The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.
Population statistics:
- New Zealand's population is 305 times bigger than Palau's.
- New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.0002% for Palau.
- For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
- Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).
New Zealand vs Palau: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
New Zealand
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | 5,918,837 | 11,152 |
| 2099 | 5,923,132 | 11,216 |
| 2098 | 5,927,206 | 11,281 |
| 2097 | 5,930,263 | 11,352 |
| 2096 | 5,932,907 | 11,417 |
| 2095 | 5,934,847 | 11,485 |
| 2094 | 5,936,183 | 11,549 |
| 2093 | 5,938,804 | 11,616 |
| 2092 | 5,939,085 | 11,682 |
| 2091 | 5,940,665 | 11,753 |
| 2090 | 5,941,752 | 11,829 |
| 2089 | 5,944,871 | 11,907 |
| 2088 | 5,945,635 | 11,968 |
| 2087 | 5,948,586 | 12,040 |
| 2086 | 5,951,745 | 12,109 |
| 2085 | 5,955,275 | 12,171 |
| 2084 | 5,959,115 | 12,251 |
| 2083 | 5,963,613 | 12,316 |
| 2082 | 5,966,943 | 12,382 |
| 2081 | 5,968,511 | 12,457 |
| 2080 | 5,971,082 | 12,537 |
| 2079 | 5,972,331 | 12,608 |
| 2078 | 5,972,928 | 12,681 |
| 2077 | 5,971,804 | 12,758 |
| 2076 | 5,971,386 | 12,838 |
| 2075 | 5,970,985 | 12,914 |
| 2074 | 5,969,834 | 13,007 |
| 2073 | 5,968,506 | 13,091 |
| 2072 | 5,964,548 | 13,161 |
| 2071 | 5,964,493 | 13,252 |
| 2070 | 5,963,811 | 13,338 |
| 2069 | 5,962,551 | 13,430 |
| 2068 | 5,960,918 | 13,525 |
| 2067 | 5,958,438 | 13,621 |
| 2066 | 5,954,539 | 13,723 |
| 2065 | 5,950,378 | 13,818 |
| 2064 | 5,946,851 | 13,920 |
| 2063 | 5,944,910 | 14,025 |
| 2062 | 5,940,838 | 14,136 |
| 2061 | 5,939,601 | 14,251 |
| 2060 | 5,936,094 | 14,358 |
| 2059 | 5,931,426 | 14,479 |
| 2058 | 5,925,816 | 14,589 |
| 2057 | 5,919,823 | 14,718 |
| 2056 | 5,913,287 | 14,837 |
| 2055 | 5,904,352 | 14,961 |
| 2054 | 5,894,795 | 15,084 |
| 2053 | 5,884,875 | 15,206 |
| 2052 | 5,876,162 | 15,332 |
| 2051 | 5,864,176 | 15,453 |
| 2050 | 5,852,896 | 15,562 |
| 2049 | 5,844,165 | 15,682 |
| 2048 | 5,833,178 | 15,797 |
| 2047 | 5,822,035 | 15,912 |
| 2046 | 5,809,860 | 16,024 |
| 2045 | 5,795,785 | 16,132 |
| 2044 | 5,780,884 | 16,245 |
| 2043 | 5,764,579 | 16,339 |
| 2042 | 5,746,528 | 16,445 |
| 2041 | 5,727,253 | 16,549 |
| 2040 | 5,708,874 | 16,631 |
| 2039 | 5,690,018 | 16,727 |
| 2038 | 5,669,959 | 16,805 |
| 2037 | 5,650,253 | 16,895 |
| 2036 | 5,630,126 | 16,964 |
| 2035 | 5,609,155 | 17,042 |
