Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,324,700 in 2025 vs 103,742 people in Tonga in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,380,024 people compared to 103,283 in Tonga.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 52.1 times bigger than Tonga's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Tonga is the 183rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.001% for Tonga.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs -0.25% in Tonga.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.38M (28.6% growth), while Tonga has declined from 106K to 103K (2.8% decline).

New Zealand vs Tonga: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Tonga
2100 5,915,768 117,617
2099 5,920,061 117,585
2098 5,924,133 117,530
2097 5,927,189 117,492
2096 5,929,831 117,461
2095 5,931,770 117,383
2094 5,933,105 117,290
2093 5,935,725 117,207
2092 5,936,005 117,097
2091 5,937,584 116,983
2090 5,938,671 116,838
2089 5,941,788 116,682
2088 5,942,552 116,481
2087 5,945,502 116,277
2086 5,948,659 116,088
2085 5,952,187 115,872
2084 5,956,025 115,628
2083 5,960,521 115,336
2082 5,963,849 115,041
2081 5,965,417 114,752
2080 5,967,986 114,424
2079 5,969,234 114,074
2078 5,969,831 113,710
2077 5,968,708 113,349
2076 5,968,290 112,945
2075 5,967,889 112,565
2074 5,966,738 112,179
2073 5,965,412 111,790
2072 5,961,455 111,377
2071 5,961,400 110,963
2070 5,960,718 110,576
2069 5,959,460 110,209
2068 5,957,827 109,825
2067 5,955,348 109,446
2066 5,951,452 109,062
2065 5,947,293 108,736
2064 5,943,767 108,377
2063 5,941,828 108,033
2062 5,937,757 107,710
2061 5,936,521 107,396
2060 5,933,016 107,117
2059 5,928,350 106,842
2058 5,922,743 106,589
2057 5,916,754 106,345
2056 5,910,221 106,130
2055 5,901,290 105,915
2054 5,891,739 105,698
2053 5,881,824 105,486
2052 5,873,115 105,286
2051 5,861,135 105,079
2050 5,849,861 104,844
2049 5,841,135 104,636
2048 5,830,154 104,387
2047 5,819,016 104,154
2046 5,806,848 103,852
2045 5,792,780 103,548
2044 5,777,886 103,215
2043 5,761,590 102,934
2042 5,743,549 102,692
2041 5,724,283 102,447
2040 5,705,914 102,228
2039 5,687,068 102,061
2038 5,667,019 101,835
2037 5,647,323 101,707
2036 5,627,207 101,627
2035 5,606,247 101,580
2034 5,585,417 101,571
2033 5,562,621 101,591
2032 5,539,615 101,633
2031 5,514,530 101,764
2030 5,488,472 101,928
2029 5,460,094 102,181
2028 5,429,936 102,494
2027 5,397,099 102,841
2026 5,361,990 103,283
2025 5,324,700 103,742
2024 5,290,000 104,175
2023 5,200,000 104,597
2022 5,081,700 105,042
2021 5,084,600 105,490
2020 5,072,400 105,704
2019 4,970,300 105,669
2018 4,900,600 105,567
2017 4,813,600 105,356
2016 4,714,100 105,524
2015 4,609,400 106,095
2014 4,516,500 106,609
2013 4,442,100 107,078
2012 4,408,100 107,460
2011 4,384,000 107,570
2010 4,350,700 107,400
2009 4,302,600 107,203
2008 4,259,800 107,020
2007 4,223,800 106,726
2006 4,184,600 106,253
2005 4,133,900 105,671
2004 4,087,500 105,071
2003 4,027,200 104,464
2002 3,948,500 103,874
2001 3,880,500 103,288
