Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 4.99 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

New Zealand vs Syria: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Syria
2100 5,918,837 44,620,090
2099 5,923,132 44,690,260
2098 5,927,206 44,750,249
2097 5,930,263 44,813,148
2096 5,932,907 44,867,740
2095 5,934,847 44,895,489
2094 5,936,183 44,945,231
2093 5,938,804 44,974,311
2092 5,939,085 45,003,795
2091 5,940,665 45,016,478
2090 5,941,752 45,048,083
2089 5,944,871 45,047,102
2088 5,945,635 45,041,864
2087 5,948,586 45,049,516
2086 5,951,745 45,068,928
2085 5,955,275 45,034,847
2084 5,959,115 44,999,929
2083 5,963,613 44,971,600
2082 5,966,943 44,910,859
2081 5,968,511 44,843,908
2080 5,971,082 44,744,718
2079 5,972,331 44,687,371
2078 5,972,928 44,649,760
2077 5,971,804 44,604,175
2076 5,971,386 44,520,132
2075 5,970,985 44,426,423
2074 5,969,834 44,328,795
2073 5,968,506 44,221,016
2072 5,964,548 44,084,262
2071 5,964,493 43,939,848
2070 5,963,811 43,795,999
2069 5,962,551 43,648,130
2068 5,960,918 43,465,442
2067 5,958,438 43,271,173
2066 5,954,539 43,060,752
2065 5,950,378 42,810,442
2064 5,946,851 42,559,554
2063 5,944,910 42,311,907
2062 5,940,838 42,062,193
2061 5,939,601 41,808,082
2060 5,936,094 41,522,274
2059 5,931,426 41,208,825
2058 5,925,816 40,925,728
2057 5,919,823 40,643,453
2056 5,913,287 40,332,578
2055 5,904,352 40,026,632
2054 5,894,795 39,691,425
2053 5,884,875 39,348,020
2052 5,876,162 39,045,268
2051 5,864,176 38,733,827
2050 5,852,896 38,410,423
2049 5,844,165 38,089,455
2048 5,833,178 37,784,449
2047 5,822,035 37,492,636
2046 5,809,860 37,181,526
2045 5,795,785 36,843,579
2044 5,780,884 36,526,509
2043 5,764,579 36,188,225
2042 5,746,528 35,825,419
2041 5,727,253 35,447,414
2040 5,708,874 35,042,107
2039 5,690,018 34,626,945
2038 5,669,959 34,183,740
2037 5,650,253 33,703,682
2036 5,630,126 33,223,843
2035 5,609,155 32,696,648
2034 5,588,315 32,148,814
2033 5,565,507 31,562,427
2032 5,542,488 30,967,322
2031 5,517,391 30,329,874
2030 5,491,320 29,672,629
2029 5,462,926 28,949,535
2028 5,432,752 28,217,748
2027 5,399,898 27,428,807
2026 5,364,771 26,607,148
2025 5,327,462 25,689,551
2024 5,287,500 24,672,760
2023 5,200,000 23,594,623
2022 5,081,700 22,462,173
2021 5,084,600 21,628,839
2020 5,072,400 21,049,429
2019 4,970,300 20,353,534
2018 4,900,600 19,577,845
2017 4,813,600 19,224,668
2016 4,714,100 19,193,834
2015 4,609,400 19,424,618
2014 4,516,500 20,273,659
2013 4,442,100 21,666,917
2012 4,408,100 22,759,763
2011 4,384,000 22,878,098
2010 4,350,700 22,482,421
2009 4,302,600 21,976,969
2008 4,259,800 21,636,564
2007 4,223,800 20,884,125
2006 4,184,600 19,637,022
2005 4,133,900 18,814,091
2004 4,087,500 18,336,875
2003 4,027,200 17,889,296
2002 3,948,500 17,468,332
2001 3,880,500 17,051,338
2000 3,857,700 16,637,888
1999 3,835,100 16,228,061
1998 3,815,000 15,820,413
1997 3,781,300 15,417,542
1996 3,732,000 15,018,104
1995 3,673,400 14,616,801
1994 3,620,000 14,208,583
1993 3,572,200 13,795,686
