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Population in New Zealand compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 12.2 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

New Zealand vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand South Africa
2100 5,918,837 94,767,727
2099 5,923,132 94,556,931
2098 5,927,206 94,349,546
2097 5,930,263 94,158,472
2096 5,932,907 93,960,605
2095 5,934,847 93,752,736
2094 5,936,183 93,527,902
2093 5,938,804 93,300,398
2092 5,939,085 93,074,837
2091 5,940,665 92,826,204
2090 5,941,752 92,594,033
2089 5,944,871 92,355,184
2088 5,945,635 92,112,914
2087 5,948,586 91,866,024
2086 5,951,745 91,614,165
2085 5,955,275 91,385,350
2084 5,959,115 91,139,318
2083 5,963,613 90,877,425
2082 5,966,943 90,615,359
2081 5,968,511 90,345,492
2080 5,971,082 90,071,835
2079 5,972,331 89,801,998
2078 5,972,928 89,526,224
2077 5,971,804 89,249,206
2076 5,971,386 88,986,114
2075 5,970,985 88,713,215
2074 5,969,834 88,428,616
2073 5,968,506 88,149,885
2072 5,964,548 87,866,246
2071 5,964,493 87,540,177
2070 5,963,811 87,209,425
2069 5,962,551 86,901,512
2068 5,960,918 86,588,742
2067 5,958,438 86,268,392
2066 5,954,539 85,935,310
2065 5,950,378 85,604,376
2064 5,946,851 85,244,950
2063 5,944,910 84,875,503
2062 5,940,838 84,503,237
2061 5,939,601 84,132,885
2060 5,936,094 83,748,999
2059 5,931,426 83,354,923
2058 5,925,816 82,947,675
2057 5,919,823 82,538,045
2056 5,913,287 82,127,477
2055 5,904,352 81,698,196
2054 5,894,795 81,255,867
2053 5,884,875 80,818,632
2052 5,876,162 80,367,409
2051 5,864,176 79,886,672
2050 5,852,896 79,411,977
2049 5,844,165 78,925,493
2048 5,833,178 78,437,677
2047 5,822,035 77,922,211
2046 5,809,860 77,397,298
2045 5,795,785 76,879,838
2044 5,780,884 76,357,155
2043 5,764,579 75,827,709
2042 5,746,528 75,291,615
2041 5,727,253 74,748,408
2040 5,708,874 74,205,530
2039 5,690,018 73,663,047
2038 5,669,959 73,105,930
2037 5,650,253 72,532,742
2036 5,630,126 71,956,247
2035 5,609,155 71,362,555
2034 5,588,315 70,762,815
2033 5,565,507 70,153,205
2032 5,542,488 69,527,410
2031 5,517,391 68,890,002
2030 5,491,320 68,245,372
2029 5,462,926 67,573,179
2028 5,432,752 66,884,377
2027 5,399,898 66,190,258
2026 5,364,771 65,496,277
2025 5,327,462 64,770,314
2024 5,287,500 64,007,187
2023 5,200,000 63,212,384
2022 5,081,700 62,378,410
2021 5,084,600 61,502,603
2020 5,072,400 60,562,381
2019 4,970,300 59,587,885
2018 4,900,600 58,613,001
2017 4,813,600 57,635,162
2016 4,714,100 57,259,551
2015 4,609,400 56,723,537
2014 4,516,500 55,594,838
2013 4,442,100 54,678,791
2012 4,408,100 53,782,567
2011 4,384,000 52,995,205
2010 4,350,700 52,344,051
2009 4,302,600 51,728,516
2008 4,259,800 51,114,599
2007 4,223,800 50,528,584
2006 4,184,600 49,998,277
2005 4,133,900 49,490,033
2004 4,087,500 48,991,421
2003 4,027,200 48,500,348
2002 3,948,500 48,019,415
2001 3,880,500 47,566,800
2000 3,857,700 47,159,719
1999 3,835,100 46,730,335
1998 3,815,000 46,223,880
1997 3,781,300 45,666,838
1996 3,732,000 45,123,018
1995 3,673,400 44,541,554
1994 3,620,000 44,004,139
1993 3,572,200 43,297,156
