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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 9.61 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

New Zealand vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand South Korea
2100 5,918,837 22,012,503
2099 5,923,132 22,335,528
2098 5,927,206 22,668,719
2097 5,930,263 23,009,661
2096 5,932,907 23,360,151
2095 5,934,847 23,722,747
2094 5,936,183 24,093,391
2093 5,938,804 24,473,038
2092 5,939,085 24,860,975
2091 5,940,665 25,255,379
2090 5,941,752 25,655,577
2089 5,944,871 26,060,945
2088 5,945,635 26,470,073
2087 5,948,586 26,884,813
2086 5,951,745 27,301,913
2085 5,955,275 27,723,736
2084 5,959,115 28,147,480
2083 5,963,613 28,578,182
2082 5,966,943 29,012,953
2081 5,968,511 29,456,022
2080 5,971,082 29,901,880
2079 5,972,331 30,352,062
2078 5,972,928 30,809,176
2077 5,971,804 31,273,700
2076 5,971,386 31,744,480
2075 5,970,985 32,221,226
2074 5,969,834 32,706,020
2073 5,968,506 33,196,556
2072 5,964,548 33,696,490
2071 5,964,493 34,203,935
2070 5,963,811 34,719,324
2069 5,962,551 35,241,850
2068 5,960,918 35,762,799
2067 5,958,438 36,292,307
2066 5,954,539 36,826,655
2065 5,950,378 37,368,086
2064 5,946,851 37,916,439
2063 5,944,910 38,469,051
2062 5,940,838 39,028,473
2061 5,939,601 39,584,621
2060 5,936,094 40,149,830
2059 5,931,426 40,712,514
2058 5,925,816 41,277,134
2057 5,919,823 41,833,887
2056 5,913,287 42,377,427
2055 5,904,352 42,909,302
2054 5,894,795 43,427,254
2053 5,884,875 43,938,741
2052 5,876,162 44,441,106
2051 5,864,176 44,923,604
2050 5,852,896 45,385,311
2049 5,844,165 45,832,153
2048 5,833,178 46,258,529
2047 5,822,035 46,668,898
2046 5,809,860 47,056,404
2045 5,795,785 47,433,205
2044 5,780,884 47,797,411
2043 5,764,579 48,144,730
2042 5,746,528 48,478,991
2041 5,727,253 48,806,273
2040 5,708,874 49,115,658
2039 5,690,018 49,412,830
2038 5,669,959 49,694,340
2037 5,650,253 49,957,504
2036 5,630,126 50,200,702
2035 5,609,155 50,426,000
2034 5,588,315 50,632,962
2033 5,565,507 50,821,090
2032 5,542,488 50,987,020
2031 5,517,391 51,134,940
2030 5,491,320 51,267,908
2029 5,462,926 51,385,868
2028 5,432,752 51,486,791
2027 5,399,898 51,576,746
2026 5,364,771 51,649,918
2025 5,327,462 51,710,062
2024 5,287,500 51,751,065
2023 5,200,000 51,712,619
2022 5,081,700 51,672,569
2021 5,084,600 51,769,539
2020 5,072,400 51,836,239
2019 4,970,300 51,764,822
2018 4,900,600 51,585,058
2017 4,813,600 51,361,911
2016 4,714,100 51,217,803
2015 4,609,400 51,014,947
2014 4,516,500 50,746,659
2013 4,442,100 50,428,893
2012 4,408,100 50,199,853
2011 4,384,000 49,936,638
2010 4,350,700 49,554,112
2009 4,302,600 49,307,835
2008 4,259,800 49,054,708
2007 4,223,800 48,683,638
2006 4,184,600 48,438,292
2005 4,133,900 48,184,561
2004 4,087,500 48,082,519
2003 4,027,200 47,892,330
2002 3,948,500 47,644,736
2001 3,880,500 47,370,164
2000 3,857,700 47,008,111
1999 3,835,100 46,616,677
1998 3,815,000 46,286,503
1997 3,781,300 45,953,580
1996 3,732,000 45,524,681
1995 3,673,400 45,092,991
1994 3,620,000 44,641,540
1993 3,572,200 44,194,628
1992 3,531,700 43,747,962
