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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 2.33 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

New Zealand vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand South Sudan
2100 5,918,837 24,086,901
2099 5,923,132 24,081,477
2098 5,927,206 24,063,461
2097 5,930,263 24,065,268
2096 5,932,907 24,054,483
2095 5,934,847 24,046,345
2094 5,936,183 24,047,776
2093 5,938,804 24,039,017
2092 5,939,085 24,019,054
2091 5,940,665 24,000,308
2090 5,941,752 23,978,496
2089 5,944,871 23,937,487
2088 5,945,635 23,892,166
2087 5,948,586 23,857,250
2086 5,951,745 23,803,312
2085 5,955,275 23,759,178
2084 5,959,115 23,687,109
2083 5,963,613 23,617,646
2082 5,966,943 23,541,119
2081 5,968,511 23,466,449
2080 5,971,082 23,391,758
2079 5,972,331 23,294,252
2078 5,972,928 23,197,067
2077 5,971,804 23,086,584
2076 5,971,386 22,987,331
2075 5,970,985 22,868,587
2074 5,969,834 22,726,189
2073 5,968,506 22,583,672
2072 5,964,548 22,438,943
2071 5,964,493 22,288,026
2070 5,963,811 22,151,650
2069 5,962,551 22,003,659
2068 5,960,918 21,829,800
2067 5,958,438 21,662,211
2066 5,954,539 21,496,881
2065 5,950,378 21,317,455
2064 5,946,851 21,142,002
2063 5,944,910 20,965,122
2062 5,940,838 20,785,055
2061 5,939,601 20,608,964
2060 5,936,094 20,430,857
2059 5,931,426 20,235,022
2058 5,925,816 20,048,974
2057 5,919,823 19,853,696
2056 5,913,287 19,659,362
2055 5,904,352 19,464,297
2054 5,894,795 19,257,481
2053 5,884,875 19,060,517
2052 5,876,162 18,840,461
2051 5,864,176 18,633,198
2050 5,852,896 18,434,212
2049 5,844,165 18,230,881
2048 5,833,178 18,021,026
2047 5,822,035 17,806,282
2046 5,809,860 17,579,173
2045 5,795,785 17,355,041
2044 5,780,884 17,121,972
2043 5,764,579 16,888,278
2042 5,746,528 16,645,354
2041 5,727,253 16,396,768
2040 5,708,874 16,142,816
2039 5,690,018 15,889,952
2038 5,669,959 15,628,043
2037 5,650,253 15,363,975
2036 5,630,126 15,091,275
2035 5,609,155 14,815,307
2034 5,588,315 14,543,511
2033 5,565,507 14,278,180
2032 5,542,488 14,007,134
2031 5,517,391 13,730,637
2030 5,491,320 13,465,615
2029 5,462,926 13,206,477
2028 5,432,752 12,947,082
2027 5,399,898 12,692,769
2026 5,364,771 12,439,296
2025 5,327,462 12,193,102
2024 5,287,500 11,943,408
2023 5,200,000 11,483,374
2022 5,081,700 11,021,177
2021 5,084,600 10,865,780
2020 5,072,400 10,698,467
2019 4,970,300 10,423,384
2018 4,900,600 10,122,977
2017 4,813,600 10,259,154
2016 4,714,100 10,830,102
2015 4,609,400 11,107,561
2014 4,516,500 11,235,073
2013 4,442,100 11,166,275
2012 4,408,100 10,756,240
2011 4,384,000 10,288,109
2010 4,350,700 9,745,953
2009 4,302,600 9,243,556
2008 4,259,800 8,817,647
2007 4,223,800 8,388,788
2006 4,184,600 7,976,526
2005 4,133,900 7,590,143
2004 4,087,500 7,233,041
2003 4,027,200 6,903,127
2002 3,948,500 6,596,806
2001 3,880,500 6,308,391
2000 3,857,700 6,032,267
1999 3,835,100 5,771,628
1998 3,815,000 5,620,068
1997 3,781,300 5,509,136
1996 3,732,000 5,356,925
1995 3,673,400 5,225,836
