,100 4,461,913
1998 3,815,000 4,431,464
1997 3,781,300 4,405,157
1996 3,732,000 4,381,336
1995 3,673,400 4,359,184
1994 3,620,000 4,336,613
1993 3,572,200 4,311,991
1992 3,531,700 4,286,401
1991 3,495,100 4,261,732
1990 3,329,800 4,241,473
1989 3,299,200 4,226,901
1988 3,283,400 4,209,488
1987 3,274,400 4,186,905
1986 3,246,300 4,167,354
1985 3,247,100 4,152,516
1984 3,227,100 4,140,099
1983 3,199,300 4,128,432
1982 3,156,100 4,114,787
1981 3,124,900 4,099,702
1980 3,112,900 4,085,620
1979 3,109,000 4,072,517
1978 3,121,200 4,058,671
1977 3,120,200 4,043,205
1976 3,110,500 4,026,152
1975 3,083,100 4,007,313
1974 3,023,700 3,985,258
1973 2,961,300 3,960,612
1972 2,903,900 3,933,004
1971 2,853,000 3,903,039
1970 2,810,700 3,875,763
1969 2,772,800 3,847,707
1968 2,748,100 3,816,486
1967 2,724,100 3,784,539
1966 2,675,900 3,753,012
1965 2,628,400 3,723,168
1964 2,585,400 3,694,339
1963 2,531,800 3,666,537
1962 2,482,000 3,638,918
1961 2,419,700 3,609,800
1960 2,371,800 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Norway's population increased by 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.45% to 5,923,557 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 5.92M people in 2051 for Norway.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Norway
2100 -0.07% -0.23%
2099 -0.07% -0.22%
2098 -0.05% -0.21%
2097 -0.04% -0.22%
2096 -0.03% -0.23%
2095 -0.02% -0.22%
2094 -0.04% -0.23%
2093 -0.005% -0.22%
2092 -0.03% -0.22%
2091 -0.02% -0.23%
2090 -0.05% -0.23%
2089 -0.01% -0.24%
2088 -0.05% -0.25%
2087 -0.05% -0.25%
2086 -0.06% -0.24%
2085 -0.06% -0.24%
2084 -0.08% -0.23%
2083 -0.06% -0.22%
2082 -0.03% -0.21%
2081 -0.04% -0.21%
2080 -0.02% -0.19%
2079 -0.01% -0.19%
2078 0.02% -0.18%
2077 0.007% -0.17%
2076 0.007% -0.17%
2075 0.02% -0.17%
2074 0.02% -0.17%
2073 0.07% -0.17%
2072 0.001% -0.15%
2071 0.01% -0.16%
2070 0.02% -0.15%
2069 0.03% -0.16%
2068 0.04% -0.17%
2067 0.07% -0.17%
2066 0.07% -0.17%
2065 0.06% -0.17%
2064 0.03% -0.16%
2063 0.07% -0.16%
2062 0.02% -0.14%
2061 0.06% -0.13%
2060 0.08% -0.11%
2059 0.09% -0.1%
2058 0.1% -0.11%
2057 0.11% -0.1%
2056 0.15% -0.08%
2055 0.16% -0.07%
2054 0.17% -0.05%
2053 0.15% -0.02%
2052 0.2% -0.008%
2051 0.19% 0.006%
2050 0.15% 0.02%
2049 0.19% 0.05%
2048 0.19% 0.05%
2047 0.21% 0.06%
2046 0.24% 0.09%
2045 0.26% 0.09%
2044 0.28% 0.09%
2043 0.31% 0.12%
2042 0.34% 0.14%
2041 0.32% 0.14%
2040 0.33% 0.16%
2039 0.35% 0.18%
2038 0.35% 0.19%
2037 0.36% 0.2%
2036 0.37% 0.21%
2035 0.37% 0.22%
2034 0.41% 0.24%
2033 0.42% 0.26%
2032 0.45% 0.28%
2031 0.47% 0.3%
2030 0.52% 0.31%
2029 0.56% 0.34%
2028 0.61% 0.36%
2027 0.65% 0.37%
2026 0.7% 0.7%
2025 0.76% 0.97%
2024 1.68% 0.95%
2023 2.33% 1.14%
2022 -0.06% 0.9%
2021 0.24% 0.54%
2020 2.05% 0.59%
2019 1.42% 0.68%
2018 1.81% 0.66%
2017 2.11% 0.81%
2016 2.27% 0.88%
2015 2.06% 1%
2014 1.67% 1.13%
2013 0.77% 1.22%
2012 0.55% 1.32%
2011 0.77% 1.31%
2010 1.12% 1.25%
2009 1% 1.27%
2008 0.85% 1.25%
2007 0.94% 1.04%
2006 1.23% 0.81%
2005 1.14% 0.68%
2004 1.5% 0.59%
2003 1.99% 0.59%
2002 1.75% 0.54%
2001 0.59% 0.51%
2000 0.59% 0.65%
1999 0.53% 0.69%
1998 0.89% 0.6%
1997 1.32% 0.54%
1996 1.6% 0.51%
1995 1.48% 0.52%
1994 1.34% 0.57%
1993 1.15% 0.6%
1992 1.05% 0.58%
1991 4.96% 0.48%
1990 0.93% 0.34%
1989 0.48% 0.41%
1988 0.27% 0.54%
1987 0.87% 0.47%
1986 -0.02% 0.36%
1985 0.62% 0.3%
1984 0.87% 0.28%
1983 1.37% 0.33%
1982 1% 0.37%
1981 0.39% 0.34%
1980 0.13% 0.32%
1979 -0.39% 0.34%