1992 3,531,700 13,385,571
1991 3,495,100 12,980,821
1990 3,329,800 12,579,208
1989 3,299,200 12,179,060
1988 3,283,400 11,782,264
1987 3,274,400 11,388,923
1986 3,246,300 11,002,844
1985 3,247,100 10,625,672
1984 3,227,100 10,258,398
1983 3,199,300 9,904,809
1982 3,156,100 9,572,511
1981 3,124,900 9,260,189
1980 3,112,900 8,957,663
1979 3,109,000 8,661,909
1978 3,121,200 8,372,759
1977 3,120,200 8,090,501
1976 3,110,500 7,817,320
1975 3,083,100 7,554,364
1974 3,023,700 7,302,160
1973 2,961,300 7,060,321
1972 2,903,900 6,826,024
1971 2,853,000 6,598,094
1970 2,810,700 6,380,609
1969 2,772,800 6,175,166
1968 2,748,100 5,978,742
1967 2,724,100 5,790,198
1966 2,675,900 5,609,047
1965 2,628,400 5,435,267
1964 2,585,400 5,269,087
1963 2,531,800 5,110,467
1962 2,482,000 4,959,340
1961 2,419,700 4,815,466
1960 2,371,800 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Syria
2100 -0.07% -0.16%
2099 -0.07% -0.13%
2098 -0.05% -0.14%
2097 -0.04% -0.12%
2096 -0.03% -0.06%
2095 -0.02% -0.11%
2094 -0.04% -0.06%
2093 -0.005% -0.07%
2092 -0.03% -0.03%
2091 -0.02% -0.07%
2090 -0.05% 0.002%
2089 -0.01% 0.01%
2088 -0.05% -0.02%
2087 -0.05% -0.04%
2086 -0.06% 0.08%
2085 -0.06% 0.08%
2084 -0.08% 0.06%
2083 -0.06% 0.14%
2082 -0.03% 0.15%
2081 -0.04% 0.22%
2080 -0.02% 0.13%
2079 -0.01% 0.08%
2078 0.02% 0.1%
2077 0.007% 0.19%
2076 0.007% 0.21%
2075 0.02% 0.22%
2074 0.02% 0.24%
2073 0.07% 0.31%
2072 0.001% 0.33%
2071 0.01% 0.33%
2070 0.02% 0.34%
2069 0.03% 0.42%
2068 0.04% 0.45%
2067 0.07% 0.49%
2066 0.07% 0.58%
2065 0.06% 0.59%
2064 0.03% 0.59%
2063 0.07% 0.59%
2062 0.02% 0.61%
2061 0.06% 0.69%
2060 0.08% 0.76%
2059 0.09% 0.69%
2058 0.1% 0.69%
2057 0.11% 0.77%
2056 0.15% 0.76%
2055 0.16% 0.84%
2054 0.17% 0.87%
2053 0.15% 0.78%
2052 0.2% 0.8%
2051 0.19% 0.84%
2050 0.15% 0.84%
2049 0.19% 0.81%
2048 0.19% 0.78%
2047 0.21% 0.84%
2046 0.24% 0.92%
2045 0.26% 0.87%
2044 0.28% 0.93%
2043 0.31% 1.01%
2042 0.34% 1.07%
2041 0.32% 1.16%
2040 0.33% 1.2%
2039 0.35% 1.3%
2038 0.35% 1.42%
2037 0.36% 1.44%
2036 0.37% 1.61%
2035 0.37% 1.7%
2034 0.41% 1.86%
2033 0.42% 1.92%
2032 0.45% 2.1%
2031 0.47% 2.21%
2030 0.52% 2.5%
2029 0.56% 2.59%
2028 0.61% 2.88%
2027 0.65% 3.09%
2026 0.7% 3.57%
2025 0.76% 4.12%
2024 1.68% 4.57%
2023 2.33% 5.04%
2022 -0.06% 3.85%
2021 0.24% 2.75%
2020 2.05% 3.42%
2019 1.42% 3.96%
2018 1.81% 1.84%
2017 2.11% 0.16%
2016 2.27% -1.19%
2015 2.06% -4.19%
2014 1.67% -6.43%
2013 0.77% -4.8%
2012 0.55% -0.52%
2011 0.77% 1.76%
2010 1.12% 2.3%
2009 1% 1.57%
2008 0.85% 3.6%
2007 0.94% 6.35%
2006 1.23% 4.37%
2005 1.14% 2.6%
2004 1.5% 2.5%
2003 1.99% 2.41%
2002 1.75% 2.45%
2001 0.59% 2.48%
2000 0.59% 2.53%
1999 0.53% 2.58%
1998 0.89% 2.61%
1997 1.32% 2.66%
1996 1.6% 2.75%
1995 1.48% 2.87%
1994 1.34% 2.99%
1993 1.15% 3.06%
1992 1.05% 3.12%
1991 4.96% 3.19%
1990 0.93% 3.29%
1989 0.48% 3.37%
1988 0.27% 3.45%
1987 0.87% 3.51%
1986 -0.02% 3.55%
1985 0.62% 3.58%
1984 0.87% 3.57%
1983 1.37% 3.47%
1982 1% 3.37%
1981 0.39% 3.38%
1980 0.13% 3.41%
1979 -0.39% 3.45%
1978 0.03% 3.49%