| 2034 | 5,588,315 | 17,118 |
| 2033 | 5,565,507 | 17,190 |
| 2032 | 5,542,488 | 17,250 |
| 2031 | 5,517,391 | 17,330 |
| 2030 | 5,491,320 | 17,398 |
| 2029 | 5,462,926 | 17,457 |
| 2028 | 5,432,752 | 17,527 |
| 2027 | 5,399,898 | 17,576 |
| 2026 | 5,364,771 | 17,629 |
| 2025 | 5,327,462 | 17,672 |
| 2024 | 5,287,500 | 17,695 |
| 2023 | 5,200,000 | 17,727 |
| 2022 | 5,081,700 | 17,759 |
| 2021 | 5,084,600 | 17,783 |
| 2020 | 5,072,400 | 17,792 |
| 2019 | 4,970,300 | 17,798 |
| 2018 | 4,900,600 | 17,814 |
| 2017 | 4,813,600 | 17,812 |
| 2016 | 4,714,100 | 17,797 |
| 2015 | 4,609,400 | 17,770 |
| 2014 | 4,516,500 | 17,715 |
| 2013 | 4,442,100 | 17,648 |
| 2012 | 4,408,100 | 17,765 |
| 2011 | 4,384,000 | 18,078 |
| 2010 | 4,350,700 | 18,396 |
| 2009 | 4,302,600 | 18,709 |
| 2008 | 4,259,800 | 19,009 |
| 2007 | 4,223,800 | 19,302 |
| 2006 | 4,184,600 | 19,593 |
| 2005 | 4,133,900 | 19,819 |
| 2004 | 4,087,500 | 19,820 |
| 2003 | 4,027,200 | 19,659 |
| 2002 | 3,948,500 | 19,503 |
| 2001 | 3,880,500 | 19,352 |
| 2000 | 3,857,700 | 19,178 |
| 1999 | 3,835,100 | 18,901 |
| 1998 | 3,815,000 | 18,524 |
| 1997 | 3,781,300 | 18,108 |
| 1996 | 3,732,000 | 17,654 |
| 1995 | 3,673,400 | 17,195 |
| 1994 | 3,620,000 | 16,770 |
| 1993 | 3,572,200 | 16,372 |
| 1992 | 3,531,700 | 15,989 |
| 1991 | 3,495,100 | 15,614 |
| 1990 | 3,329,800 | 15,259 |
| 1989 | 3,299,200 | 14,945 |
| 1988 | 3,283,400 | 14,645 |
| 1987 | 3,274,400 | 14,334 |
| 1986 | 3,246,300 | 14,024 |
| 1985 | 3,247,100 | 13,688 |
| 1984 | 3,227,100 | 13,337 |
| 1983 | 3,199,300 | 13,006 |
| 1982 | 3,156,100 | 12,694 |
| 1981 | 3,124,900 | 12,402 |
| 1980 | 3,112,900 | 12,271 |
| 1979 | 3,109,000 | 12,337 |
| 1978 | 3,121,200 | 12,440 |
| 1977 | 3,120,200 | 12,525 |
| 1976 | 3,110,500 | 12,598 |
| 1975 | 3,083,100 | 12,655 |
| 1974 | 3,023,700 | 12,687 |
| 1973 | 2,961,300 | 12,552 |
| 1972 | 2,903,900 | 12,194 |
| 1971 | 2,853,000 | 11,759 |
| 1970 | 2,810,700 | 11,368 |
| 1969 | 2,772,800 | 11,159 |
| 1968 | 2,748,100 | 11,080 |
| 1967 | 2,724,100 | 10,988 |
| 1966 | 2,675,900 | 10,805 |
| 1965 | 2,628,400 | 10,547 |
| 1964 | 2,585,400 | 10,292 |
| 1963 | 2,531,800 | 10,037 |
| 1962 | 2,482,000 | 9,793 |
| 1961 | 2,419,700 | 9,555 |
| 1960 | 2,371,800 | 9,328 |
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/palau | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).
New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.