1978 0.03% 0.38%
1977 0.31% 0.42%
1976 0.89% 0.47%
1975 1.96% 0.55%
1974 2.11% 0.62%
1973 1.98% 0.7%
1972 1.78% 0.77%
1971 1.5% 0.7%
1970 1.37% 0.73%
1969 0.9% 0.82%
1968 0.88% 0.84%
1967 1.8% 0.84%
1966 1.81% 0.8%
1965 1.66% 0.78%
1964 2.12% 0.76%
1963 2.01% 0.76%
1962 2.57% 0.81%
1961 2.02% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Norway's population grew by 0.95%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Norway
Current population
5374272
5671119
Population rank 124/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.07%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
9.98 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
12.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +144
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +52,678
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +0.95%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 105/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +29,798
Net migration rank 35/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 29,798
2024 - 18,766 - 44,356
2023 18,876 21,404 8,280 53,806
2022 20,123 21,404 5,457 58,040
2021 23,644 -14,944 14,062 19,804
2020 24,905 42,124 12,372 11,277
2019 25,299 69,770 13,904 25,707
2018 24,797 59,139 14,342 18,473
2017 26,282 68,349 15,831 21,657
2016 28,237 75,512 17,797 26,417
2015 29,408 70,870 18,160 30,242
2014 26,196 57,974 18,494 38,522
2013 29,096 26,385 17,779 40,690
2012 31,077 -1,015 18,066 47,883
2011 31,302 -2,196 18,822 47,454
2010 35,458 6,722 20,046 42,865
2009 33,560 12,700 20,280 39,316
2008 35,143 4,804 19,073 44,002
2007 35,480 3,053 16,482 40,111
2006 30,924 14,542 17,244 24,054
2005 30,674 19,212 15,719 18,588
2004 29,634 24,521 15,612 13,412
2003 28,150 42,456 14,151 11,389
2002 25,941 48,195 10,892 17,279
2001 27,939 17,793 13,090 7,906
2000 29,897 -6,604 15,269 9,805
1999 28,916 -7,634 14,278 19,147
1998 29,146 -1,387 14,181 13,519
1997 30,137 12,040 15,418 9,744
1996 28,997 25,169 17,087 5,671
1995 29,828 26,743 14,821 6,343
1994 30,372 20,420 16,045 7,580
1993 31,685 12,638 12,936 12,567
1992 32,067 6,460 15,431 10,218
1991 33,518 31,156 16,194 7,949
1990 33,298 70,432 14,845 1,818
1989 30,749 -8,818 13,949 -1,730
1988 29,846 -17,005 12,207 10,380
1987 27,603 -7,631 9,212 13,907
1986 25,549 -10,234 8,751 7,616
1985 24,126 -13,462 6,644 6,725
1984 26,043 -901 7,452 3,856
1983 24,315 11,464 7,844 4,120
1982 24,207 7,982 9,875 5,749
1981 25,374 -7,606 9,020 6,010
1980 23,658 -15,423 9,806 3,763
1979 26,675 -26,694 10,181 2,839
1978 26,156 -28,783 11,364 3,823
1977 28,020 -22,697 11,321 4,845
1976 29,456 -9,138 13,286 4,779
1975 31,355 13,196 16,430 3,312
1974 33,896 27,580 20,324 4,425
1973 35,239 28,261 21,387 3,414
1972 38,244 17,779 24,777 5,603
1971 40,000 7,547 26,541 3,031
1970 37,101 4,511 25,968 -1,034
1969 38,098 -5,212 28,858 2,230
1968 37,594 -11,853 29,387 1,761
1967 37,974 -2,289 30,276 2,460
1966 36,151 9,161 31,150 -888
1965 36,982 9,245 31,275 -1,525
1964 39,375 9,806 30,293 -1,571
1963 42,027 10,226 26,766 1,061
1962 42,865 12,697 28,020 655
1961 43,482 10,689 29,239 1,437
1960 41,791 3,846 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/norway | 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 Norway 31.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway | 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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