1992 3,531,700 42,443,509
1991 3,495,100 41,687,898
1990 3,329,800 40,746,268
1989 3,299,200 39,628,575
1988 3,283,400 38,480,649
1987 3,274,400 37,326,190
1986 3,246,300 36,180,515
1985 3,247,100 35,042,093
1984 3,227,100 33,892,788
1983 3,199,300 32,739,304
1982 3,156,100 31,615,339
1981 3,124,900 30,541,044
1980 3,112,900 29,518,857
1979 3,109,000 28,634,162
1978 3,121,200 27,869,507
1977 3,120,200 27,118,952
1976 3,110,500 26,395,450
1975 3,083,100 25,690,940
1974 3,023,700 24,989,108
1973 2,961,300 24,294,263
1972 2,903,900 23,609,456
1971 2,853,000 22,942,143
1970 2,810,700 22,279,984
1969 2,772,800 21,614,676
1968 2,748,100 20,957,287
1967 2,724,100 20,314,066
1966 2,675,900 19,690,087
1965 2,628,400 19,089,380
1964 2,585,400 18,511,361
1963 2,531,800 17,954,564
1962 2,482,000 17,418,522
1961 2,419,700 16,908,035
1960 2,371,800 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand South Africa
2100 -0.07% 0.22%
2099 -0.07% 0.22%
2098 -0.05% 0.2%
2097 -0.04% 0.21%
2096 -0.03% 0.22%
2095 -0.02% 0.24%
2094 -0.04% 0.24%
2093 -0.005% 0.24%
2092 -0.03% 0.27%
2091 -0.02% 0.25%
2090 -0.05% 0.26%
2089 -0.01% 0.26%
2088 -0.05% 0.27%
2087 -0.05% 0.27%
2086 -0.06% 0.25%
2085 -0.06% 0.27%
2084 -0.08% 0.29%
2083 -0.06% 0.29%
2082 -0.03% 0.3%
2081 -0.04% 0.3%
2080 -0.02% 0.3%
2079 -0.01% 0.31%
2078 0.02% 0.31%
2077 0.007% 0.3%
2076 0.007% 0.31%
2075 0.02% 0.32%
2074 0.02% 0.32%
2073 0.07% 0.32%
2072 0.001% 0.37%
2071 0.01% 0.38%
2070 0.02% 0.35%
2069 0.03% 0.36%
2068 0.04% 0.37%
2067 0.07% 0.39%
2066 0.07% 0.39%
2065 0.06% 0.42%
2064 0.03% 0.44%
2063 0.07% 0.44%
2062 0.02% 0.44%
2061 0.06% 0.46%
2060 0.08% 0.47%
2059 0.09% 0.49%
2058 0.1% 0.5%
2057 0.11% 0.5%
2056 0.15% 0.53%
2055 0.16% 0.54%
2054 0.17% 0.54%
2053 0.15% 0.56%
2052 0.2% 0.6%
2051 0.19% 0.6%
2050 0.15% 0.62%
2049 0.19% 0.62%
2048 0.19% 0.66%
2047 0.21% 0.68%
2046 0.24% 0.67%
2045 0.26% 0.68%
2044 0.28% 0.7%
2043 0.31% 0.71%
2042 0.34% 0.73%
2041 0.32% 0.73%
2040 0.33% 0.74%
2039 0.35% 0.76%
2038 0.35% 0.79%
2037 0.36% 0.8%
2036 0.37% 0.83%
2035 0.37% 0.85%
2034 0.41% 0.87%
2033 0.42% 0.9%
2032 0.45% 0.93%
2031 0.47% 0.94%
2030 0.52% 0.99%
2029 0.56% 1.03%
2028 0.61% 1.05%
2027 0.65% 1.06%
2026 0.7% 1.12%
2025 0.76% 1.19%
2024 1.68% 1.26%
2023 2.33% 1.34%
2022 -0.06% 1.42%
2021 0.24% 1.55%
2020 2.05% 1.64%
2019 1.42% 1.66%
2018 1.81% 1.7%
2017 2.11% 0.66%
2016 2.27% 0.94%
2015 2.06% 2.03%
2014 1.67% 1.68%
2013 0.77% 1.67%
2012 0.55% 1.49%
2011 0.77% 1.24%
2010 1.12% 1.19%
2009 1% 1.2%
2008 0.85% 1.16%
2007 0.94% 1.06%
2006 1.23% 1.03%
2005 1.14% 1.02%
2004 1.5% 1.01%
2003 1.99% 1%
2002 1.75% 0.95%
2001 0.59% 0.86%
2000 0.59% 0.92%
1999 0.53% 1.1%
1998 0.89% 1.22%
1997 1.32% 1.21%
1996 1.6% 1.31%
1995 1.48% 1.22%
1994 1.34% 1.63%
1993 1.15% 2.01%
1992 1.05% 1.81%
1991 4.96% 2.31%
1990 0.93% 2.82%
1989 0.48% 2.98%
1988 0.27% 3.09%
1987 0.87% 3.17%
1986 -0.02% 3.25%
1985 0.62% 3.39%
1984 0.87% 3.52%
1983 1.37% 3.56%
1982 1% 3.52%
1981 0.39% 3.46%
1980 0.13% 3.09%
1979 -0.39% 2.74%
1978 0.03% 2.77%
1977 0.31% 2.74%
1976 0.89% 2.74%
1975 1.96% 2.81%
1974 2.11% 2.86%
1973 1.98% 2.9%