New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.2K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
New Zealand
|
Palau
|
|
| 2100 | -0.07% | -0.57% |
| 2099 | -0.07% | -0.58% |
| 2098 | -0.05% | -0.62% |
| 2097 | -0.04% | -0.57% |
| 2096 | -0.03% | -0.59% |
| 2095 | -0.02% | -0.55% |
| 2094 | -0.04% | -0.58% |
| 2093 | -0.005% | -0.56% |
| 2092 | -0.03% | -0.6% |
| 2091 | -0.02% | -0.65% |
| 2090 | -0.05% | -0.65% |
| 2089 | -0.01% | -0.51% |
| 2088 | -0.05% | -0.6% |
| 2087 | -0.05% | -0.57% |
| 2086 | -0.06% | -0.51% |
| 2085 | -0.06% | -0.65% |
| 2084 | -0.08% | -0.53% |
| 2083 | -0.06% | -0.53% |
| 2082 | -0.03% | -0.6% |
| 2081 | -0.04% | -0.64% |
| 2080 | -0.02% | -0.56% |
| 2079 | -0.01% | -0.58% |
| 2078 | 0.02% | -0.6% |
| 2077 | 0.007% | -0.62% |
| 2076 | 0.007% | -0.59% |
| 2075 | 0.02% | -0.71% |
| 2074 | 0.02% | -0.64% |
| 2073 | 0.07% | -0.53% |
| 2072 | 0.001% | -0.69% |
| 2071 | 0.01% | -0.65% |
| 2070 | 0.02% | -0.68% |
| 2069 | 0.03% | -0.7% |
| 2068 | 0.04% | -0.7% |
| 2067 | 0.07% | -0.74% |
| 2066 | 0.07% | -0.69% |
| 2065 | 0.06% | -0.73% |
| 2064 | 0.03% | -0.75% |
| 2063 | 0.07% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | 0.02% | -0.81% |
| 2061 | 0.06% | -0.74% |
| 2060 | 0.08% | -0.84% |
| 2059 | 0.09% | -0.75% |
| 2058 | 0.1% | -0.88% |
| 2057 | 0.11% | -0.81% |
| 2056 | 0.15% | -0.83% |
| 2055 | 0.16% | -0.81% |
| 2054 | 0.17% | -0.8% |
| 2053 | 0.15% | -0.82% |
| 2052 | 0.2% | -0.78% |
| 2051 | 0.19% | -0.7% |
| 2050 | 0.15% | -0.76% |
| 2049 | 0.19% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 0.19% | -0.72% |
| 2047 | 0.21% | -0.7% |
| 2046 | 0.24% | -0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.26% | -0.7% |
| 2044 | 0.28% | -0.57% |
| 2043 | 0.31% | -0.64% |
| 2042 | 0.34% | -0.63% |
| 2041 | 0.32% | -0.49% |
| 2040 | 0.33% | -0.57% |
| 2039 | 0.35% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 0.35% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 0.36% | -0.41% |
| 2036 | 0.37% | -0.46% |
| 2035 | 0.37% | -0.44% |
| 2034 | 0.41% | -0.42% |
| 2033 | 0.42% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 0.45% | -0.46% |
| 2031 | 0.47% | -0.39% |
| 2030 | 0.52% | -0.34% |
| 2029 | 0.56% | -0.4% |
| 2028 | 0.61% | -0.28% |
| 2027 | 0.65% | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 0.7% | -0.24% |
| 2025 | 0.76% | -0.13% |
| 2024 | 1.68% | -0.18% |
| 2023 | 2.33% | -0.18% |
| 2022 | -0.06% | -0.13% |
| 2021 | 0.24% | -0.05% |
| 2020 | 2.05% | -0.03% |
| 2019 | 1.42% | -0.09% |
| 2018 | 1.81% | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 2.11% | 0.08% |
| 2016 | 2.27% | 0.15% |
| 2015 | 2.06% | 0.31% |
| 2014 | 1.67% | 0.38% |
| 2013 | 0.77% | -0.66% |
| 2012 | 0.55% | -1.73% |
| 2011 | 0.77% | -1.73% |
| 2010 | 1.12% | -1.67% |
| 2009 | 1% | -1.58% |
| 2008 | 0.85% | -1.52% |
| 2007 | 0.94% | -1.49% |
| 2006 | 1.23% | -1.14% |
| 2005 | 1.14% | -0.005% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | 0.82% |
