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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 9.08 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

New Zealand vs Spain: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Spain
2100 5,918,837 33,862,981
2099 5,923,132 34,039,965
2098 5,927,206 34,215,187
2097 5,930,263 34,387,116
2096 5,932,907 34,552,002
2095 5,934,847 34,719,411
2094 5,936,183 34,882,039
2093 5,938,804 35,044,043
2092 5,939,085 35,204,657
2091 5,940,665 35,366,895
2090 5,941,752 35,535,838
2089 5,944,871 35,707,942
2088 5,945,635 35,877,681
2087 5,948,586 36,043,209
2086 5,951,745 36,210,710
2085 5,955,275 36,386,207
2084 5,959,115 36,564,622
2083 5,963,613 36,749,680
2082 5,966,943 36,936,644
2081 5,968,511 37,133,976
2080 5,971,082 37,337,517
2079 5,972,331 37,551,557
2078 5,972,928 37,771,135
2077 5,971,804 38,002,963
2076 5,971,386 38,249,247
2075 5,970,985 38,506,040
2074 5,969,834 38,777,715
2073 5,968,506 39,056,249
2072 5,964,548 39,348,447
2071 5,964,493 39,642,346
2070 5,963,811 39,949,413
2069 5,962,551 40,256,590
2068 5,960,918 40,575,543
2067 5,958,438 40,893,798
2066 5,954,539 41,218,263
2065 5,950,378 41,543,254
2064 5,946,851 41,878,338
2063 5,944,910 42,208,320
2062 5,940,838 42,542,893
2061 5,939,601 42,874,096
2060 5,936,094 43,191,452
2059 5,931,426 43,506,737
2058 5,925,816 43,809,907
2057 5,919,823 44,112,668
2056 5,913,287 44,415,689
2055 5,904,352 44,691,749
2054 5,894,795 44,958,971
2053 5,884,875 45,223,225
2052 5,876,162 45,470,541
2051 5,864,176 45,695,307
2050 5,852,896 45,911,520
2049 5,844,165 46,127,777
2048 5,833,178 46,322,244
2047 5,822,035 46,510,152
2046 5,809,860 46,687,914
2045 5,795,785 46,858,778
2044 5,780,884 47,016,278
2043 5,764,579 47,158,325
2042 5,746,528 47,301,091
2041 5,727,253 47,434,593
2040 5,708,874 47,563,236
2039 5,690,018 47,685,343
2038 5,669,959 47,798,797
2037 5,650,253 47,910,899
2036 5,630,126 48,020,350
2035 5,609,155 48,124,430
2034 5,588,315 48,220,051
2033 5,565,507 48,311,842
2032 5,542,488 48,402,470
2031 5,517,391 48,495,278
2030 5,491,320 48,579,920
2029 5,462,926 48,648,699
2028 5,432,752 48,707,969
2027 5,399,898 48,758,200
2026 5,364,771 48,806,901
2025 5,327,462 48,838,057
2024 5,287,500 48,848,840
2023 5,200,000 48,352,528
2022 5,081,700 47,786,102
2021 5,084,600 47,443,821
2020 5,072,400 47,359,424
2019 4,970,300 47,118,501
2018 4,900,600 46,782,011
2017 4,813,600 46,571,232
2016 4,714,100 46,458,139
2015 4,609,400 46,422,303
2014 4,516,500 46,460,733
2013 4,442,100 46,604,197
2012 4,408,100 46,773,055
2011 4,384,000 46,742,697
2010 4,350,700 46,576,897
2009 4,302,600 46,362,946
2008 4,259,800 45,954,106
2007 4,223,800 45,226,803
2006 4,184,600 44,397,319
2005 4,133,900 43,653,155
2004 4,087,500 42,921,895
2003 4,027,200 42,187,645
2002 3,948,500 41,431,558
2001 3,880,500 40,850,412
2000 3,857,700 40,567,864
1999 3,835,100 40,386,875
1998 3,815,000 40,223,509
1997 3,781,300 40,057,389
1996 3,732,000 39,889,852
1995 3,673,400 39,724,050
1994 3,620,000 39,549,108
