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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 3.51 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

New Zealand vs Romania: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Romania
2100 5,918,837 10,801,385
2099 5,923,132 10,885,505
2098 5,927,206 10,969,050
2097 5,930,263 11,052,086
2096 5,932,907 11,134,776
2095 5,934,847 11,217,462
2094 5,936,183 11,299,298
2093 5,938,804 11,382,352
2092 5,939,085 11,464,817
2091 5,940,665 11,546,872
2090 5,941,752 11,630,335
2089 5,944,871 11,713,468
2088 5,945,635 11,796,733
2087 5,948,586 11,880,373
2086 5,951,745 11,966,550
2085 5,955,275 12,052,744
2084 5,959,115 12,140,454
2083 5,963,613 12,229,714
2082 5,966,943 12,319,480
2081 5,968,511 12,412,385
2080 5,971,082 12,507,333
2079 5,972,331 12,603,302
2078 5,972,928 12,700,870
2077 5,971,804 12,799,985
2076 5,971,386 12,900,610
2075 5,970,985 13,002,848
2074 5,969,834 13,107,513
2073 5,968,506 13,213,407
2072 5,964,548 13,323,211
2071 5,964,493 13,435,661
2070 5,963,811 13,550,449
2069 5,962,551 13,667,892
2068 5,960,918 13,786,771
2067 5,958,438 13,909,141
2066 5,954,539 14,034,214
2065 5,950,378 14,163,381
2064 5,946,851 14,293,294
2063 5,944,910 14,424,068
2062 5,940,838 14,557,025
2061 5,939,601 14,689,897
2060 5,936,094 14,821,441
2059 5,931,426 14,952,855
2058 5,925,816 15,082,857
2057 5,919,823 15,211,914
2056 5,913,287 15,340,213
2055 5,904,352 15,467,019
2054 5,894,795 15,590,545
2053 5,884,875 15,712,155
2052 5,876,162 15,834,374
2051 5,864,176 15,954,507
2050 5,852,896 16,073,070
2049 5,844,165 16,192,498
2048 5,833,178 16,311,535
2047 5,822,035 16,430,565
2046 5,809,860 16,547,661
2045 5,795,785 16,665,026
2044 5,780,884 16,783,383
2043 5,764,579 16,900,955
2042 5,746,528 17,018,000
2041 5,727,253 17,136,818
2040 5,708,874 17,253,674
2039 5,690,018 17,370,310
2038 5,669,959 17,488,193
2037 5,650,253 17,604,853
2036 5,630,126 17,721,511
2035 5,609,155 17,837,396
2034 5,588,315 17,950,976
2033 5,565,507 18,064,449
2032 5,542,488 18,176,399
2031 5,517,391 18,288,437
2030 5,491,320 18,399,699
2029 5,462,926 18,511,331
2028 5,432,752 18,621,197
2027 5,399,898 18,730,482
2026 5,364,771 18,839,108
2025 5,327,462 18,946,392
2024 5,287,500 19,051,804
2023 5,200,000 19,061,062
2022 5,081,700 19,048,502
2021 5,084,600 19,122,059
2020 5,072,400 19,265,250
2019 4,970,300 19,371,648
2018 4,900,600 19,473,970
2017 4,813,600 19,588,715
2016 4,714,100 19,702,267
2015 4,609,400 19,815,616
2014 4,516,500 19,908,979
2013 4,442,100 19,983,693
2012 4,408,100 20,058,035
2011 4,384,000 20,147,528
2010 4,350,700 20,246,871
2009 4,302,600 20,367,487
2008 4,259,800 20,537,875
2007 4,223,800 20,882,982
2006 4,184,600 21,193,760
2005 4,133,900 21,319,685
2004 4,087,500 21,451,748
2003 4,027,200 21,574,326
2002 3,948,500 21,730,496
2001 3,880,500 22,131,970
2000 3,857,700 22,442,971
1999 3,835,100 22,472,040
1998 3,815,000 22,507,344
1997 3,781,300 22,553,978
1996 3,732,000 22,619,004
1995 3,673,400 22,684,270
1994 3,620,000 22,730,211
1993 3,572,200 22,763,280
1992 3,531,700 22,794,284
1991 3,495,100 23,001,155
1990 3,329,800 23,201,835