1972 1.78% 2.91%
1971 1.5% 2.97%
1970 1.37% 3.08%
1969 0.9% 3.14%
1968 0.88% 3.17%
1967 1.8% 3.17%
1966 1.81% 3.15%
1965 1.66% 3.12%
1964 2.12% 3.1%
1963 2.01% 3.08%
1962 2.57% 3.02%
1961 2.02% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

New Zealand South Africa
Current population
5374272
65683993
Population rank 124/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.79%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
9.31 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
14 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +240 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 85/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +146,370
Net migration rank 35/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 146,370
2024 - 18,766 - 166,972
2023 18,876 21,404 602,793 228,222
2022 20,123 21,404 603,636 233,284
2021 23,644 -14,944 456,411 458,246
2020 24,905 42,124 595,873 369,901
2019 25,299 69,770 652,130 331,124
2018 24,797 59,139 648,319 318,260
2017 26,282 68,349 645,975 343,146
2016 28,237 75,512 641,365 -879,235
2015 29,408 70,870 668,771 641,150
2014 26,196 57,974 674,754 272,697
2013 29,096 26,385 652,427 232,230
2012 31,077 -1,015 643,723 264,091
2011 31,302 -2,196 601,708 65,166
2010 35,458 6,722 566,834 68,563
2009 33,560 12,700 554,115 41,528
2008 35,143 4,804 595,332 36,869
2007 35,480 3,053 503,567 36,339
2006 30,924 14,542 487,584 33,159
2005 30,674 19,212 464,464 31,286
2004 29,634 24,521 442,540 58,924
2003 28,150 42,456 415,018 65,604
2002 25,941 48,195 430,926 50,313
2001 27,939 17,793 484,801 -60,793
2000 29,897 -6,604 526,963 -136,794
1999 28,916 -7,634 594,643 -126,011
1998 29,146 -1,387 627,027 -82,722
1997 30,137 12,040 667,969 -98,181
1996 28,997 25,169 710,868 -193,007
1995 29,828 26,743 743,488 -98,403
1994 30,372 20,420 698,609 -268,849
1993 31,685 12,638 789,220 194,977
1992 32,067 6,460 794,415 -71,342
1991 33,518 31,156 827,296 -39,131
1990 33,298 70,432 835,421 259,718
1989 30,749 -8,818 884,629 255,605
1988 29,846 -17,005 909,221 246,382
1987 27,603 -7,631 922,330 231,009
1986 25,549 -10,234 903,644 234,378
1985 24,126 -13,462 893,889 244,940
1984 26,043 -901 869,011 290,789
1983 24,315 11,464 837,013 310,172
1982 24,207 7,982 807,550 293,195
1981 25,374 -7,606 767,833 279,985
1980 23,658 -15,423 738,415 258,127
1979 26,675 -26,694 716,541 56,323
1978 26,156 -28,783 694,341 62,121
1977 28,020 -22,697 680,929 63,739
1976 29,456 -9,138 675,011 27,333
1975 31,355 13,196 667,862 38,809
1974 33,896 27,580 658,438 38,518
1973 35,239 28,261 651,596 41,125
1972 38,244 17,779 638,754 38,163
1971 40,000 7,547 624,761 32,961
1970 37,101 4,511 605,102 61,514
1969 38,098 -5,212 590,794 73,225
1968 37,594 -11,853 571,841 78,932
1967 37,974 -2,289 553,741 81,932
1966 36,151 9,161 534,862 77,417
1965 36,982 9,245 506,632 82,514
1964 39,375 9,806 490,606 76,298
1963 42,027 10,226 473,821 72,844
1962 42,865 12,697 455,634 69,771
1961 43,482 10,689 437,851 57,728
1960 41,791 3,846 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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