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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 71,668,011 people in Thailand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 71,571,743 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 13.3 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 0.93% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.23% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.52% growth).

New Zealand vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Thailand
2100 5,918,837 45,712,111
2099 5,923,132 46,056,854
2098 5,927,206 46,406,925
2097 5,930,263 46,761,683
2096 5,932,907 47,122,446
2095 5,934,847 47,487,866
2094 5,936,183 47,857,414
2093 5,938,804 48,230,566
2092 5,939,085 48,609,149
2091 5,940,665 48,988,448
2090 5,941,752 49,372,024
2089 5,944,871 49,760,635
2088 5,945,635 50,146,313
2087 5,948,586 50,536,233
2086 5,951,745 50,929,394
2085 5,955,275 51,326,092
2084 5,959,115 51,728,619
2083 5,963,613 52,131,789
2082 5,966,943 52,537,598
2081 5,968,511 52,942,608
2080 5,971,082 53,352,029
2079 5,972,331 53,766,821
2078 5,972,928 54,181,891
2077 5,971,804 54,599,508
2076 5,971,386 55,019,721
2075 5,970,985 55,442,571
2074 5,969,834 55,872,412
2073 5,968,506 56,304,891
2072 5,964,548 56,739,842
2071 5,964,493 57,177,118
2070 5,963,811 57,621,370
2069 5,962,551 58,066,637
2068 5,960,918 58,516,959
2067 5,958,438 58,967,738
2066 5,954,539 59,418,676
2065 5,950,378 59,878,082
2064 5,946,851 60,336,709
2063 5,944,910 60,797,201
2062 5,940,838 61,262,000
2061 5,939,601 61,724,999
2060 5,936,094 62,192,387
2059 5,931,426 62,656,203
2058 5,925,816 63,118,413
2057 5,919,823 63,577,864
2056 5,913,287 64,032,675
2055 5,904,352 64,478,337
2054 5,894,795 64,917,436
2053 5,884,875 65,343,383
2052 5,876,162 65,763,356
2051 5,864,176 66,167,939
2050 5,852,896 66,558,274
2049 5,844,165 66,936,876
2048 5,833,178 67,296,897
2047 5,822,035 67,641,907
2046 5,809,860 67,972,603
2045 5,795,785 68,287,399
2044 5,780,884 68,585,177
2043 5,764,579 68,870,333
2042 5,746,528 69,139,548
2041 5,727,253 69,396,419
2040 5,708,874 69,632,464
2039 5,690,018 69,854,146
2038 5,669,959 70,062,543
2037 5,650,253 70,256,027
2036 5,630,126 70,435,348
2035 5,609,155 70,604,705
2034 5,588,315 70,756,791
2033 5,565,507 70,897,217
2032 5,542,488 71,025,384
2031 5,517,391 71,140,609
2030 5,491,320 71,247,320
2029 5,462,926 71,342,891
2028 5,432,752 71,428,869
2027 5,399,898 71,505,168
2026 5,364,771 71,571,743
2025 5,327,462 71,625,629
2024 5,287,500 71,668,011
2023 5,200,000 71,702,435
2022 5,081,700 71,735,329
2021 5,084,600 71,727,332
2020 5,072,400 71,641,484
2019 4,970,300 71,522,271
2018 4,900,600 71,376,079
2017 4,813,600 71,160,187
2016 4,714,100 70,859,841
2015 4,609,400 70,540,795
2014 4,516,500 70,216,367
2013 4,442,100 69,845,114
2012 4,408,100 69,436,098
2011 4,384,000 69,007,208
2010 4,350,700 68,579,447
2009 4,302,600 68,121,080
2008 4,259,800 67,619,830
2007 4,223,800 67,102,394
2006 4,184,600 66,567,687
2005 4,133,900 66,017,420
2004 4,087,500 65,452,047
2003 4,027,200 64,868,166
2002 3,948,500 64,266,437
2001 3,880,500 63,651,141
2000 3,857,700 63,007,815
1999 3,835,100 62,299,043
1998 3,815,000 61,522,630
1997 3,781,300 60,724,584
1996 3,732,000 59,920,064
1995 3,673,400 59,098,232
1994 3,620,000 58,260,854
1993 3,572,200 57,408,198
