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Population in New Zealand compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 6.84 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

New Zealand vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Saudi Arabia
2100 5,918,837 74,230,118
2099 5,923,132 73,760,045
2098 5,927,206 73,287,526
2097 5,930,263 72,813,125
2096 5,932,907 72,336,039
2095 5,934,847 71,858,206
2094 5,936,183 71,379,928
2093 5,938,804 70,900,460
2092 5,939,085 70,420,464
2091 5,940,665 69,940,749
2090 5,941,752 69,462,214
2089 5,944,871 68,985,976
2088 5,945,635 68,510,277
2087 5,948,586 68,035,545
2086 5,951,745 67,562,521
2085 5,955,275 67,091,615
2084 5,959,115 66,621,667
2083 5,963,613 66,152,653
2082 5,966,943 65,684,321
2081 5,968,511 65,216,102
2080 5,971,082 64,749,128
2079 5,972,331 64,282,393
2078 5,972,928 63,815,918
2077 5,971,804 63,348,712
2076 5,971,386 62,880,120
2075 5,970,985 62,409,793
2074 5,969,834 61,937,628
2073 5,968,506 61,462,662
2072 5,964,548 60,984,202
2071 5,964,493 60,502,791
2070 5,963,811 60,018,216
2069 5,962,551 59,529,456
2068 5,960,918 59,036,086
2067 5,958,438 58,539,487
2066 5,954,539 58,039,687
2065 5,950,378 57,537,106
2064 5,946,851 57,032,172
2063 5,944,910 56,524,331
2062 5,940,838 56,014,549
2061 5,939,601 55,501,467
2060 5,936,094 54,986,901
2059 5,931,426 54,469,809
2058 5,925,816 53,950,469
2057 5,919,823 53,430,639
2056 5,913,287 52,909,061
2055 5,904,352 52,386,571
2054 5,894,795 51,862,312
2053 5,884,875 51,336,335
2052 5,876,162 50,809,100
2051 5,864,176 50,280,719
2050 5,852,896 49,751,739
2049 5,844,165 49,221,828
2048 5,833,178 48,690,143
2047 5,822,035 48,157,605
2046 5,809,860 47,623,246
2045 5,795,785 47,087,215
2044 5,780,884 46,550,306
2043 5,764,579 46,013,232
2042 5,746,528 45,475,200
2041 5,727,253 44,936,131
2040 5,708,874 44,396,093
2039 5,690,018 43,856,006
2038 5,669,959 43,314,707
2037 5,650,253 42,773,375
2036 5,630,126 42,231,639
2035 5,609,155 41,690,245
2034 5,588,315 41,150,029
2033 5,565,507 40,611,021
2032 5,542,488 40,073,144
2031 5,517,391 39,535,357
2030 5,491,320 38,998,581
2029 5,462,926 38,417,447
2028 5,432,752 37,810,902
2027 5,399,898 37,189,969
2026 5,364,771 36,566,201
2025 5,327,462 35,932,673
2024 5,287,500 35,300,280
2023 5,200,000 33,702,731
2022 5,081,700 32,175,224
2021 5,084,600 30,784,383
2020 5,072,400 31,552,510
2019 4,970,300 30,063,799
2018 4,900,600 30,196,281
2017 4,813,600 30,977,355
2016 4,714,100 30,954,198
2015 4,609,400 29,816,382
2014 4,516,500 28,309,273
2013 4,442,100 27,624,004
2012 4,408,100 26,168,861
2011 4,384,000 25,091,867
2010 4,350,700 23,978,487
2009 4,302,600 24,217,654
2008 4,259,800 23,287,877
2007 4,223,800 22,368,313
2006 4,184,600 21,459,144
2005 4,133,900 20,559,890
2004 4,087,500 19,669,480
2003 4,027,200 18,786,767
2002 3,948,500 17,910,910
2001 3,880,500 17,041,397
2000 3,857,700 16,177,722
1999 3,835,100 15,472,075
1998 3,815,000 14,922,185
1997 3,781,300 14,374,943
1996 3,732,000 13,831,009
1995 3,673,400 13,289,245
1994 3,620,000 12,750,040