2000 3,857,700 102,677
1999 3,835,100 102,046
1998 3,815,000 101,388
1997 3,781,300 100,674
1996 3,732,000 100,275
1995 3,673,400 100,225
1994 3,620,000 100,166
1993 3,572,200 100,103
1992 3,531,700 100,022
1991 3,495,100 99,895
1990 3,329,800 99,700
1989 3,299,200 99,403
1988 3,283,400 98,969
1987 3,274,400 98,376
1986 3,246,300 98,010
1985 3,247,100 97,984
1984 3,227,100 97,990
1983 3,199,300 97,998
1982 3,156,100 97,980
1981 3,124,900 97,909
1980 3,112,900 97,769
1979 3,109,000 97,544
1978 3,121,200 97,204
1977 3,120,200 96,725
1976 3,110,500 95,325
1975 3,083,100 93,017
1974 3,023,700 90,683
1973 2,961,300 88,805
1972 2,903,900 87,356
1971 2,853,000 85,896
1970 2,810,700 84,401
1969 2,772,800 82,885
1968 2,748,100 81,353
1967 2,724,100 79,814
1966 2,675,900 78,002
1965 2,628,400 75,924
1964 2,585,400 73,879
1963 2,531,800 71,885
1962 2,482,000 69,940
1961 2,419,700 68,037
1960 2,371,800 66,170

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/tonga | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Tonga lost 729 people (a 0.69% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth), while Tonga's population decreased by 2,241 people (a 2.12% decline).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Tonga was ranked 182nd in 2006 and ranked 183rd 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 Tonga will increase by 1.51% to 104,844 people and will still be ranked 183rd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 118K people in 2100 for Tonga.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Tonga
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Tonga
2100 -0.07% 0.03%
2099 -0.07% 0.05%
2098 -0.05% 0.03%
2097 -0.04% 0.03%
2096 -0.03% 0.07%
2095 -0.02% 0.08%
2094 -0.04% 0.07%
2093 -0.005% 0.09%
2092 -0.03% 0.1%
2091 -0.02% 0.12%
2090 -0.05% 0.13%
2089 -0.01% 0.17%
2088 -0.05% 0.18%
2087 -0.05% 0.16%
2086 -0.06% 0.19%
2085 -0.06% 0.21%
2084 -0.08% 0.25%
2083 -0.06% 0.26%
2082 -0.03% 0.25%
2081 -0.04% 0.29%
2080 -0.02% 0.31%
2079 -0.01% 0.32%
2078 0.02% 0.32%
2077 0.007% 0.36%
2076 0.007% 0.34%
2075 0.02% 0.34%
2074 0.02% 0.35%
2073 0.07% 0.37%
2072 0.001% 0.37%
2071 0.01% 0.35%
2070 0.02% 0.33%
2069 0.03% 0.35%
2068 0.04% 0.35%
2067 0.07% 0.35%
2066 0.07% 0.3%
2065 0.06% 0.33%
2064 0.03% 0.32%
2063 0.07% 0.3%
2062 0.02% 0.29%
2061 0.06% 0.26%
2060 0.08% 0.26%
2059 0.09% 0.24%
2058 0.1% 0.23%
2057 0.11% 0.2%
2056 0.15% 0.2%
2055 0.16% 0.2%
2054 0.17% 0.2%
2053 0.15% 0.19%
2052 0.2% 0.2%
2051 0.19% 0.22%
2050 0.15% 0.2%
2049 0.19% 0.24%
2048 0.19% 0.22%
2047 0.21% 0.29%
2046 0.24% 0.29%
2045 0.26% 0.32%
2044 0.28% 0.27%
2043 0.31% 0.24%
2042 0.34% 0.24%
2041 0.32% 0.21%
2040 0.33% 0.16%
2039 0.35% 0.22%
2038 0.35% 0.13%
2037 0.36% 0.08%
2036 0.37% 0.05%
2035 0.37% 0.009%
2034 0.41% -0.02%
2033 0.42% -0.04%
2032 0.45% -0.13%
2031 0.47% -0.16%
2030 0.52% -0.25%
2029 0.56% -0.31%
2028 0.61% -0.34%
2027 0.65% -0.43%
2026 0.7% -0.44%
2025 0.66% -0.42%
2024 1.73% -0.4%
2023 2.33% -0.42%
2022 -0.06% -0.42%
2021 0.24% -0.2%
2020 2.05% 0.03%