1994 3,620,000 5,071,184
1993 3,572,200 4,956,002
1992 3,531,700 4,909,749
1991 3,495,100 4,836,677
1990 3,329,800 4,737,633
1989 3,299,200 4,713,229
1988 3,283,400 4,848,029
1987 3,274,400 4,962,395
1986 3,246,300 4,921,240
1985 3,247,100 4,834,296
1984 3,227,100 4,750,627
1983 3,199,300 4,661,574
1982 3,156,100 4,557,686
1981 3,124,900 4,447,272
1980 3,112,900 4,339,030
1979 3,109,000 4,232,605
1978 3,121,200 4,127,657
1977 3,120,200 4,024,032
1976 3,110,500 3,921,910
1975 3,083,100 3,821,494
1974 3,023,700 3,723,259
1973 2,961,300 3,627,383
1972 2,903,900 3,542,497
1971 2,853,000 3,468,646
1970 2,810,700 3,409,614
1969 2,772,800 3,365,533
1968 2,748,100 3,321,528
1967 2,724,100 3,277,648
1966 2,675,900 3,236,423
1965 2,628,400 3,189,835
1964 2,585,400 3,129,918
1963 2,531,800 3,072,669
1962 2,482,000 3,024,308
1961 2,419,700 2,976,724
1960 2,371,800 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand South Sudan
2100 -0.07% 0.02%
2099 -0.07% 0.07%
2098 -0.05% -0.008%
2097 -0.04% 0.04%
2096 -0.03% 0.03%
2095 -0.02% -0.006%
2094 -0.04% 0.04%
2093 -0.005% 0.08%
2092 -0.03% 0.08%
2091 -0.02% 0.09%
2090 -0.05% 0.17%
2089 -0.01% 0.19%
2088 -0.05% 0.15%
2087 -0.05% 0.23%
2086 -0.06% 0.19%
2085 -0.06% 0.3%
2084 -0.08% 0.29%
2083 -0.06% 0.33%
2082 -0.03% 0.32%
2081 -0.04% 0.32%
2080 -0.02% 0.42%
2079 -0.01% 0.42%
2078 0.02% 0.48%
2077 0.007% 0.43%
2076 0.007% 0.52%
2075 0.02% 0.63%
2074 0.02% 0.63%
2073 0.07% 0.64%
2072 0.001% 0.68%
2071 0.01% 0.62%
2070 0.02% 0.67%
2069 0.03% 0.8%
2068 0.04% 0.77%
2067 0.07% 0.77%
2066 0.07% 0.84%
2065 0.06% 0.83%
2064 0.03% 0.84%
2063 0.07% 0.87%
2062 0.02% 0.85%
2061 0.06% 0.87%
2060 0.08% 0.97%
2059 0.09% 0.93%
2058 0.1% 0.98%
2057 0.11% 0.99%
2056 0.15% 1%
2055 0.16% 1.07%
2054 0.17% 1.03%
2053 0.15% 1.17%
2052 0.2% 1.11%
2051 0.19% 1.08%
2050 0.15% 1.12%
2049 0.19% 1.16%
2048 0.19% 1.21%
2047 0.21% 1.29%
2046 0.24% 1.29%
2045 0.26% 1.36%
2044 0.28% 1.38%
2043 0.31% 1.46%
2042 0.34% 1.52%
2041 0.32% 1.57%
2040 0.33% 1.59%
2039 0.35% 1.68%
2038 0.35% 1.72%
2037 0.36% 1.81%
2036 0.37% 1.86%
2035 0.37% 1.87%
2034 0.41% 1.86%
2033 0.42% 1.94%
2032 0.45% 2.01%
2031 0.47% 1.97%
2030 0.52% 1.96%
2029 0.56% 2%
2028 0.61% 2%
2027 0.65% 2.04%
2026 0.7% 2.02%
2025 0.76% 2.09%
2024 1.68% 4.01%
2023 2.33% 4.19%
2022 -0.06% 1.43%
2021 0.24% 1.56%
2020 2.05% 2.64%
2019 1.42% 2.97%
2018 1.81% -1.33%
2017 2.11% -5.27%
2016 2.27% -2.5%
2015 2.06% -1.13%
2014 1.67% 0.62%
2013 0.77% 3.81%
2012 0.55% 4.55%
2011 0.77% 5.56%
2010 1.12% 5.44%
2009 1% 4.83%
2008 0.85% 5.11%
2007 0.94% 5.17%
2006 1.23% 5.09%
2005 1.14% 4.94%
2004 1.5% 4.78%
2003 1.99% 4.64%
2002 1.75% 4.57%
2001 0.59% 4.58%
2000 0.59% 4.52%
1999 0.53% 2.7%
1998 0.89% 2.01%
1997 1.32% 2.84%
1996 1.6% 2.51%
1995 1.48% 3.05%
1994 1.34% 2.32%
1993 1.15% 0.94%
1992 1.05% 1.51%
1991 4.96% 2.09%
1990 0.93% 0.52%
1989 0.48% -2.78%
1988 0.27% -2.3%
1987 0.87% 0.84%
1986 -0.02% 1.8%
1985 0.62% 1.76%
1984 0.87% 1.91%
1983 1.37% 2.28%
1982 1% 2.48%
1981 0.39% 2.49%