1993 3,572,200 12,215,862
1992 3,531,700 11,686,676
1991 3,495,100 11,160,744
1990 3,329,800 10,640,691
1989 3,299,200 10,128,394
1988 3,283,400 9,629,165
1987 3,274,400 9,130,194
1986 3,246,300 8,628,639
1985 3,247,100 8,151,779
1984 3,227,100 7,697,307
1983 3,199,300 7,252,941
1982 3,156,100 6,824,486
1981 3,124,900 6,420,551
1980 3,112,900 6,047,997
1979 3,109,000 5,703,698
1978 3,121,200 5,381,902
1977 3,120,200 5,083,048
1976 3,110,500 4,807,933
1975 3,083,100 4,556,287
1974 3,023,700 4,323,632
1973 2,961,300 4,106,344
1972 2,903,900 3,905,722
1971 2,853,000 3,724,031
1970 2,810,700 3,562,470
1969 2,772,800 3,417,114
1968 2,748,100 3,282,711
1967 2,724,100 3,157,242
1966 2,675,900 3,039,887
1965 2,628,400 2,928,771
1964 2,585,400 2,821,968
1963 2,531,800 2,719,341
1962 2,482,000 2,620,910
1961 2,419,700 2,526,347
1960 2,371,800 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.07% 0.64%
2099 -0.07% 0.64%
2098 -0.05% 0.65%
2097 -0.04% 0.66%
2096 -0.03% 0.66%
2095 -0.02% 0.67%
2094 -0.04% 0.68%
2093 -0.005% 0.68%
2092 -0.03% 0.69%
2091 -0.02% 0.69%
2090 -0.05% 0.69%
2089 -0.01% 0.69%
2088 -0.05% 0.7%
2087 -0.05% 0.7%
2086 -0.06% 0.7%
2085 -0.06% 0.71%
2084 -0.08% 0.71%
2083 -0.06% 0.71%
2082 -0.03% 0.72%
2081 -0.04% 0.72%
2080 -0.02% 0.73%
2079 -0.01% 0.73%
2078 0.02% 0.74%
2077 0.007% 0.75%
2076 0.007% 0.75%
2075 0.02% 0.76%
2074 0.02% 0.77%
2073 0.07% 0.78%
2072 0.001% 0.8%
2071 0.01% 0.81%
2070 0.02% 0.82%
2069 0.03% 0.84%
2068 0.04% 0.85%
2067 0.07% 0.86%
2066 0.07% 0.87%
2065 0.06% 0.89%
2064 0.03% 0.9%
2063 0.07% 0.91%
2062 0.02% 0.92%
2061 0.06% 0.94%
2060 0.08% 0.95%
2059 0.09% 0.96%
2058 0.1% 0.97%
2057 0.11% 0.99%
2056 0.15% 1%
2055 0.16% 1.01%
2054 0.17% 1.02%
2053 0.15% 1.04%
2052 0.2% 1.05%
2051 0.19% 1.06%
2050 0.15% 1.08%
2049 0.19% 1.09%
2048 0.19% 1.11%
2047 0.21% 1.12%
2046 0.24% 1.14%
2045 0.26% 1.15%
2044 0.28% 1.17%
2043 0.31% 1.18%
2042 0.34% 1.2%
2041 0.32% 1.22%
2040 0.33% 1.23%
2039 0.35% 1.25%
2038 0.35% 1.27%
2037 0.36% 1.28%
2036 0.37% 1.3%
2035 0.37% 1.31%
2034 0.41% 1.33%
2033 0.42% 1.34%
2032 0.45% 1.36%
2031 0.47% 1.38%
2030 0.52% 1.51%
2029 0.56% 1.6%
2028 0.61% 1.67%
2027 0.65% 1.71%
2026 0.7% 1.76%
2025 0.76% 1.79%
2024 1.68% 4.74%
2023 2.33% 4.75%
2022 -0.06% 4.52%
2021 0.24% -2.43%
2020 2.05% 4.95%
2019 1.42% -0.44%
2018 1.81% -2.52%
2017 2.11% 0.07%
2016 2.27% 3.82%
2015 2.06% 5.32%
2014 1.67% 2.48%
2013 0.77% 5.56%
2012 0.55% 4.29%
2011 0.77% 4.64%
2010 1.12% -0.99%
2009 1% 3.99%
2008 0.85% 4.11%
2007 0.94% 4.24%
2006 1.23% 4.37%
2005 1.14% 4.53%
2004 1.5% 4.7%
2003 1.99% 4.89%
2002 1.75% 5.1%
2001 0.59% 5.34%
2000 0.59% 4.56%
1999 0.53% 3.69%
1998 0.89% 3.81%
1997 1.32% 3.93%
1996 1.6% 4.08%
1995 1.48% 4.23%
1994 1.34% 4.37%
1993 1.15% 4.53%
1992 1.05% 4.71%
1991 4.96% 4.89%
1990 0.93% 5.06%
1989 0.48% 5.18%
1988 0.27% 5.47%
1987 0.87% 5.81%
1986 -0.02% 5.85%
1985 0.62% 5.9%
1984 0.87% 6.13%
1983 1.37% 6.28%
1982 1% 6.29%
1981 0.39% 6.16%
1980 0.13% 6.04%
1979 -0.39% 5.98%
1978 0.03% 5.88%
1977 0.31% 5.72%
1976 0.89% 5.52%
1975 1.96% 5.38%
