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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.79 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

New Zealand vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Rwanda
2100 5,918,837 33,092,520
2099 5,923,132 32,987,847
2098 5,927,206 32,907,335
2097 5,930,263 32,832,706
2096 5,932,907 32,747,490
2095 5,934,847 32,615,044
2094 5,936,183 32,529,590
2093 5,938,804 32,396,544
2092 5,939,085 32,274,083
2091 5,940,665 32,171,077
2090 5,941,752 32,068,626
2089 5,944,871 31,872,593
2088 5,945,635 31,726,882
2087 5,948,586 31,533,364
2086 5,951,745 31,379,315
2085 5,955,275 31,235,000
2084 5,959,115 31,092,940
2083 5,963,613 30,917,707
2082 5,966,943 30,733,578
2081 5,968,511 30,557,819
2080 5,971,082 30,367,298
2079 5,972,331 30,176,627
2078 5,972,928 29,997,866
2077 5,971,804 29,800,561
2076 5,971,386 29,627,021
2075 5,970,985 29,423,503
2074 5,969,834 29,225,643
2073 5,968,506 29,007,777
2072 5,964,548 28,780,763
2071 5,964,493 28,560,382
2070 5,963,811 28,316,533
2069 5,962,551 28,103,541
2068 5,960,918 27,854,906
2067 5,958,438 27,591,747
2066 5,954,539 27,355,659
2065 5,950,378 27,084,704
2064 5,946,851 26,821,315
2063 5,944,910 26,543,184
2062 5,940,838 26,296,132
2061 5,939,601 25,985,356
2060 5,936,094 25,712,904
2059 5,931,426 25,437,446
2058 5,925,816 25,106,242
2057 5,919,823 24,837,928
2056 5,913,287 24,566,784
2055 5,904,352 24,266,669
2054 5,894,795 23,976,914
2053 5,884,875 23,690,426
2052 5,876,162 23,406,346
2051 5,864,176 23,099,207
2050 5,852,896 22,800,250
2049 5,844,165 22,484,698
2048 5,833,178 22,157,938
2047 5,822,035 21,834,786
2046 5,809,860 21,540,566
2045 5,795,785 21,215,262
2044 5,780,884 20,902,695
2043 5,764,579 20,535,605
2042 5,746,528 20,201,608
2041 5,727,253 19,832,577
2040 5,708,874 19,463,015
2039 5,690,018 19,096,860
2038 5,669,959 18,761,626
2037 5,650,253 18,421,864
2036 5,630,126 18,116,691
2035 5,609,155 17,753,910
2034 5,588,315 17,421,234
2033 5,565,507 17,089,349
2032 5,542,488 16,811,505
2031 5,517,391 16,485,559
2030 5,491,320 16,167,916
2029 5,462,926 15,858,862
2028 5,432,752 15,544,959
2027 5,399,898 15,207,733
2026 5,364,771 14,888,776
2025 5,327,462 14,560,205
2024 5,287,500 14,256,567
2023 5,200,000 13,954,471
2022 5,081,700 13,651,030
2021 5,084,600 13,355,260
2020 5,072,400 13,065,837
2019 4,970,300 12,776,103
2018 4,900,600 12,487,996
2017 4,813,600 12,202,060
2016 4,714,100 11,919,183
2015 4,609,400 11,640,022
2014 4,516,500 11,364,757
2013 4,442,100 11,093,340
2012 4,408,100 10,829,901
2011 4,384,000 10,573,733
2010 4,350,700 10,317,553
2009 4,302,600 10,060,432
2008 4,259,800 9,804,269
2007 4,223,800 9,549,933
2006 4,184,600 9,299,246
2005 4,133,900 9,054,528
2004 4,087,500 8,816,844
2003 4,027,200 8,586,875
2002 3,948,500 8,400,180
2001 3,880,500 8,287,094
2000 3,857,700 8,213,931
1999 3,835,100 8,147,912
1998 3,815,000 8,081,681
1997 3,781,300 7,755,238
1996 3,732,000 6,708,764
1995 3,673,400 5,674,118
1994 3,620,000 6,792,352
1993 3,572,200 7,981,132
