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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 10,680,056 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 1.99 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

New Zealand vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Sweden
2100 5,918,837 11,357,586
2099 5,923,132 11,361,443
2098 5,927,206 11,365,725
2097 5,930,263 11,366,889
2096 5,932,907 11,368,572
2095 5,934,847 11,371,525
2094 5,936,183 11,374,169
2093 5,938,804 11,376,054
2092 5,939,085 11,378,099
2091 5,940,665 11,379,549
2090 5,941,752 11,381,475
2089 5,944,871 11,384,408
2088 5,945,635 11,387,073
2087 5,948,586 11,390,874
2086 5,951,745 11,398,223
2085 5,955,275 11,403,279
2084 5,959,115 11,408,050
2083 5,963,613 11,411,588
2082 5,966,943 11,416,796
2081 5,968,511 11,418,438
2080 5,971,082 11,420,629
2079 5,972,331 11,420,158
2078 5,972,928 11,418,032
2077 5,971,804 11,415,948
2076 5,971,386 11,412,112
2075 5,970,985 11,407,978
2074 5,969,834 11,404,682
2073 5,968,506 11,401,754
2072 5,964,548 11,398,056
2071 5,964,493 11,393,134
2070 5,963,811 11,389,416
2069 5,962,551 11,385,560
2068 5,960,918 11,384,165
2067 5,958,438 11,383,331
2066 5,954,539 11,383,335
2065 5,950,378 11,382,611
2064 5,946,851 11,381,643
2063 5,944,910 11,381,489
2062 5,940,838 11,382,109
2061 5,939,601 11,379,849
2060 5,936,094 11,378,661
2059 5,931,426 11,376,317
2058 5,925,816 11,372,527
2057 5,919,823 11,367,109
2056 5,913,287 11,361,843
2055 5,904,352 11,354,884
2054 5,894,795 11,347,343
2053 5,884,875 11,336,678
2052 5,876,162 11,322,876
2051 5,864,176 11,306,983
2050 5,852,896 11,287,973
2049 5,844,165 11,268,461
2048 5,833,178 11,247,615
2047 5,822,035 11,225,655
2046 5,809,860 11,202,749
2045 5,795,785 11,178,920
2044 5,780,884 11,153,887
2043 5,764,579 11,128,417
2042 5,746,528 11,102,505
2041 5,727,253 11,078,898
2040 5,708,874 11,054,498
2039 5,690,018 11,031,322
2038 5,669,959 11,008,943
2037 5,650,253 10,987,323
2036 5,630,126 10,964,438
2035 5,609,155 10,941,953
2034 5,588,315 10,919,289
2033 5,565,507 10,895,104
2032 5,542,488 10,869,796
2031 5,517,391 10,844,434
2030 5,491,320 10,815,888
2029 5,462,926 10,784,274
2028 5,432,752 10,749,191
2027 5,399,898 10,710,226
2026 5,364,771 10,668,870
2025 5,327,462 10,621,495
2024 5,287,500 10,569,709
2023 5,200,000 10,536,632
2022 5,081,700 10,486,941
2021 5,084,600 10,415,811
2020 5,072,400 10,353,442
2019 4,970,300 10,278,887
2018 4,900,600 10,175,214
2017 4,813,600 10,057,698
2016 4,714,100 9,923,085
2015 4,609,400 9,799,186
2014 4,516,500 9,696,110
2013 4,442,100 9,600,379
2012 4,408,100 9,519,374
2011 4,384,000 9,449,213
2010 4,350,700 9,378,126
2009 4,302,600 9,298,515
2008 4,259,800 9,219,637
2007 4,223,800 9,148,092
2006 4,184,600 9,080,505
2005 4,133,900 9,029,572
2004 4,087,500 8,993,531
2003 4,027,200 8,958,229
2002 3,948,500 8,924,958
2001 3,880,500 8,895,960
2000 3,857,700 8,872,109
1999 3,835,100 8,857,874
1998 3,815,000 8,850,974
1997 3,781,300 8,846,062
1996 3,732,000 8,840,998
1995 3,673,400 8,826,939