1989 3,299,200 23,161,458
1988 3,283,400 23,057,662
1987 3,274,400 22,949,430
1986 3,246,300 22,836,841
1985 3,247,100 22,732,999
1984 3,227,100 22,640,547
1983 3,199,300 22,560,478
1982 3,156,100 22,475,741
1981 3,124,900 22,353,070
1980 3,112,900 22,207,282
1979 3,109,000 22,090,488
1978 3,121,200 21,951,464
1977 3,120,200 21,756,096
1976 3,110,500 21,551,634
1975 3,083,100 21,293,583
1974 3,023,700 21,029,429
1973 2,961,300 20,835,681
1972 2,903,900 20,657,957
1971 2,853,000 20,461,567
1970 2,810,700 20,250,398
1969 2,772,800 20,009,141
1968 2,748,100 19,799,831
1967 2,724,100 19,534,242
1966 2,675,900 19,215,450
1965 2,628,400 19,031,576
1964 2,585,400 18,919,126
1963 2,531,800 18,797,850
1962 2,482,000 18,676,550
1961 2,419,700 18,555,250
1960 2,371,800 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Romania
2100 -0.07% -0.77%
2099 -0.07% -0.76%
2098 -0.05% -0.75%
2097 -0.04% -0.74%
2096 -0.03% -0.74%
2095 -0.02% -0.72%
2094 -0.04% -0.73%
2093 -0.005% -0.72%
2092 -0.03% -0.71%
2091 -0.02% -0.72%
2090 -0.05% -0.71%
2089 -0.01% -0.71%
2088 -0.05% -0.7%
2087 -0.05% -0.72%
2086 -0.06% -0.72%
2085 -0.06% -0.72%
2084 -0.08% -0.73%
2083 -0.06% -0.73%
2082 -0.03% -0.75%
2081 -0.04% -0.76%
2080 -0.02% -0.76%
2079 -0.01% -0.77%
2078 0.02% -0.77%
2077 0.007% -0.78%
2076 0.007% -0.79%
2075 0.02% -0.8%
2074 0.02% -0.8%
2073 0.07% -0.82%
2072 0.001% -0.84%
2071 0.01% -0.85%
2070 0.02% -0.86%
2069 0.03% -0.86%
2068 0.04% -0.88%
2067 0.07% -0.89%
2066 0.07% -0.91%
2065 0.06% -0.91%
2064 0.03% -0.91%
2063 0.07% -0.91%
2062 0.02% -0.9%
2061 0.06% -0.89%
2060 0.08% -0.88%
2059 0.09% -0.86%
2058 0.1% -0.85%
2057 0.11% -0.84%
2056 0.15% -0.82%
2055 0.16% -0.79%
2054 0.17% -0.77%
2053 0.15% -0.77%
2052 0.2% -0.75%
2051 0.19% -0.74%
2050 0.15% -0.74%
2049 0.19% -0.73%
2048 0.19% -0.72%
2047 0.21% -0.71%
2046 0.24% -0.7%
2045 0.26% -0.71%
2044 0.28% -0.7%
2043 0.31% -0.69%
2042 0.34% -0.69%
2041 0.32% -0.68%
2040 0.33% -0.67%
2039 0.35% -0.67%
2038 0.35% -0.66%
2037 0.36% -0.66%
2036 0.37% -0.65%
2035 0.37% -0.63%
2034 0.41% -0.63%
2033 0.42% -0.62%
2032 0.45% -0.61%
2031 0.47% -0.6%
2030 0.52% -0.6%
2029 0.56% -0.59%
2028 0.61% -0.58%
2027 0.65% -0.58%
2026 0.7% -0.57%
2025 0.76% -0.55%
2024 1.68% -0.05%
2023 2.33% 0.07%
2022 -0.06% -0.38%
2021 0.24% -0.74%
2020 2.05% -0.55%
2019 1.42% -0.53%
2018 1.81% -0.59%
2017 2.11% -0.58%
2016 2.27% -0.57%
2015 2.06% -0.47%
2014 1.67% -0.37%
2013 0.77% -0.37%
2012 0.55% -0.44%
2011 0.77% -0.49%
2010 1.12% -0.59%
2009 1% -0.83%
2008 0.85% -1.65%
2007 0.94% -1.47%
2006 1.23% -0.59%
2005 1.14% -0.62%
2004 1.5% -0.57%
2003 1.99% -0.72%
2002 1.75% -1.81%
2001 0.59% -1.39%
2000 0.59% -0.13%
1999 0.53% -0.16%
1998 0.89% -0.21%
1997 1.32% -0.29%
1996 1.6% -0.29%
1995 1.48% -0.2%
1994 1.34% -0.15%
1993 1.15% -0.14%
1992 1.05% -0.9%
1991 4.96% -0.86%
1990 0.93% 0.17%
1989 0.48% 0.45%
1988 0.27% 0.47%
1987 0.87% 0.49%
1986 -0.02% 0.46%
1985 0.62% 0.41%
1984 0.87% 0.35%
1983 1.37% 0.38%
1982 1% 0.55%
1981 0.39% 0.66%
1980 0.13% 0.53%
1979 -0.39% 0.63%
1978 0.03% 0.9%
1977 0.31% 0.95%
1976 0.89% 1.21%
1975 1.96% 1.26%
1974 2.11% 0.93%
1973 1.98% 0.86%