| 2003 | 1.99% | 0.8% |
| 2002 | 1.75% | 0.78% |
| 2001 | 0.59% | 0.91% |
| 2000 | 0.59% | 1.47% |
| 1999 | 0.53% | 2.04% |
| 1998 | 0.89% | 2.3% |
| 1997 | 1.32% | 2.57% |
| 1996 | 1.6% | 2.67% |
| 1995 | 1.48% | 2.53% |
| 1994 | 1.34% | 2.43% |
| 1993 | 1.15% | 2.4% |
| 1992 | 1.05% | 2.4% |
| 1991 | 4.96% | 2.33% |
| 1990 | 0.93% | 2.1% |
| 1989 | 0.48% | 2.05% |
| 1988 | 0.27% | 2.17% |
| 1987 | 0.87% | 2.21% |
| 1986 | -0.02% | 2.45% |
| 1985 | 0.62% | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 0.87% | 2.54% |
| 1983 | 1.37% | 2.46% |
| 1982 | 1% | 2.35% |
| 1981 | 0.39% | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 0.13% | -0.53% |
| 1979 | -0.39% | -0.83% |
| 1978 | 0.03% | -0.68% |
| 1977 | 0.31% | -0.58% |
| 1976 | 0.89% | -0.45% |
| 1975 | 1.96% | -0.25% |
| 1974 | 2.11% | 1.08% |
| 1973 | 1.98% | 2.94% |
| 1972 | 1.78% | 3.7% |
| 1971 | 1.5% | 3.44% |
| 1970 | 1.37% | 1.87% |
| 1969 | 0.9% | 0.71% |
| 1968 | 0.88% | 0.84% |
| 1967 | 1.8% | 1.69% |
| 1966 | 1.81% | 2.45% |
| 1965 | 1.66% | 2.48% |
| 1964 | 2.12% | 2.54% |
| 1963 | 2.01% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 2.57% | 2.49% |
| 1961 | 2.02% | 2.43% |
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/palau | CC BY
In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.
Live population counters
|
New Zealand
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5374272
|
17629
|
| Population rank | 124/197 | 194/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 0.0002% |
| One net population change |
6.01 minutes
|
1.63 weeks
|
| One birth every |
9.31 minutes
|
1.89 days
|
| One death every |
14 minutes
|
1.8 days
|
| Daily growth/decline | +240 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +87,500 | -32 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.68% | -0.18% |
| Population growth rate rank | 65/197 | 175/197 |
| One migration net change every |
30.3 minutes
|
3.27 weeks
|
| Annual migration change | +17,403 | -16 |
| Net migration rank | 35/196 | 78/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,467,989 | 5,212 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 45/195 | 184/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 28.2% | 29.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 20/195 | 19/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New Zealand
|
Palau
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 17,403 | - | -16 |
| 2024 | - | 18,766 | - | -14 |
| 2023 | 18,876 | 21,404 | -10 | -19 |
| 2022 | 20,123 | 21,404 | -7 | -20 |
| 2021 | 23,644 | -14,944 | -3 | -21 |
| 2020 | 24,905 | 42,124 | 8 | 0 |
| 2019 | 25,299 | 69,770 | 23 | -46 |
| 2018 | 24,797 | 59,139 | 29 | -35 |
| 2017 | 26,282 | 68,349 | 43 | -33 |
| 2016 | 28,237 | 75,512 | 53 | -35 |
| 2015 | 29,408 | 70,870 | 55 | -11 |
| 2014 | 26,196 | 57,974 | 73 | -7 |
| 2013 | 29,096 | 26,385 | 88 | -28 |