1994 3,620,000 8,780,745
1993 3,572,200 8,718,561
1992 3,531,700 8,668,067
1991 3,495,100 8,617,375
1990 3,329,800 8,558,835
1989 3,299,200 8,492,964
1988 3,283,400 8,436,489
1987 3,274,400 8,397,804
1986 3,246,300 8,369,829
1985 3,247,100 8,350,386
1984 3,227,100 8,336,605
1983 3,199,300 8,329,033
1982 3,156,100 8,325,263
1981 3,124,900 8,320,503
1980 3,112,900 8,310,531
1979 3,109,000 8,293,678
1978 3,121,200 8,275,599
1977 3,120,200 8,251,540
1976 3,110,500 8,222,286
1975 3,083,100 8,192,437
1974 3,023,700 8,159,955
1973 2,961,300 8,136,312
1972 2,903,900 8,122,300
1971 2,853,000 8,098,334
1970 2,810,700 8,042,801
1969 2,772,800 7,968,072
1968 2,748,100 7,912,273
1967 2,724,100 7,867,931
1966 2,675,900 7,807,797
1965 2,628,400 7,733,853
1964 2,585,400 7,661,354
1963 2,531,800 7,604,328
1962 2,482,000 7,561,588
1961 2,419,700 7,519,998
1960 2,371,800 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 93rd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Sweden
2100 -0.07% -0.03%
2099 -0.07% -0.04%
2098 -0.05% -0.01%
2097 -0.04% -0.01%
2096 -0.03% -0.03%
2095 -0.02% -0.02%
2094 -0.04% -0.02%
2093 -0.005% -0.02%
2092 -0.03% -0.01%
2091 -0.02% -0.02%
2090 -0.05% -0.03%
2089 -0.01% -0.02%
2088 -0.05% -0.03%
2087 -0.05% -0.06%
2086 -0.06% -0.04%
2085 -0.06% -0.04%
2084 -0.08% -0.03%
2083 -0.06% -0.05%
2082 -0.03% -0.01%
2081 -0.04% -0.02%
2080 -0.02% 0.004%
2079 -0.01% 0.02%
2078 0.02% 0.02%
2077 0.007% 0.03%
2076 0.007% 0.04%
2075 0.02% 0.03%
2074 0.02% 0.03%
2073 0.07% 0.03%
2072 0.001% 0.04%
2071 0.01% 0.03%
2070 0.02% 0.03%
2069 0.03% 0.01%
2068 0.04% 0.007%
2067 0.07% -0%
2066 0.07% 0.006%
2065 0.06% 0.009%
2064 0.03% 0.001%
2063 0.07% -0.005%
2062 0.02% 0.02%
2061 0.06% 0.01%
2060 0.08% 0.02%
2059 0.09% 0.03%
2058 0.1% 0.05%
2057 0.11% 0.05%
2056 0.15% 0.06%
2055 0.16% 0.07%
2054 0.17% 0.09%
2053 0.15% 0.12%
2052 0.2% 0.14%
2051 0.19% 0.17%
2050 0.15% 0.17%
2049 0.19% 0.19%
2048 0.19% 0.2%
2047 0.21% 0.2%
2046 0.24% 0.21%
2045 0.26% 0.22%
2044 0.28% 0.23%
2043 0.31% 0.23%
2042 0.34% 0.21%
2041 0.32% 0.22%
2040 0.33% 0.21%
2039 0.35% 0.2%
2038 0.35% 0.2%
2037 0.36% 0.21%
2036 0.37% 0.21%
2035 0.37% 0.21%
2034 0.41% 0.22%
2033 0.42% 0.23%
2032 0.45% 0.23%
2031 0.47% 0.26%
2030 0.52% 0.29%
2029 0.56% 0.33%
2028 0.61% 0.36%
2027 0.65% 0.39%
2026 0.7% 0.45%
2025 0.76% 0.49%
2024 1.68% 0.31%
2023 2.33% 0.47%
2022 -0.06% 0.68%
2021 0.24% 0.6%
2020 2.05% 0.73%
2019 1.42% 1.02%
2018 1.81% 1.17%
2017 2.11% 1.36%
2016 2.27% 1.26%
2015 2.06% 1.06%
2014 1.67% 1%
2013 0.77% 0.85%
2012 0.55% 0.74%
2011 0.77% 0.76%
2010 1.12% 0.86%
2009 1% 0.86%
2008 0.85% 0.78%
2007 0.94% 0.74%
2006 1.23% 0.56%
2005 1.14% 0.4%
2004 1.5% 0.39%
2003 1.99% 0.37%
2002 1.75% 0.33%
2001 0.59% 0.27%
2000 0.59% 0.16%
1999 0.53% 0.08%
1998 0.89% 0.06%
1997 1.32% 0.06%
1996 1.6% 0.16%
1995 1.48% 0.53%
1994 1.34% 0.71%
1993 1.15% 0.58%
1992 1.05% 0.59%
1991 4.96% 0.68%
1990 0.93% 0.78%
1989 0.48% 0.67%
1988 0.27% 0.46%
1987 0.87% 0.33%
1986 -0.02% 0.23%
1985 0.62% 0.17%
1984 0.87% 0.09%
1983 1.37% 0.05%
1982 1% 0.06%