1992 3,531,700 7,683,266
1991 3,495,100 7,526,966
1990 3,329,800 7,375,307
1989 3,299,200 7,184,706
1988 3,283,400 6,968,071
1987 3,274,400 6,749,493
1986 3,246,300 6,531,881
1985 3,247,100 6,317,228
1984 3,227,100 6,107,627
1983 3,199,300 5,905,311
1982 3,156,100 5,711,549
1981 3,124,900 5,527,230
1980 3,112,900 5,353,259
1979 3,109,000 5,189,541
1978 3,121,200 5,035,171
1977 3,120,200 4,888,240
1976 3,110,500 4,745,954
1975 3,083,100 4,607,728
1974 3,023,700 4,474,228
1973 2,961,300 4,345,047
1972 2,903,900 4,220,335
1971 2,853,000 4,100,044
1970 2,810,700 3,980,669
1969 2,772,800 3,861,271
1968 2,748,100 3,744,010
1967 2,724,100 3,629,577
1966 2,675,900 3,521,626
1965 2,628,400 3,423,210
1964 2,585,400 3,334,834
1963 2,531,800 3,258,890
1962 2,482,000 3,186,025
1961 2,419,700 3,106,779
1960 2,371,800 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Rwanda
2100 -0.07% 0.32%
2099 -0.07% 0.24%
2098 -0.05% 0.23%
2097 -0.04% 0.26%
2096 -0.03% 0.41%
2095 -0.02% 0.26%
2094 -0.04% 0.41%
2093 -0.005% 0.38%
2092 -0.03% 0.32%
2091 -0.02% 0.32%
2090 -0.05% 0.62%
2089 -0.01% 0.46%
2088 -0.05% 0.61%
2087 -0.05% 0.49%
2086 -0.06% 0.46%
2085 -0.06% 0.46%
2084 -0.08% 0.57%
2083 -0.06% 0.6%
2082 -0.03% 0.58%
2081 -0.04% 0.63%
2080 -0.02% 0.63%
2079 -0.01% 0.6%
2078 0.02% 0.66%
2077 0.007% 0.59%
2076 0.007% 0.69%
2075 0.02% 0.68%
2074 0.02% 0.75%
2073 0.07% 0.79%
2072 0.001% 0.77%
2071 0.01% 0.86%
2070 0.02% 0.76%
2069 0.03% 0.89%
2068 0.04% 0.95%
2067 0.07% 0.86%
2066 0.07% 1%
2065 0.06% 0.98%
2064 0.03% 1.05%
2063 0.07% 0.94%
2062 0.02% 1.2%
2061 0.06% 1.06%
2060 0.08% 1.08%
2059 0.09% 1.32%
2058 0.1% 1.08%
2057 0.11% 1.1%
2056 0.15% 1.24%
2055 0.16% 1.21%
2054 0.17% 1.21%
2053 0.15% 1.21%
2052 0.2% 1.33%
2051 0.19% 1.31%
2050 0.15% 1.4%
2049 0.19% 1.47%
2048 0.19% 1.48%
2047 0.21% 1.37%
2046 0.24% 1.53%
2045 0.26% 1.5%
2044 0.28% 1.79%
2043 0.31% 1.65%
2042 0.34% 1.86%
2041 0.32% 1.9%
2040 0.33% 1.92%
2039 0.35% 1.79%
2038 0.35% 1.84%
2037 0.36% 1.68%
2036 0.37% 2.04%
2035 0.37% 1.91%
2034 0.41% 1.94%
2033 0.42% 1.65%
2032 0.45% 1.98%
2031 0.47% 1.96%
2030 0.52% 1.95%
2029 0.56% 2.02%
2028 0.61% 2.22%
2027 0.65% 2.14%
2026 0.7% 2.26%
2025 0.76% 2.13%
2024 1.68% 2.16%
2023 2.33% 2.22%
2022 -0.06% 2.21%
2021 0.24% 2.22%
2020 2.05% 2.27%
2019 1.42% 2.31%
2018 1.81% 2.34%
2017 2.11% 2.37%
2016 2.27% 2.4%
2015 2.06% 2.42%
2014 1.67% 2.45%
2013 0.77% 2.43%
2012 0.55% 2.42%
2011 0.77% 2.48%
2010 1.12% 2.56%
2009 1% 2.61%
2008 0.85% 2.66%
2007 0.94% 2.7%
2006 1.23% 2.7%
2005 1.14% 2.7%
2004 1.5% 2.68%
2003 1.99% 2.22%
2002 1.75% 1.36%
2001 0.59% 0.89%
2000 0.59% 0.81%
1999 0.53% 0.82%
1998 0.89% 4.21%
1997 1.32% 15.6%
1996 1.6% 18.2%
1995 1.48% -16.5%
1994 1.34% -14.9%
1993 1.15% 3.88%
1992 1.05% 2.08%
1991 4.96% 2.06%
1990 0.93% 2.65%
1989 0.48% 3.11%
1988 0.27% 3.24%
1987 0.87% 3.33%
1986 -0.02% 3.4%
1985 0.62% 3.43%
1984 0.87% 3.43%
1983 1.37% 3.39%
1982 1% 3.33%
1981 0.39% 3.25%
1980 0.13% 3.15%
1979 -0.39% 3.07%
1978 0.03% 3.01%
1977 0.31% 3%
1976 0.89% 3%
1975 1.96% 2.98%
1974 2.11% 2.97%
