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Population in New Zealand compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 4.13 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Sri Lanka
2100 5,918,837 20,270,496
2099 5,923,132 20,383,669
2098 5,927,206 20,498,567
2097 5,930,263 20,611,123
2096 5,932,907 20,723,560
2095 5,934,847 20,834,629
2094 5,936,183 20,943,809
2093 5,938,804 21,052,131
2092 5,939,085 21,158,833
2091 5,940,665 21,263,961
2090 5,941,752 21,371,263
2089 5,944,871 21,475,426
2088 5,945,635 21,577,177
2087 5,948,586 21,677,510
2086 5,951,745 21,777,420
2085 5,955,275 21,876,464
2084 5,959,115 21,970,336
2083 5,963,613 22,062,801
2082 5,966,943 22,151,745
2081 5,968,511 22,240,834
2080 5,971,082 22,326,555
2079 5,972,331 22,411,438
2078 5,972,928 22,489,772
2077 5,971,804 22,565,028
2076 5,971,386 22,637,463
2075 5,970,985 22,707,112
2074 5,969,834 22,778,489
2073 5,968,506 22,844,703
2072 5,964,548 22,905,707
2071 5,964,493 22,964,866
2070 5,963,811 23,022,515
2069 5,962,551 23,076,310
2068 5,960,918 23,129,541
2067 5,958,438 23,184,596
2066 5,954,539 23,234,419
2065 5,950,378 23,285,901
2064 5,946,851 23,331,390
2063 5,944,910 23,372,184
2062 5,940,838 23,409,522
2061 5,939,601 23,441,893
2060 5,936,094 23,474,032
2059 5,931,426 23,502,132
2058 5,925,816 23,528,076
2057 5,919,823 23,550,580
2056 5,913,287 23,570,923
2055 5,904,352 23,582,432
2054 5,894,795 23,591,414
2053 5,884,875 23,601,371
2052 5,876,162 23,605,361
2051 5,864,176 23,606,194
2050 5,852,896 23,603,330
2049 5,844,165 23,597,604
2048 5,833,178 23,587,307
2047 5,822,035 23,570,881
2046 5,809,860 23,547,409
2045 5,795,785 23,515,133
2044 5,780,884 23,483,546
2043 5,764,579 23,446,242
2042 5,746,528 23,404,983
2041 5,727,253 23,357,358
2040 5,708,874 23,306,148
2039 5,690,018 23,248,341
2038 5,669,959 23,187,512
2037 5,650,253 23,120,775
2036 5,630,126 23,053,427
2035 5,609,155 22,981,808
2034 5,588,315 22,906,587
2033 5,565,507 22,826,414
2032 5,542,488 22,742,267
2031 5,517,391 22,655,907
2030 5,491,320 22,564,038
2029 5,462,926 22,470,759
2028 5,432,752 22,370,999
2027 5,399,898 22,266,017
2026 5,364,771 22,155,543
2025 5,327,462 22,039,908
2024 5,287,500 21,916,000
2023 5,200,000 22,037,000
2022 5,081,700 22,181,000
2021 5,084,600 22,156,000
2020 5,072,400 21,919,000
2019 4,970,300 21,803,000
2018 4,900,600 21,670,000
2017 4,813,600 21,453,000
2016 4,714,100 21,209,000
2015 4,609,400 20,970,000
2014 4,516,500 20,778,000
2013 4,442,100 20,585,000
2012 4,408,100 21,169,458
2011 4,384,000 21,009,048
2010 4,350,700 20,879,089
2009 4,302,600 20,756,435
2008 4,259,800 20,629,378
2007 4,223,800 20,492,545
2006 4,184,600 20,352,411
2005 4,133,900 20,216,524
2004 4,087,500 20,087,605
2003 4,027,200 19,951,521
2002 3,948,500 19,805,752
2001 3,880,500 19,600,362
2000 3,857,700 19,293,054
1999 3,835,100 18,944,731
1998 3,815,000 18,596,003
1997 3,781,300 18,248,200
1996 3,732,000 17,905,018
1995 3,673,400 17,564,068
1994 3,620,000 17,275,773
1993 3,572,200 17,025,918
1992 3,531,700 16,739,284
1991 3,495,100 16,475,354