1981 0.39% 0.12%
1980 0.13% 0.2%
1979 -0.39% 0.22%
1978 0.03% 0.29%
1977 0.31% 0.36%
1976 0.89% 0.36%
1975 1.96% 0.4%
1974 2.11% 0.29%
1973 1.98% 0.17%
1972 1.78% 0.3%
1971 1.5% 0.69%
1970 1.37% 0.94%
1969 0.9% 0.71%
1968 0.88% 0.56%
1967 1.8% 0.77%
1966 1.81% 0.96%
1965 1.66% 0.95%
1964 2.12% 0.75%
1963 2.01% 0.57%
1962 2.57% 0.55%
1961 2.02% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Sweden
Current population
5374272
10680056
Population rank 124/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
15.9 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
5.25 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +91
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 149/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +47,079
Net migration rank 35/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 47,079
2024 - 18,766 - 50,115
2023 18,876 21,404 5,269 55,209
2022 20,123 21,404 10,487 58,955
2021 23,644 -14,944 22,914 51,947
2020 24,905 42,124 14,495 37,302
2019 25,299 69,770 25,697 72,619
2018 24,797 59,139 23,403 87,517
2017 26,282 68,349 24,138 102,671
2016 28,237 75,512 25,800 119,234
2015 29,408 70,870 23,518 80,534
2014 26,196 57,974 26,179 77,654
2013 29,096 26,385 23,041 66,760
2012 31,077 -1,015 20,943 52,879
2011 31,302 -2,196 21,733 46,049
2010 35,458 6,722 25,320 51,175
2009 33,560 12,700 21,387 63,638
2008 35,143 4,804 18,439 56,452
2007 35,480 3,053 15,552 54,907
2006 30,924 14,542 15,436 51,675
2005 30,674 19,212 9,030 27,030
2004 29,634 24,521 9,893 25,842
2003 28,150 42,456 6,271 29,161
2002 25,941 48,195 893 31,364
2001 27,939 17,793 -1,779 28,856
2000 29,897 -6,604 -2,662 24,900
1999 28,916 -7,634 -6,201 13,940
1998 29,146 -1,387 -3,541 11,325
1997 30,137 12,040 -3,539 6,047
1996 28,997 25,169 1,768 5,773
1995 29,828 26,743 9,710 11,621
1994 30,372 20,420 20,196 51,545
1993 31,685 12,638 20,924 32,725
1992 32,067 6,460 28,605 20,507
1991 33,518 31,156 29,299 25,314
1990 33,298 70,432 29,100 35,668
1989 30,749 -8,818 24,629 44,565
1988 29,846 -17,005 15,186 30,064
1987 27,603 -7,631 11,757 21,335
1986 25,549 -10,234 9,206 15,211
1985 24,126 -13,462 4,175 11,464
1984 26,043 -901 3,335 8,668
1983 24,315 11,464 833 2,105
1982 24,207 7,982 1,665 2,524
1981 25,374 -7,606 1,664 3,209
1980 23,658 -15,423 5,818 10,040
1979 26,675 -26,694 4,976 13,895
1978 26,156 -28,783 4,138 13,807
1977 28,020 -22,697 7,426 23,528
1976 29,456 -9,138 8,222 20,324
1975 31,355 13,196 14,746 16,564
1974 33,896 27,580 23,664 9,217
1973 35,239 28,261 24,409 -9,551
1972 38,244 17,779 28,428 -13,519
1971 40,000 7,547 31,583 2,334
1970 37,101 4,511 30,563 47,242
1969 38,098 -5,212 23,904 48,824
1968 37,594 -11,853 30,858 8,545
1967 37,974 -2,289 41,700 11,075
1966 36,151 9,161 45,286 24,920
1965 36,982 9,245 44,857 32,444
1964 39,375 9,806 45,968 23,581
1963 42,027 10,226 35,741 11,009
1962 42,865 12,697 30,246 9,627
1961 43,482 10,689 30,832 14,401
1960 41,791 3,846 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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