1991 3,495,100 43,295,704
1990 3,329,800 42,869,283
1989 3,299,200 42,449,038
1988 3,283,400 42,031,247
1987 3,274,400 41,621,690
1986 3,246,300 41,213,674
1985 3,247,100 40,805,744
1984 3,227,100 40,405,956
1983 3,199,300 39,910,403
1982 3,156,100 39,326,352
1981 3,124,900 38,723,248
1980 3,112,900 38,123,775
1979 3,109,000 37,534,236
1978 3,121,200 36,969,185
1977 3,120,200 36,411,795
1976 3,110,500 35,848,523
1975 3,083,100 35,280,725
1974 3,023,700 34,692,266
1973 2,961,300 34,103,149
1972 2,903,900 33,505,406
1971 2,853,000 32,882,704
1970 2,810,700 32,240,827
1969 2,772,800 31,544,266
1968 2,748,100 30,838,302
1967 2,724,100 30,130,983
1966 2,675,900 29,435,571
1965 2,628,400 28,704,674
1964 2,585,400 27,984,155
1963 2,531,800 27,261,747
1962 2,482,000 26,513,030
1961 2,419,700 25,765,673
1960 2,371,800 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand South Korea
2100 -0.07% -1.45%
2099 -0.07% -1.47%
2098 -0.05% -1.48%
2097 -0.04% -1.5%
2096 -0.03% -1.53%
2095 -0.02% -1.54%
2094 -0.04% -1.55%
2093 -0.005% -1.56%
2092 -0.03% -1.56%
2091 -0.02% -1.56%
2090 -0.05% -1.56%
2089 -0.01% -1.55%
2088 -0.05% -1.54%
2087 -0.05% -1.53%
2086 -0.06% -1.52%
2085 -0.06% -1.51%
2084 -0.08% -1.51%
2083 -0.06% -1.5%
2082 -0.03% -1.5%
2081 -0.04% -1.49%
2080 -0.02% -1.48%
2079 -0.01% -1.48%
2078 0.02% -1.49%
2077 0.007% -1.48%
2076 0.007% -1.48%
2075 0.02% -1.48%
2074 0.02% -1.48%
2073 0.07% -1.48%
2072 0.001% -1.48%
2071 0.01% -1.48%
2070 0.02% -1.48%
2069 0.03% -1.46%
2068 0.04% -1.46%
2067 0.07% -1.45%
2066 0.07% -1.45%
2065 0.06% -1.45%
2064 0.03% -1.44%
2063 0.07% -1.43%
2062 0.02% -1.4%
2061 0.06% -1.41%
2060 0.08% -1.38%
2059 0.09% -1.37%
2058 0.1% -1.33%
2057 0.11% -1.28%
2056 0.15% -1.24%
2055 0.16% -1.19%
2054 0.17% -1.16%
2053 0.15% -1.13%
2052 0.2% -1.07%
2051 0.19% -1.02%
2050 0.15% -0.97%
2049 0.19% -0.92%
2048 0.19% -0.88%
2047 0.21% -0.82%
2046 0.24% -0.79%
2045 0.26% -0.76%
2044 0.28% -0.72%
2043 0.31% -0.69%
2042 0.34% -0.67%
2041 0.32% -0.63%
2040 0.33% -0.6%
2039 0.35% -0.57%
2038 0.35% -0.53%
2037 0.36% -0.48%
2036 0.37% -0.45%
2035 0.37% -0.41%
2034 0.41% -0.37%
2033 0.42% -0.33%
2032 0.45% -0.29%
2031 0.47% -0.26%
2030 0.52% -0.23%
2029 0.56% -0.2%
2028 0.61% -0.17%
2027 0.65% -0.14%
2026 0.7% -0.12%
2025 0.76% -0.08%
2024 1.68% 0.07%
2023 2.33% 0.08%
2022 -0.06% -0.19%
2021 0.24% -0.13%
2020 2.05% 0.14%
2019 1.42% 0.35%
2018 1.81% 0.43%
2017 2.11% 0.28%
2016 2.27% 0.4%
2015 2.06% 0.53%
2014 1.67% 0.63%
2013 0.77% 0.46%
2012 0.55% 0.53%
2011 0.77% 0.77%
2010 1.12% 0.5%
2009 1% 0.52%
2008 0.85% 0.76%
2007 0.94% 0.51%
2006 1.23% 0.53%
2005 1.14% 0.21%
2004 1.5% 0.4%
2003 1.99% 0.52%
2002 1.75% 0.58%
2001 0.59% 0.77%
2000 0.59% 0.84%
1999 0.53% 0.71%
1998 0.89% 0.72%
1997 1.32% 0.94%
1996 1.6% 0.96%
1995 1.48% 1.01%
1994 1.34% 1.01%
1993 1.15% 1.02%
1992 1.05% 1.04%
1991 4.96% 0.99%
1990 0.93% 0.99%
1989 0.48% 0.99%
1988 0.27% 0.98%
1987 0.87% 0.99%
1986 -0.02% 1%
1985 0.62% 0.99%
1984 0.87% 1.24%
1983 1.37% 1.49%
1982 1% 1.56%
1981 0.39% 1.57%
1980 0.13% 1.57%
1979 -0.39% 1.53%
1978 0.03% 1.53%