1992 3,531,700 56,528,834
1991 3,495,100 55,637,434
1990 3,329,800 54,738,329
1989 3,299,200 53,848,956
1988 3,283,400 52,969,595
1987 3,274,400 52,074,105
1986 3,246,300 51,177,834
1985 3,247,100 50,270,753
1984 3,227,100 49,351,708
1983 3,199,300 48,423,309
1982 3,156,100 47,494,577
1981 3,124,900 46,575,855
1980 3,112,900 45,650,022
1979 3,109,000 44,718,434
1978 3,121,200 43,788,976
1977 3,120,200 42,843,974
1976 3,110,500 41,896,504
1975 3,083,100 40,940,005
1974 3,023,700 39,952,891
1973 2,961,300 38,947,787
1972 2,903,900 37,933,929
1971 2,853,000 36,937,387
1970 2,810,700 35,954,408
1969 2,772,800 34,973,782
1968 2,748,100 34,002,560
1967 2,724,100 33,037,801
1966 2,675,900 32,086,071
1965 2,628,400 31,149,337
1964 2,585,400 30,232,141
1963 2,531,800 29,342,322
1962 2,482,000 28,481,040
1961 2,419,700 27,650,334
1960 2,371,800 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 711,902 people (a 1% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,558,274 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Thailand
2100 -0.07% -0.75%
2099 -0.07% -0.75%
2098 -0.05% -0.76%
2097 -0.04% -0.77%
2096 -0.03% -0.77%
2095 -0.02% -0.77%
2094 -0.04% -0.77%
2093 -0.005% -0.78%
2092 -0.03% -0.77%
2091 -0.02% -0.78%
2090 -0.05% -0.78%
2089 -0.01% -0.77%
2088 -0.05% -0.77%
2087 -0.05% -0.77%
2086 -0.06% -0.77%
2085 -0.06% -0.78%
2084 -0.08% -0.77%
2083 -0.06% -0.77%
2082 -0.03% -0.76%
2081 -0.04% -0.77%
2080 -0.02% -0.77%
2079 -0.01% -0.77%
2078 0.02% -0.76%
2077 0.007% -0.76%
2076 0.007% -0.76%
2075 0.02% -0.77%
2074 0.02% -0.77%
2073 0.07% -0.77%
2072 0.001% -0.76%
2071 0.01% -0.77%
2070 0.02% -0.77%
2069 0.03% -0.77%
2068 0.04% -0.76%
2067 0.07% -0.76%
2066 0.07% -0.77%
2065 0.06% -0.76%
2064 0.03% -0.76%
2063 0.07% -0.76%
2062 0.02% -0.75%
2061 0.06% -0.75%
2060 0.08% -0.74%
2059 0.09% -0.73%
2058 0.1% -0.72%
2057 0.11% -0.71%
2056 0.15% -0.69%
2055 0.16% -0.68%
2054 0.17% -0.65%
2053 0.15% -0.64%
2052 0.2% -0.61%
2051 0.19% -0.59%
2050 0.15% -0.57%
2049 0.19% -0.53%
2048 0.19% -0.51%
2047 0.21% -0.49%
2046 0.24% -0.46%
2045 0.26% -0.43%
2044 0.28% -0.41%
2043 0.31% -0.39%
2042 0.34% -0.37%
2041 0.32% -0.34%
2040 0.33% -0.32%
2039 0.35% -0.3%
2038 0.35% -0.28%
2037 0.36% -0.25%
2036 0.37% -0.24%
2035 0.37% -0.21%
2034 0.41% -0.2%
2033 0.42% -0.18%
2032 0.45% -0.16%
2031 0.47% -0.15%
2030 0.52% -0.13%
2029 0.56% -0.12%
2028 0.61% -0.11%
2027 0.65% -0.09%
2026 0.7% -0.08%
2025 0.76% -0.06%
2024 1.68% -0.05%
2023 2.33% -0.05%
2022 -0.06% 0.01%
2021 0.24% 0.12%
2020 2.05% 0.17%
2019 1.42% 0.2%
2018 1.81% 0.3%
2017 2.11% 0.42%
2016 2.27% 0.45%
2015 2.06% 0.46%
2014 1.67% 0.53%
2013 0.77% 0.59%
2012 0.55% 0.62%
2011 0.77% 0.62%
2010 1.12% 0.67%
2009 1% 0.74%
2008 0.85% 0.77%
2007 0.94% 0.8%
2006 1.23% 0.83%
2005 1.14% 0.86%
2004 1.5% 0.9%
2003 1.99% 0.94%
2002 1.75% 0.97%
2001 0.59% 1.02%
2000 0.59% 1.14%
1999 0.53% 1.26%
1998 0.89% 1.31%
1997 1.32% 1.34%
1996 1.6% 1.39%
1995 1.48% 1.44%
1994 1.34% 1.49%
1993 1.15% 1.56%
1992 1.05% 1.6%
1991 4.96% 1.64%
1990 0.93% 1.65%
1989 0.48% 1.66%
1988 0.27% 1.72%
1987 0.87% 1.75%
1986 -0.02% 1.8%
1985 0.62% 1.86%
1984 0.87% 1.92%
1983 1.37% 1.96%
1982 1% 1.97%
1981 0.39% 2.03%
1980 0.13% 2.08%
1979 -0.39% 2.12%
1978 0.03% 2.21%
1977 0.31% 2.26%
1976 0.89% 2.34%
1975 1.96% 2.47%
1974 2.11% 2.58%
1973 1.98% 2.67%
1972 1.78% 2.7%
1971 1.5% 2.73%
1970 1.37% 2.8%