1972 1.78% 0.96%
1971 1.5% 1.04%
1970 1.37% 1.21%
1969 0.9% 1.06%
1968 0.88% 1.36%
1967 1.8% 1.66%
1966 1.81% 0.97%
1965 1.66% 0.59%
1964 2.12% 0.65%
1963 2.01% 0.65%
1962 2.57% 0.65%
1961 2.02% 0.81%

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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Romania
Current population
5374272
18839108
Population rank 124/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.23%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
56.8 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 -25
Annual growth/decline +87,500 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 169/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 -29,041
Net migration rank 35/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -29,041
2024 - 18,766 - -28,466
2023 18,876 21,404 -89,587 -27,780
2022 20,123 21,404 -93,338 89,076
2021 23,644 -14,944 -141,504 -17,731
2020 24,905 42,124 -100,179 -13,202
2019 25,299 69,770 -60,053 -27,909
2018 24,797 59,139 -62,316 -33,018
2017 26,282 68,349 -50,930 -33,081
2016 28,237 75,512 -53,196 -33,073
2015 29,408 70,870 -59,447 -35,751
2014 26,196 57,974 -55,745 -35,448
2013 29,096 26,385 -59,951 -34,910
2012 31,077 -1,015 -54,157 -37,589
2011 31,302 -2,196 -56,413 -102,769
2010 35,458 6,722 -46,567 -122,364
2009 33,560 12,700 -34,625 -137,953
2008 35,143 4,804 -30,806 -144,368
2007 35,480 3,053 -37,590 -133,089
2006 30,924 14,542 -38,148 -132,777
2005 30,674 19,212 -40,508 -131,176
2004 29,634 24,521 -42,904 -117,432
2003 28,150 42,456 -56,093 -107,139
2002 25,941 48,195 -58,673 -106,585
2001 27,939 17,793 -37,625 -91,154
2000 29,897 -6,604 -22,443 -92,451
1999 28,916 -7,634 -31,461 -82,590
1998 29,146 -1,387 -33,761 -81,366
1997 30,137 12,040 -42,853 -88,734
1996 28,997 25,169 -56,548 -70,799
1995 29,828 26,743 -36,295 -73,779
1994 30,372 20,420 -18,184 -76,246
1993 31,685 12,638 -13,658 -73,475
1992 32,067 6,460 -4,559 -63,200
1991 33,518 31,156 25,301 -36,824
1990 33,298 70,432 69,605 -38,157
1989 30,749 -8,818 122,756 -33,866
1988 29,846 -17,005 126,817 -48,911
1987 27,603 -7,631 128,517 -42,868
1986 25,549 -10,234 134,737 -50,450
1985 24,126 -13,462 111,392 -28,108
1984 26,043 -901 117,731 -24,629
1983 24,315 11,464 87,986 3,093
1982 24,207 7,982 119,121 -4,725
1981 25,374 -7,606 156,472 -20,870
1980 23,658 -15,423 168,776 -16,668
1979 26,675 -26,694 194,397 -29,600
1978 26,156 -28,783 204,148 -31,427
1977 28,020 -22,697 215,385 -28,135
1976 29,456 -9,138 213,361 18,748
1975 31,355 13,196 219,324 9,125
1974 33,896 27,580 235,530 6,725
1973 35,239 28,261 175,020 58,651
1972 38,244 17,779 198,316 61,920
1971 40,000 7,547 206,662 74,473
1970 37,101 4,511 234,905 71,919
1969 38,098 -5,212 264,120 74,851
1968 37,594 -11,853 338,577 33,601
1967 37,974 -2,289 347,709 37,282
1966 36,151 9,161 115,293 -25,458
1965 36,982 9,245 114,190 -60,430
1964 39,375 9,806 134,326 -59,500
1963 42,027 10,226 139,104 -58,076
1962 42,865 12,697 130,736 -56,152
1961 43,482 10,689 163,286 -54,642
1960 41,791 3,846 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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