1977 0.31% 1.57%
1976 0.89% 1.61%
1975 1.96% 1.7%
1974 2.11% 1.73%
1973 1.98% 1.78%
1972 1.78% 1.89%
1971 1.5% 1.99%
1970 1.37% 2.21%
1969 0.9% 2.29%
1968 0.88% 2.35%
1967 1.8% 2.36%
1966 1.81% 2.55%
1965 1.66% 2.57%
1964 2.12% 2.65%
1963 2.01% 2.82%
1962 2.57% 2.9%
1961 2.02% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

New Zealand South Korea
Current population
5374272
51649918
Population rank 124/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.62%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +105
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 160/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +65,731
Net migration rank 35/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 65,731
2024 - 18,766 - 75,963
2023 18,876 21,404 -77,569 87,800
2022 20,123 21,404 -124,014 87,800
2021 23,644 -14,944 -56,947 -16,778
2020 24,905 42,124 -31,101 112,631
2019 25,299 69,770 10,353 128,622
2018 24,797 59,139 30,951 118,220
2017 26,282 68,349 71,907 104,029
2016 28,237 75,512 122,923 91,568
2015 29,408 70,870 163,248 276,427
2014 26,196 57,974 167,464 308,037
2013 29,096 26,385 166,415 301,926
2012 31,077 -1,015 215,859 281,866
2011 31,302 -2,196 214,728 269,958
2010 35,458 6,722 213,083 52,042
2009 33,560 12,700 197,231 5,308
2008 35,143 4,804 215,841 -19,630
2007 35,480 3,053 248,286 -42,293
2006 30,924 14,542 203,441 -28,434
2005 30,674 19,212 187,920 -47,821
2004 29,634 24,521 225,988 -42,549
2003 28,150 42,456 244,251 -31,994
2002 25,941 48,195 247,752 -18,105
2001 27,939 17,793 312,643 -28,006
2000 29,897 -6,604 390,167 -84,960
1999 28,916 -7,634 368,272 -107,448
1998 29,146 -1,387 393,436 -98,044
1997 30,137 12,040 422,773 -109,130
1996 28,997 25,169 446,142 -115,705
1995 29,828 26,743 468,967 -208,491
1994 30,372 20,420 473,200 -208,309
1993 31,685 12,638 477,302 -222,802
1992 32,067 6,460 494,352 -265,849
1991 33,518 31,156 467,594 -270,754
1990 33,298 70,432 411,546 79,294
1989 30,749 -8,818 403,266 186,120
1988 29,846 -17,005 399,297 192,534
1987 27,603 -7,631 378,758 198,057
1986 25,549 -10,234 395,651 189,782
1985 24,126 -13,462 416,219 97,949
1984 26,043 -901 436,384 101,394
1983 24,315 11,464 514,844 102,167
1982 24,207 7,982 605,626 48,638
1981 25,374 -7,606 631,189 18,442
1980 23,658 -15,423 583,294 -148,341
1979 26,675 -26,694 623,068 -139,566
1978 26,156 -28,783 499,084 -85,721
1977 28,020 -22,697 578,947 -90,737
1976 29,456 -9,138 530,558 -92,314
1975 31,355 13,196 603,300 -52,332
1974 33,896 27,580 673,030 27,005
1973 35,239 28,261 699,115 35,779
1972 38,244 17,779 740,469 25,382
1971 40,000 7,547 789,185 -6,326
1970 37,101 4,511 747,987 -27,999
1969 38,098 -5,212 694,227 -21,175
1968 37,594 -11,853 684,487 -16,868
1967 37,974 -2,289 692,169 -16,484
1966 36,151 9,161 623,534 -16,688
1965 36,982 9,245 641,090 -146,386
1964 39,375 9,806 655,501 -102,284
1963 42,027 10,226 685,824 -80,226
1962 42,865 12,697 712,590 -94,606
1961 43,482 10,689 730,173 -93,179
1960 41,791 3,846 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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