1980 0.13% 2.51%
1979 -0.39% 2.54%
1978 0.03% 2.58%
1977 0.31% 2.6%
1976 0.89% 2.63%
1975 1.96% 2.64%
1974 2.11% 2.64%
1973 1.98% 2.4%
1972 1.78% 2.13%
1971 1.5% 1.73%
1970 1.37% 1.31%
1969 0.9% 1.32%
1968 0.88% 1.34%
1967 1.8% 1.27%
1966 1.81% 1.46%
1965 1.66% 1.91%
1964 2.12% 1.86%
1963 2.01% 1.6%
1962 2.57% 1.6%
1961 2.02% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

New Zealand South Sudan
Current population
5374272
12507858
Population rank 124/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.15%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 7/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +17,403 +6,145
Net migration rank 35/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 6,145
2024 - 18,766 - 15,374
2023 18,876 21,404 217,966 455,000
2022 20,123 21,404 211,166 40,259
2021 23,644 -14,944 213,567 -154,359
2020 24,905 42,124 212,332 62,935
2019 25,299 69,770 209,708 65,198
2018 24,797 59,139 168,497 157,408
2017 26,282 68,349 72,193 -670,477
2016 28,237 75,512 110,553 -654,225
2015 29,408 70,870 148,542 -159,822
2014 26,196 57,974 227,611 -471,523
2013 29,096 26,385 315,983 65,337
2012 31,077 -1,015 312,974 125,771
2011 31,302 -2,196 303,181 194,325
2010 35,458 6,722 287,409 299,402
2009 33,560 12,700 278,859 139,129
2008 35,143 4,804 268,268 165,557
2007 35,480 3,053 256,546 167,350
2006 30,924 14,542 246,706 153,926
2005 30,674 19,212 239,272 132,869
2004 29,634 24,521 231,877 110,182
2003 28,150 42,456 225,822 91,951
2002 25,941 48,195 212,014 82,847
2001 27,939 17,793 204,108 77,856
2000 29,897 -6,604 196,055 74,227
1999 28,916 -7,634 180,721 70,271
1998 29,146 -1,387 -12,157 64,285
1997 30,137 12,040 121,454 48,280
1996 28,997 25,169 116,728 17,953
1995 29,828 26,743 110,417 17,077
1994 30,372 20,420 165,407 16,407
1993 31,685 12,638 32,779 15,772
1992 32,067 6,460 28,874 15,077
1991 33,518 31,156 87,873 14,327
1990 33,298 70,432 82,900 12,988
1989 30,749 -8,818 83,735 -130,821
1988 29,846 -17,005 -125,447 -97,065
1987 27,603 -7,631 5,756 -11,976
1986 25,549 -10,234 99,502 -10,973
1985 24,126 -13,462 95,342 -9,986
1984 26,043 -901 90,970 -8,984
1983 24,315 11,464 104,107 -7,986
1982 24,207 7,982 118,641 -6,983
1981 25,374 -7,606 115,163 -5,994
1980 23,658 -15,423 112,307 -4,997
1979 26,675 -26,694 109,540 -3,997
1978 26,156 -28,783 107,352 -2,998
1977 28,020 -22,697 104,886 -1,997
1976 29,456 -9,138 102,346 -995
1975 31,355 13,196 99,882 -395
1974 33,896 27,580 97,181 -192
1973 35,239 28,261 94,765 0
1972 38,244 17,779 74,803 193
1971 40,000 7,547 72,308 394
1970 37,101 4,511 44,776 587
1969 38,098 -5,212 42,015 786
1968 37,594 -11,853 44,213 995
1967 37,974 -2,289 41,357 1,194
1966 36,151 9,161 38,523 1,386
1965 36,982 9,245 51,682 1,591
1964 39,375 9,806 64,786 1,785
1963 42,027 10,226 46,333 1,591
1962 42,865 12,697 47,406 1,386
1961 43,482 10,689 45,186 1,194
1960 41,791 3,846 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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