1973 1.98% 2.96%
1972 1.78% 2.93%
1971 1.5% 3%
1970 1.37% 3.09%
1969 0.9% 3.13%
1968 0.88% 3.15%
1967 1.8% 3.07%
1966 1.81% 2.87%
1965 1.66% 2.65%
1964 2.12% 2.33%
1963 2.01% 2.29%
1962 2.57% 2.55%
1961 2.02% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Rwanda
Current population
5374272
14975051
Population rank 124/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.18%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +828
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 45/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change +17,403 +6,282
Net migration rank 35/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 6,282
2024 - 18,766 - -15,582
2023 18,876 21,404 312,762 -9,001
2022 20,123 21,404 312,145 -9,001
2021 23,644 -14,944 309,895 -21,492
2020 24,905 42,124 312,692 -22,251
2019 25,299 69,770 313,525 -24,492
2018 24,797 59,139 312,512 -25,323
2017 26,282 68,349 310,323 -25,634
2016 28,237 75,512 305,549 -24,474
2015 29,408 70,870 299,114 -21,862
2014 26,196 57,974 292,779 -19,505
2013 29,096 26,385 286,331 -16,779
2012 31,077 -1,015 282,584 -25,260
2011 31,302 -2,196 282,922 -27,915
2010 35,458 6,722 286,848 -29,501
2009 33,560 12,700 287,034 -30,128
2008 35,143 4,804 287,334 -31,913
2007 35,480 3,053 285,791 -32,537
2006 30,924 14,542 282,149 -34,008
2005 30,674 19,212 275,121 -33,830
2004 29,634 24,521 265,273 -31,214
2003 28,150 42,456 251,243 -25,355
2002 25,941 48,195 239,036 -91,518
2001 27,939 17,793 230,845 -152,197
2000 29,897 -6,604 221,276 -153,588
1999 28,916 -7,634 210,518 -146,162
1998 29,146 -1,387 197,185 -129,089
1997 30,137 12,040 174,687 410,106
1996 28,997 25,169 140,455 1,367,700
1995 29,828 26,743 121,137 439,995
1994 30,372 20,420 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 31,685 12,638 183,926 236,110
1992 32,067 6,460 188,025 -12,334
1991 33,518 31,156 196,431 -59,519
1990 33,298 70,432 207,895 -41,483
1989 30,749 -8,818 217,632 -2,826
1988 29,846 -17,005 223,759 -5,285
1987 27,603 -7,631 225,744 -7,062
1986 25,549 -10,234 225,526 -8,982
1985 24,126 -13,462 223,794 -11,031
1984 26,043 -901 219,337 -12,899
1983 24,315 11,464 212,750 -14,560
1982 24,207 7,982 205,147 -15,818
1981 25,374 -7,606 195,769 -16,453
1980 23,658 -15,423 184,988 -16,359
1979 26,675 -26,694 174,477 -15,669
1978 26,156 -28,783 163,779 -13,838
1977 28,020 -22,697 155,011 -11,084
1976 29,456 -9,138 147,665 -7,027
1975 31,355 13,196 140,596 -4,791
1974 33,896 27,580 135,743 -4,535
1973 35,239 28,261 131,021 -3,862
1972 38,244 17,779 126,403 -4,156
1971 40,000 7,547 122,567 -4,230
1970 37,101 4,511 119,273 1,149
1969 38,098 -5,212 115,394 2,983
1968 37,594 -11,853 111,422 4,728
1967 37,974 -2,289 108,053 4,655
1966 36,151 9,161 105,128 -1,930
1965 36,982 9,245 103,422 -9,774
1964 39,375 9,806 102,562 -19,458
1963 42,027 10,226 94,296 -25,524
1962 42,865 12,697 102,548 -25,594
1961 43,482 10,689 102,051 -20,508
1960 41,791 3,846 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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