1993 3,572,200 39,361,262
1992 3,531,700 39,157,685
1991 3,495,100 38,966,376
1990 3,329,800 38,867,322
1989 3,299,200 38,827,764
1988 3,283,400 38,766,939
1987 3,274,400 38,684,815
1986 3,246,300 38,584,624
1985 3,247,100 38,469,512
1984 3,227,100 38,330,364
1983 3,199,300 38,171,525
1982 3,156,100 37,986,012
1981 3,124,900 37,758,631
1980 3,112,900 37,491,165
1979 3,109,000 37,191,330
1978 3,121,200 36,864,898
1977 3,120,200 36,511,638
1976 3,110,500 36,137,812
1975 3,083,100 35,757,900
1974 3,023,700 35,373,335
1973 2,961,300 34,988,947
1972 2,903,900 34,604,469
1971 2,853,000 34,224,490
1970 2,810,700 33,814,531
1969 2,772,800 33,441,054
1968 2,748,100 33,113,134
1967 2,724,100 32,682,947
1966 2,675,900 32,283,194
1965 2,628,400 31,954,292
1964 2,585,400 31,609,195
1963 2,531,800 31,296,651
1962 2,482,000 31,023,366
1961 2,419,700 30,739,250
1960 2,371,800 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Spain
2100 -0.07% -0.52%
2099 -0.07% -0.51%
2098 -0.05% -0.5%
2097 -0.04% -0.48%
2096 -0.03% -0.48%
2095 -0.02% -0.47%
2094 -0.04% -0.46%
2093 -0.005% -0.46%
2092 -0.03% -0.46%
2091 -0.02% -0.48%
2090 -0.05% -0.48%
2089 -0.01% -0.47%
2088 -0.05% -0.46%
2087 -0.05% -0.46%
2086 -0.06% -0.48%
2085 -0.06% -0.49%
2084 -0.08% -0.5%
2083 -0.06% -0.51%
2082 -0.03% -0.53%
2081 -0.04% -0.55%
2080 -0.02% -0.57%
2079 -0.01% -0.58%
2078 0.02% -0.61%
2077 0.007% -0.64%
2076 0.007% -0.67%
2075 0.02% -0.7%
2074 0.02% -0.71%
2073 0.07% -0.74%
2072 0.001% -0.74%
2071 0.01% -0.77%
2070 0.02% -0.76%
2069 0.03% -0.79%
2068 0.04% -0.78%
2067 0.07% -0.79%
2066 0.07% -0.78%
2065 0.06% -0.8%
2064 0.03% -0.78%
2063 0.07% -0.79%
2062 0.02% -0.77%
2061 0.06% -0.73%
2060 0.08% -0.72%
2059 0.09% -0.69%
2058 0.1% -0.69%
2057 0.11% -0.68%
2056 0.15% -0.62%
2055 0.16% -0.59%
2054 0.17% -0.58%
2053 0.15% -0.54%
2052 0.2% -0.49%
2051 0.19% -0.47%
2050 0.15% -0.47%
2049 0.19% -0.42%
2048 0.19% -0.4%
2047 0.21% -0.38%
2046 0.24% -0.36%
2045 0.26% -0.33%
2044 0.28% -0.3%
2043 0.31% -0.3%
2042 0.34% -0.28%
2041 0.32% -0.27%
2040 0.33% -0.26%
2039 0.35% -0.24%
2038 0.35% -0.23%
2037 0.36% -0.23%
2036 0.37% -0.22%
2035 0.37% -0.2%
2034 0.41% -0.19%
2033 0.42% -0.19%
2032 0.45% -0.19%
2031 0.47% -0.17%
2030 0.52% -0.14%
2029 0.56% -0.12%
2028 0.61% -0.1%
2027 0.65% -0.1%
2026 0.7% -0.06%
2025 0.76% -0.02%
2024 1.68% 1.03%
2023 2.33% 1.19%
2022 -0.06% 0.72%
2021 0.24% 0.18%
2020 2.05% 0.51%
2019 1.42% 0.72%
2018 1.81% 0.45%
2017 2.11% 0.24%
2016 2.27% 0.08%
2015 2.06% -0.08%
2014 1.67% -0.31%
2013 0.77% -0.36%
2012 0.55% 0.06%
2011 0.77% 0.36%
2010 1.12% 0.46%
2009 1% 0.89%
2008 0.85% 1.61%
2007 0.94% 1.87%
2006 1.23% 1.7%
2005 1.14% 1.7%
2004 1.5% 1.74%
2003 1.99% 1.82%
2002 1.75% 1.42%
2001 0.59% 0.7%
2000 0.59% 0.45%
1999 0.53% 0.41%
1998 0.89% 0.41%
1997 1.32% 0.42%
1996 1.6% 0.42%
1995 1.48% 0.44%
1994 1.34% 0.48%
1993 1.15% 0.52%
1992 1.05% 0.49%
1991 4.96% 0.25%
1990 0.93% 0.1%
1989 0.48% 0.16%
1988 0.27% 0.21%
1987 0.87% 0.26%
1986 -0.02% 0.3%
1985 0.62% 0.36%
1984 0.87% 0.42%
1983 1.37% 0.49%