1977 0.31% 3.49%
1976 0.89% 3.48%
1975 1.96% 3.45%
1974 2.11% 3.43%
1973 1.98% 3.43%
1972 1.78% 3.45%
1971 1.5% 3.41%
1970 1.37% 3.33%
1969 0.9% 3.29%
1968 0.88% 3.26%
1967 1.8% 3.23%
1966 1.81% 3.2%
1965 1.66% 3.15%
1964 2.12% 3.1%
1963 2.01% 3.05%
1962 2.57% 2.99%
1961 2.02% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Syria
Current population
5374272
26829400
Population rank 124/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
9.31 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 6/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +421,693
Net migration rank 35/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 421,693
2024 - 18,766 - 546,494
2023 18,876 21,404 402,713 757,309
2022 20,123 21,404 369,750 735,142
2021 23,644 -14,944 350,560 211,220
2020 24,905 42,124 327,992 269,050
2019 25,299 69,770 293,762 500,985
2018 24,797 59,139 242,530 514,102
2017 26,282 68,349 237,214 -287,501
2016 28,237 75,512 236,007 -124,063
2015 29,408 70,870 253,977 -827,496
2014 26,196 57,974 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 29,096 26,385 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 31,077 -1,015 475,520 -999,267
2011 31,302 -2,196 543,950 -256,888
2010 35,458 6,722 558,666 -54,359
2009 33,560 12,700 559,314 -52,703
2008 35,143 4,804 576,593 -402,393
2007 35,480 3,053 529,162 801,514
2006 30,924 14,542 480,616 682,911
2005 30,674 19,212 468,960 13,382
2004 29,634 24,521 461,209 10,881
2003 28,150 42,456 457,000 -33,920
2002 25,941 48,195 453,967 -35,096
2001 27,939 17,793 451,503 -36,383
2000 29,897 -6,604 446,211 -34,425
1999 28,916 -7,634 439,261 -31,394
1998 29,146 -1,387 433,447 -26,025
1997 30,137 12,040 429,887 -31,571
1996 28,997 25,169 430,765 -30,197
1995 29,828 26,743 430,172 -28,122
1994 30,372 20,420 426,996 -12,630
1993 31,685 12,638 420,244 -8,828
1992 32,067 6,460 412,878 -4,063
1991 33,518 31,156 410,830 -10,154
1990 33,298 70,432 409,177 -6,620
1989 30,749 -8,818 406,111 -8,379
1988 29,846 -17,005 404,285 -8,426
1987 27,603 -7,631 399,159 -8,335
1986 25,549 -10,234 390,821 -9,485
1985 24,126 -13,462 379,231 -6,221
1984 26,043 -901 366,768 -5,245
1983 24,315 11,464 355,375 -9,729
1982 24,207 7,982 319,664 -721
1981 25,374 -7,606 330,237 -24,536
1980 23,658 -15,423 332,464 -33,114
1979 26,675 -26,694 324,943 -32,793
1978 26,156 -28,783 316,724 -30,567
1977 28,020 -22,697 306,630 -28,275
1976 29,456 -9,138 294,267 -26,268
1975 31,355 13,196 282,299 -24,389
1974 33,896 27,580 270,735 -24,242
1973 35,239 28,261 254,687 -17,502
1972 38,244 17,779 249,027 -17,610
1971 40,000 7,547 239,610 -15,167
1970 37,101 4,511 230,117 -19,594
1969 38,098 -5,212 219,114 -18,749
1968 37,594 -11,853 209,454 -16,968
1967 37,974 -2,289 199,223 -14,618
1966 36,151 9,161 191,122 -13,434
1965 36,982 9,245 182,560 -12,704
1964 39,375 9,806 174,549 -12,044
1963 42,027 10,226 166,555 -11,817
1962 42,865 12,697 159,155 -11,641
1961 43,482 10,689 151,485 -11,237
1960 41,791 3,846 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.