| 2012 | 31,077 | -1,015 | 86 | -387 |
| 2011 | 31,302 | -2,196 | 83 | -405 |
| 2010 | 35,458 | 6,722 | 81 | -392 |
| 2009 | 33,560 | 12,700 | 81 | -382 |
| 2008 | 35,143 | 4,804 | 79 | -378 |
| 2007 | 35,480 | 3,053 | 80 | -372 |
| 2006 | 30,924 | 14,542 | 79 | -365 |
| 2005 | 30,674 | 19,212 | 80 | -250 |
| 2004 | 29,634 | 24,521 | 83 | 79 |
| 2003 | 28,150 | 42,456 | 86 | 71 |
| 2002 | 25,941 | 48,195 | 88 | 67 |
| 2001 | 27,939 | 17,793 | 88 | 65 |
| 2000 | 29,897 | -6,604 | 85 | 120 |
| 1999 | 28,916 | -7,634 | 100 | 243 |
| 1998 | 29,146 | -1,387 | 116 | 280 |
| 1997 | 30,137 | 12,040 | 140 | 297 |
| 1996 | 28,997 | 25,169 | 166 | 312 |
| 1995 | 29,828 | 26,743 | 186 | 258 |
| 1994 | 30,372 | 20,420 | 195 | 211 |
| 1993 | 31,685 | 12,638 | 196 | 193 |
| 1992 | 32,067 | 6,460 | 183 | 193 |
| 1991 | 33,518 | 31,156 | 175 | 193 |
| 1990 | 33,298 | 70,432 | 181 | 156 |
| 1989 | 30,749 | -8,818 | 185 | 113 |
| 1988 | 29,846 | -17,005 | 183 | 126 |
| 1987 | 27,603 | -7,631 | 182 | 125 |
| 1986 | 25,549 | -10,234 | 182 | 135 |
| 1985 | 24,126 | -13,462 | 181 | 179 |
| 1984 | 26,043 | -901 | 181 | 157 |
| 1983 | 24,315 | 11,464 | 176 | 144 |
| 1982 | 24,207 | 7,982 | 170 | 132 |
| 1981 | 25,374 | -7,606 | 161 | 120 |
| 1980 | 23,658 | -15,423 | 165 | -179 |
| 1979 | 26,675 | -26,694 | 176 | -291 |
| 1978 | 26,156 | -28,783 | 193 | -285 |
| 1977 | 28,020 | -22,697 | 213 | -292 |
| 1976 | 29,456 | -9,138 | 236 | -296 |
| 1975 | 31,355 | 13,196 | 249 | -296 |
| 1974 | 33,896 | 27,580 | 256 | -282 |
| 1973 | 35,239 | 28,261 | 268 | 22 |
| 1972 | 38,244 | 17,779 | 280 | 147 |
| 1971 | 40,000 | 7,547 | 287 | 156 |
| 1970 | 37,101 | 4,511 | 286 | 54 |
| 1969 | 38,098 | -5,212 | 283 | -209 |
| 1968 | 37,594 | -11,853 | 275 | -194 |
| 1967 | 37,974 | -2,289 | 266 | -150 |
| 1966 | 36,151 | 9,161 | 268 | -18 |
| 1965 | 36,982 | 9,245 | 275 | -16 |
| 1964 | 39,375 | 9,806 | 284 | -27 |
| 1963 | 42,027 | 10,226 | 291 | -41 |
| 1962 | 42,865 | 12,697 | 296 | -54 |
| 1961 | 43,482 | 10,689 | 298 | -65 |
| 1960 | 41,791 | 3,846 | 296 | -70 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).
As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.
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 |
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Ngerulmud | 318 |
| Melekeok | 299 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between New Zealand and Palau
|
New Zealand
|
Palau
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 82.5 years | 69.6 years |
| Average age | 39.8 years | 38.4 years |
| Median age | 38.6 years | 39.2 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | 53.9:46.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.56 births per woman | 1.91 births per woman |
| Population density | 52.8 ppl/mi² | 99.3 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/palau | 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)
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