1969 0.9% 2.86%
1968 0.88% 2.92%
1967 1.8% 2.97%
1966 1.81% 3.01%
1965 1.66% 3.03%
1964 2.12% 3.03%
1963 2.01% 3.02%
1962 2.57% 3%
1961 2.02% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Thailand
Current population
5374272
71571743
Population rank 124/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.86%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
15.3 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
53.3 seconds
One death every
14 minutes
49.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +240 -94
Annual growth/decline +87,500 -34,424
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 168/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +27,509
Net migration rank 35/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 27,509
2024 - 18,766 - 23,321
2023 18,876 21,404 -46,105 19,648
2022 20,123 21,404 -61,046 21,683
2021 23,644 -14,944 57,382 -2,093
2020 24,905 42,124 84,107 32,277
2019 25,299 69,770 116,867 5,221
2018 24,797 59,139 159,383 10,984
2017 26,282 68,349 194,695 66,805
2016 28,237 75,512 226,255 112,978
2015 29,408 70,870 266,362 32,500
2014 26,196 57,974 294,628 55,358
2013 29,096 26,385 325,059 67,452
2012 31,077 -1,015 351,485 74,033
2011 31,302 -2,196 365,670 66,607
2010 35,458 6,722 370,466 52,791
2009 33,560 12,700 382,636 110,883
2008 35,143 4,804 401,730 107,333
2007 35,480 3,053 425,362 100,486
2006 30,924 14,542 441,211 102,362
2005 30,674 19,212 456,378 100,542
2004 29,634 24,521 466,542 107,199
2003 28,150 42,456 488,003 105,917
2002 25,941 48,195 504,299 105,215
2001 27,939 17,793 524,230 96,817
2000 29,897 -6,604 543,884 121,640
1999 28,916 -7,634 578,073 173,924
1998 29,146 -1,387 617,318 183,471
1997 30,137 12,040 644,834 150,411
1996 28,997 25,169 661,397 152,397
1995 29,828 26,743 682,703 147,226
1994 30,372 20,420 712,589 132,271
1993 31,685 12,638 737,696 122,746
1992 32,067 6,460 754,999 143,318
1991 33,518 31,156 760,508 124,034
1990 33,298 70,432 760,808 152,916
1989 30,749 -8,818 774,563 90,497
1988 29,846 -17,005 765,252 128,469
1987 27,603 -7,631 774,498 122,791
1986 25,549 -10,234 783,430 111,820
1985 24,126 -13,462 776,935 141,963
1984 26,043 -901 779,856 139,345
1983 24,315 11,464 794,239 143,393
1982 24,207 7,982 817,951 101,885
1981 25,374 -7,606 839,297 78,337
1980 23,658 -15,423 845,575 88,478
1979 26,675 -26,694 843,434 85,693
1978 26,156 -28,783 847,799 82,011
1977 28,020 -22,697 871,232 88,937
1976 29,456 -9,138 894,072 40,656
1975 31,355 13,196 911,980 66,306
1974 33,896 27,580 923,151 72,801
1973 35,239 28,261 933,540 80,704
1972 38,244 17,779 940,420 73,082
1971 40,000 7,547 936,215 43,400
1970 37,101 4,511 937,116 49,221
1969 38,098 -5,212 948,314 26,551
1968 37,594 -11,853 953,806 13,718
1967 37,974 -2,289 944,980 17,005
1966 36,151 9,161 929,469 12,016
1965 36,982 9,245 909,000 22,995
1964 39,375 9,806 885,137 17,249
1963 42,027 10,226 860,728 16,494
1962 42,865 12,697 828,741 16,605
1961 43,482 10,689 801,140 14,968
1960 41,791 3,846 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/thailand | 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 Thailand 78.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,292,528 people) and 21.6% is from migration (a gain of 355,361 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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