1982 1% 0.6%
1981 0.39% 0.71%
1980 0.13% 0.81%
1979 -0.39% 0.89%
1978 0.03% 0.97%
1977 0.31% 1.03%
1976 0.89% 1.06%
1975 1.96% 1.09%
1974 2.11% 1.1%
1973 1.98% 1.11%
1972 1.78% 1.11%
1971 1.5% 1.21%
1970 1.37% 1.12%
1969 0.9% 0.99%
1968 0.88% 1.32%
1967 1.8% 1.24%
1966 1.81% 1.03%
1965 1.66% 1.09%
1964 2.12% 1%
1963 2.01% 0.88%
1962 2.57% 0.92%
1961 2.02% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Spain
Current population
5374272
48806901
Population rank 124/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.59%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 100/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +96,630
Net migration rank 35/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 96,630
2024 - 18,766 - 111,674
2023 18,876 21,404 -111,211 119,099
2022 20,123 21,404 -133,801 299,779
2021 23,644 -14,944 -113,865 144,385
2020 24,905 42,124 -151,551 236,854
2019 25,299 69,770 -56,542 464,783
2018 24,797 59,139 -56,139 337,467
2017 26,282 68,349 -32,600 201,135
2016 28,237 75,512 0 106,474
2015 29,408 70,870 -4,642 -1,979
2014 26,196 57,974 32,522 -97,870
2013 29,096 26,385 37,284 -250,741
2012 31,077 -1,015 51,450 -153,486
2011 31,302 -2,196 84,137 60,761
2010 35,458 6,722 102,469 69,406
2009 33,560 12,700 106,635 129,557
2008 35,143 4,804 133,267 434,135
2007 35,480 3,053 108,545 772,317
2006 30,924 14,542 110,994 659,720
2005 30,674 19,212 78,576 629,803
2004 29,634 24,521 85,844 661,158
2003 28,150 42,456 54,844 658,428
2002 25,941 48,195 53,861 737,880
2001 27,939 17,793 44,936 181,307
2000 29,897 -6,604 36,512 176,269
1999 28,916 -7,634 8,077 178,559
1998 29,146 -1,387 4,022 182,926
1997 30,137 12,040 20,028 165,345
1996 28,997 25,169 11,967 162,704
1995 29,828 26,743 15,889 162,434
1994 30,372 20,420 31,639 160,407
1993 31,685 12,638 47,234 160,907
1992 32,067 6,460 62,652 177,544
1991 33,518 31,156 58,450 122,841
1990 33,298 70,432 66,075 -30,684
1989 30,749 -8,818 81,538 -25,892
1988 29,846 -17,005 100,794 -17,663
1987 27,603 -7,631 116,054 -12,681
1986 25,549 -10,234 131,188 -13,540
1985 24,126 -13,462 146,184 -589
1984 26,043 -901 172,487 2,754
1983 24,315 11,464 183,223 1,241
1982 24,207 7,982 231,714 -7,384
1981 25,374 -7,606 237,879 2,563
1980 23,658 -15,423 281,184 20,166
1979 26,675 -26,694 312,407 -5,929
1978 26,156 -28,783 339,157 -2,504
1977 28,020 -22,697 361,465 -1,332
1976 29,456 -9,138 375,834 2,804
1975 31,355 13,196 371,882 -218
1974 33,896 27,580 396,182 105,838
1973 35,239 28,261 374,381 8,624
1972 38,244 17,779 391,030 7,935
1971 40,000 7,547 369,625 7,363
1970 37,101 4,511 378,723 -60,580
1969 38,098 -5,212 367,851 -49,956
1968 37,594 -11,853 387,423 -46,088
1967 37,974 -2,289 402,001 -42,344
1966 36,151 9,161 397,084 -41,467
1965 36,982 9,245 405,819 -42,476
1964 39,375 9,806 429,885 -41,461
1963 42,027 10,226 394,338 -44,446
1962 42,865 12,697 384,690 -45,211
1961 43,482 10,689 396,537 -46,517
1960 41,791 3,846 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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