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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,324,700 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,380,024 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 1.98 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • 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 +1.51% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.38M (28.6% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

New Zealand vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Sweden
2100 5,915,768 11,330,987
2099 5,920,061 11,334,835
2098 5,924,133 11,339,107
2097 5,927,189 11,340,268
2096 5,929,831 11,341,947
2095 5,931,770 11,344,893
2094 5,933,105 11,347,531
2093 5,935,725 11,349,412
2092 5,936,005 11,351,452
2091 5,937,584 11,352,899
2090 5,938,671 11,354,820
2089 5,941,788 11,357,746
2088 5,942,552 11,360,405
2087 5,945,502 11,364,197
2086 5,948,659 11,371,529
2085 5,952,187 11,376,573
2084 5,956,025 11,381,332
2083 5,960,521 11,384,862
2082 5,963,849 11,390,058
2081 5,965,417 11,391,696
2080 5,967,986 11,393,882
2079 5,969,234 11,393,412
2078 5,969,831 11,391,291
2077 5,968,708 11,389,212
2076 5,968,290 11,385,385
2075 5,967,889 11,381,261
2074 5,966,738 11,377,973
2073 5,965,412 11,375,051
2072 5,961,455 11,371,362
2071 5,961,400 11,366,451
2070 5,960,718 11,362,742
2069 5,959,460 11,358,895
2068 5,957,827 11,357,504
2067 5,955,348 11,356,672
2066 5,951,452 11,356,676
2065 5,947,293 11,355,953
2064 5,943,767 11,354,988
2063 5,941,828 11,354,834
2062 5,937,757 11,355,452
2061 5,936,521 11,353,198
2060 5,933,016 11,352,013
2059 5,928,350 11,349,674
2058 5,922,743 11,345,893
2057 5,916,754 11,340,487
2056 5,910,221 11,335,234
2055 5,901,290 11,328,291
2054 5,891,739 11,320,768
2053 5,881,824 11,310,127
2052 5,873,115 11,296,358
2051 5,861,135 11,280,503
2050 5,849,861 11,261,537
2049 5,841,135 11,242,070
2048 5,830,154 11,221,274
2047 5,819,016 11,199,365
2046 5,806,848 11,176,512
2045 5,792,780 11,152,739
2044 5,777,886 11,127,765
2043 5,761,590 11,102,354
2042 5,743,549 11,076,504
2041 5,724,283 11,052,951
2040 5,705,914 11,028,609
2039 5,687,068 11,005,487
2038 5,667,019 10,983,160
2037 5,647,323 10,961,591
2036 5,627,207 10,938,759
2035 5,606,247 10,916,327
2034 5,585,417 10,893,717
2033 5,562,621 10,869,588
2032 5,539,615 10,844,339
2031 5,514,530 10,819,037
2030 5,488,472 10,790,557
2029 5,460,094 10,759,017
2028 5,429,936 10,724,017
2027 5,397,099 10,685,143
2026 5,361,990 10,643,884
2025 5,324,700 10,596,620
2024 5,290,000 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) New Zealand's population will grow by 8.73% to 5,849,861 people with a rank change from 124th to 122nd. The population of Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 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 0.66% 0.25%
2024 1.73% 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of New Zealand grew by 0.66%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Sweden
Current population
5380024
10665077
Population rank 124/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.13%
One net population change
15.2 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
9.01 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
13.9 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +95 +74
Annual growth/decline +34,700 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +0.66% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 118/197 148/197
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 20,631 18,766 7,399 50,115
2023 19,031 21,404 5,269 55,209
2022 20,276 21,404 10,487 58,955
2021 23,745 -14,944 22,914 51,947
2020 25,007 42,124 14,495 37,302
2019 25,349 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/sweden | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 36% of the population change in New Zealand is from natural causes (a gain of 242,763 people) and 64% is from migration (a gain of 432,394 people). In Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/sweden | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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