1990 3,329,800 16,352,458
1989 3,299,200 16,248,557
1988 3,283,400 16,078,621
1987 3,274,400 15,916,576
1986 3,246,300 15,731,256
1985 3,247,100 15,544,154
1984 3,227,100 15,441,860
1983 3,199,300 15,388,794
1982 3,156,100 15,286,567
1981 3,124,900 15,099,414
1980 3,112,900 14,847,974
1979 3,109,000 14,579,614
1978 3,121,200 14,310,128
1977 3,120,200 14,049,371
1976 3,110,500 13,796,770
1975 3,083,100 13,548,984
1974 3,023,700 13,305,693
1973 2,961,300 13,060,916
1972 2,903,900 12,809,205
1971 2,853,000 12,551,910
1970 2,810,700 12,287,110
1969 2,772,800 12,013,858
1968 2,748,100 11,736,088
1967 2,724,100 11,457,328
1966 2,675,900 11,183,928
1965 2,628,400 10,916,965
1964 2,585,400 10,653,397
1963 2,531,800 10,395,040
1962 2,482,000 10,143,754
1961 2,419,700 9,899,372
1960 2,371,800 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Sri Lanka
2100 -0.07% -0.56%
2099 -0.07% -0.56%
2098 -0.05% -0.55%
2097 -0.04% -0.54%
2096 -0.03% -0.53%
2095 -0.02% -0.52%
2094 -0.04% -0.51%
2093 -0.005% -0.5%
2092 -0.03% -0.49%
2091 -0.02% -0.5%
2090 -0.05% -0.49%
2089 -0.01% -0.47%
2088 -0.05% -0.46%
2087 -0.05% -0.46%
2086 -0.06% -0.45%
2085 -0.06% -0.43%
2084 -0.08% -0.42%
2083 -0.06% -0.4%
2082 -0.03% -0.4%
2081 -0.04% -0.38%
2080 -0.02% -0.38%
2079 -0.01% -0.35%
2078 0.02% -0.33%
2077 0.007% -0.32%
2076 0.007% -0.31%
2075 0.02% -0.31%
2074 0.02% -0.29%
2073 0.07% -0.27%
2072 0.001% -0.26%
2071 0.01% -0.25%
2070 0.02% -0.23%
2069 0.03% -0.23%
2068 0.04% -0.24%
2067 0.07% -0.21%
2066 0.07% -0.22%
2065 0.06% -0.19%
2064 0.03% -0.17%
2063 0.07% -0.16%
2062 0.02% -0.14%
2061 0.06% -0.14%
2060 0.08% -0.12%
2059 0.09% -0.11%
2058 0.1% -0.1%
2057 0.11% -0.09%
2056 0.15% -0.05%
2055 0.16% -0.04%
2054 0.17% -0.04%
2053 0.15% -0.02%
2052 0.2% -0.004%
2051 0.19% 0.01%
2050 0.15% 0.02%
2049 0.19% 0.04%
2048 0.19% 0.07%
2047 0.21% 0.1%
2046 0.24% 0.14%
2045 0.26% 0.13%
2044 0.28% 0.16%
2043 0.31% 0.18%
2042 0.34% 0.2%
2041 0.32% 0.22%
2040 0.33% 0.25%
2039 0.35% 0.26%
2038 0.35% 0.29%
2037 0.36% 0.29%
2036 0.37% 0.31%
2035 0.37% 0.33%
2034 0.41% 0.35%
2033 0.42% 0.37%
2032 0.45% 0.38%
2031 0.47% 0.41%
2030 0.52% 0.42%
2029 0.56% 0.45%
2028 0.61% 0.47%
2027 0.65% 0.5%
2026 0.7% 0.52%
2025 0.76% 0.57%
2024 1.68% -0.55%
2023 2.33% -0.65%
2022 -0.06% 0.11%
2021 0.24% 1.08%
2020 2.05% 0.53%
2019 1.42% 0.61%
2018 1.81% 1.01%
2017 2.11% 1.15%
2016 2.27% 1.14%
2015 2.06% 0.92%
2014 1.67% 0.94%
2013 0.77% -2.76%
2012 0.55% 0.76%
2011 0.77% 0.62%
2010 1.12% 0.59%
2009 1% 0.62%
2008 0.85% 0.67%
2007 0.94% 0.69%
2006 1.23% 0.67%
2005 1.14% 0.64%
2004 1.5% 0.68%
2003 1.99% 0.74%
2002 1.75% 1.05%
2001 0.59% 1.59%
2000 0.59% 1.84%
1999 0.53% 1.88%
1998 0.89% 1.91%
1997 1.32% 1.92%
1996 1.6% 1.94%
1995 1.48% 1.67%
1994 1.34% 1.47%
1993 1.15% 1.71%
1992 1.05% 1.6%
1991 4.96% 0.75%
1990 0.93% 0.64%
1989 0.48% 1.06%
1988 0.27% 1.02%
1987 0.87% 1.18%
1986 -0.02% 1.2%
1985 0.62% 0.66%
1984 0.87% 0.34%
1983 1.37% 0.67%
1982 1% 1.24%
1981 0.39% 1.69%
1980 0.13% 1.84%
1979 -0.39% 1.88%
1978 0.03% 1.86%
1977 0.31% 1.83%
1976 0.89% 1.83%