1974 2.11% 5.29%
1973 1.98% 5.14%
1972 1.78% 4.88%
1971 1.5% 4.54%
1970 1.37% 4.25%
1969 0.9% 4.09%
1968 0.88% 3.97%
1967 1.8% 3.86%
1966 1.81% 3.79%
1965 1.66% 3.78%
1964 2.12% 3.77%
1963 2.01% 3.76%
1962 2.57% 3.74%
1961 2.02% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Saudi Arabia
Current population
5374272
36734925
Population rank 124/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.44%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
9.31 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
14 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 4/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +119,738
Net migration rank 35/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 119,738
2024 - 18,766 - 122,170
2023 18,876 21,404 474,366 325,691
2022 20,123 21,404 406,920 977,072
2021 23,644 -14,944 409,032 -106,287
2020 24,905 42,124 447,036 -74,725
2019 25,299 69,770 474,407 191,582
2018 24,797 59,139 528,767 -988,751
2017 26,282 68,349 546,751 -920,812
2016 28,237 75,512 537,829 -26,997
2015 29,408 70,870 511,023 465,292
2014 26,196 57,974 493,431 469,144
2013 29,096 26,385 475,299 485,794
2012 31,077 -1,015 465,649 479,206
2011 31,302 -2,196 443,675 491,253
2010 35,458 6,722 418,641 504,955
2009 33,560 12,700 438,557 496,229
2008 35,143 4,804 433,457 491,337
2007 35,480 3,053 425,199 489,136
2006 30,924 14,542 399,333 504,661
2005 30,674 19,212 375,938 518,565
2004 29,634 24,521 362,843 523,472
2003 28,150 42,456 364,520 514,606
2002 25,941 48,195 372,099 500,508
2001 27,939 17,793 382,153 484,252
2000 29,897 -6,604 392,407 468,515
1999 28,916 -7,634 390,112 160,263
1998 29,146 -1,387 389,499 159,898
1997 30,137 12,040 385,033 160,066
1996 28,997 25,169 382,248 160,532
1995 29,828 26,743 380,231 160,512
1994 30,372 20,420 377,351 160,306
1993 31,685 12,638 372,621 158,074
1992 32,067 6,460 366,763 160,908
1991 33,518 31,156 361,329 162,857
1990 33,298 70,432 355,495 160,416
1989 30,749 -8,818 349,399 159,273
1988 29,846 -17,005 342,865 146,918
1987 27,603 -7,631 333,088 175,075
1986 25,549 -10,234 322,340 172,606
1985 24,126 -13,462 310,558 148,208
1984 26,043 -901 296,615 153,562
1983 24,315 11,464 280,616 157,930
1982 24,207 7,982 264,831 153,528
1981 25,374 -7,606 249,156 140,355
1980 23,658 -15,423 234,372 121,220
1979 26,675 -26,694 220,186 112,826
1978 26,156 -28,783 205,331 105,263
1977 28,020 -22,697 191,103 96,015
1976 29,456 -9,138 178,024 85,083
1975 31,355 13,196 166,223 73,960
1974 33,896 27,580 155,478 69,653
1973 35,239 28,261 145,450 63,995
1972 38,244 17,779 136,360 55,439
1971 40,000 7,547 127,600 43,989
1970 37,101 4,511 120,440 31,097
1969 38,098 -5,212 113,859 25,312
1968 37,594 -11,853 108,281 21,366
1967 37,974 -2,289 103,343 17,947
1966 36,151 9,161 98,361 15,054
1965 36,982 9,245 93,820 15,000
1964 39,375 9,806 89,776 15,000
1963 42,027 10,226 85,480 15,000
1962 42,865 12,697 81,393 15,000
1961 43,482 10,689 77,743 15,000
1960 41,791 3,846 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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