1975 1.96% 1.83%
1974 2.11% 1.87%
1973 1.98% 1.97%
1972 1.78% 2.05%
1971 1.5% 2.16%
1970 1.37% 2.27%
1969 0.9% 2.37%
1968 0.88% 2.43%
1967 1.8% 2.44%
1966 1.81% 2.45%
1965 1.66% 2.47%
1964 2.12% 2.49%
1963 2.01% 2.48%
1962 2.57% 2.47%
1961 2.02% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Sri Lanka
Current population
5374272
22185425
Population rank 124/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.27%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 -332
Annual growth/decline +87,500 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 188/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 -30,724
Net migration rank 35/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -30,724
2024 - 18,766 - -27,245
2023 18,876 21,404 66,111 -28,011
2022 20,123 21,404 95,378 -27,435
2021 23,644 -14,944 121,858 -29,586
2020 24,905 42,124 170,968 -29,875
2019 25,299 69,770 172,243 -28,426
2018 24,797 59,139 183,610 -28,607
2017 26,282 68,349 187,993 -22,324
2016 28,237 75,512 194,232 -18,388
2015 29,408 70,870 201,815 -29,797
2014 26,196 57,974 211,541 -33,672
2013 29,096 26,385 221,021 -37,754
2012 31,077 -1,015 229,138 -41,955
2011 31,302 -2,196 224,461 -90,839
2010 35,458 6,722 224,325 -98,060
2009 33,560 12,700 200,175 -81,130
2008 35,143 4,804 232,225 -97,144
2007 35,480 3,053 248,287 -109,695
2006 30,924 14,542 248,706 -107,045
2005 30,674 19,212 248,683 -118,594
2004 29,634 24,521 212,527 -84,795
2003 28,150 42,456 252,008 -107,573
2002 25,941 48,195 252,840 -105,718
2001 27,939 17,793 244,377 19,273
2000 29,897 -6,604 227,060 123,894
1999 28,916 -7,634 206,876 138,799
1998 29,146 -1,387 201,059 150,724
1997 30,137 12,040 208,193 135,636
1996 28,997 25,169 215,290 127,236
1995 29,828 26,743 221,957 117,416
1994 30,372 20,420 228,904 8,323
1993 31,685 12,638 226,257 36,232
1992 32,067 6,460 222,230 88,542
1991 33,518 31,156 218,117 -1,047
1990 33,298 70,432 224,454 -195,736
1989 30,749 -8,818 212,401 -33,305
1988 29,846 -17,005 219,184 -58,415
1987 27,603 -7,631 226,414 -63,105
1986 25,549 -10,234 233,782 -26,460
1985 24,126 -13,462 247,836 -80,950
1984 26,043 -901 263,175 -225,450
1983 24,315 11,464 277,768 -209,362
1982 24,207 7,982 300,030 -163,987
1981 25,374 -7,606 328,096 -89,824
1980 23,658 -15,423 328,155 -63,541
1979 26,675 -26,694 329,791 -57,683
1978 26,156 -28,783 317,055 -50,189
1977 28,020 -22,697 300,038 -45,383
1976 29,456 -9,138 291,816 -41,258
1975 31,355 13,196 282,496 -37,475
1974 33,896 27,580 275,521 -33,979
1973 35,239 28,261 278,577 -30,582
1972 38,244 17,779 282,494 -27,071
1971 40,000 7,547 281,200 -22,021
1970 37,101 4,511 286,719 -16,299
1969 38,098 -5,212 286,218 -10,152
1968 37,594 -11,853 286,642 -7,163
1967 37,974 -2,289 284,738 -6,696
1966 36,151 9,161 275,549 -6,794
1965 36,982 9,245 272,422 -7,249
1964 39,375 9,806 269,584 -7,614
1963 42,027 10,226 262,880 -8,118
1962 42,865 12,697 256,719 -8,909
1961 43,482 10,689 251,087 -10,144
1960 41,791 3,846 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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