2019 1.42% 0.1%
2018 1.81% 0.2%
2017 2.11% -0.16%
2016 2.27% -0.54%
2015 2.06% -0.48%
2014 1.67% -0.44%
2013 0.77% -0.36%
2012 0.55% -0.1%
2011 0.77% 0.16%
2010 1.12% 0.18%
2009 1% 0.17%
2008 0.85% 0.28%
2007 0.94% 0.45%
2006 1.23% 0.55%
2005 1.14% 0.57%
2004 1.5% 0.58%
2003 1.99% 0.57%
2002 1.75% 0.57%
2001 0.59% 0.6%
2000 0.59% 0.62%
1999 0.53% 0.65%
1998 0.89% 0.71%
1997 1.32% 0.4%
1996 1.6% 0.05%
1995 1.48% 0.06%
1994 1.34% 0.06%
1993 1.15% 0.08%
1992 1.05% 0.13%
1991 4.96% 0.2%
1990 0.93% 0.3%
1989 0.48% 0.44%
1988 0.27% 0.6%
1987 0.87% 0.37%
1986 -0.02% 0.03%
1985 0.62% -0.006%
1984 0.87% -0.008%
1983 1.37% 0.02%
1982 1% 0.07%
1981 0.39% 0.14%
1980 0.13% 0.23%
1979 -0.39% 0.35%
1978 0.03% 0.5%
1977 0.31% 1.47%
1976 0.89% 2.48%
1975 1.96% 2.57%
1974 2.11% 2.11%
1973 1.98% 1.66%
1972 1.78% 1.7%
1971 1.5% 1.77%
1970 1.37% 1.83%
1969 0.9% 1.88%
1968 0.88% 1.93%
1967 1.8% 2.32%
1966 1.81% 2.74%
1965 1.66% 2.77%
1964 2.12% 2.77%
1963 2.01% 2.78%
1962 2.57% 2.8%
1961 2.02% 2.82%

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/tonga | CC BY

In 2025, the population of New Zealand grew by 0.66%, while Tonga's population declined by 0.42%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Tonga
Current population
5380024
103283
Population rank 124/197 183/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.001%
One net population change
15.2 minutes
20.3 hours
One birth every
9.01 minutes
3.65 hours
One death every
13.9 minutes
13.1 hours
Daily growth/decline +95 -1
Annual growth/decline +34,700 -433
Annual growth/decline rate +0.66% -0.42%
Population growth rate rank 118/197 181/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
4.09 hours
Annual migration change +17,403 -2,150
Net migration rank 35/196 99/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 3,581
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 187/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 113/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Tonga
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Tonga
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -2,150
2024 20,631 18,766 1,729 -2,149
2023 19,031 21,404 1,744 -2,173
2022 20,276 21,404 1,772 -2,218
2021 23,745 -14,944 1,773 -2,220
2020 25,007 42,124 1,816 -1,807
2019 25,349 69,770 1,841 -1,778
2018 24,797 59,139 1,873 -1,723
2017 26,282 68,349 1,912 -1,642
2016 28,237 75,512 1,989 -2,591
2015 29,408 70,870 2,064 -2,610
2014 26,196 57,974 2,135 -2,622
2013 29,096 26,385 2,199 -2,637
2012 31,077 -1,015 2,255 -2,578
2011 31,302 -2,196 2,298 -2,198
2010 35,458 6,722 2,332 -2,097
2009 33,560 12,700 2,358 -2,204
2008 35,143 4,804 2,397 -2,177
2007 35,480 3,053 2,423 -2,057
2006 30,924 14,542 2,459 -1,875
2005 30,674 19,212 2,495 -1,906
2004 29,634 24,521 2,478 -1,876
2003 28,150 42,456 2,448 -1,844
2002 25,941 48,195 2,396 -1,815
2001 27,939 17,793 2,358 -1,766
2000 29,897 -6,604 2,346 -1,721
1999 28,916 -7,634 2,352 -1,710
1998 29,146 -1,387 2,344 -1,665
1997 30,137 12,040 2,332 -1,589
1996 28,997 25,169 2,393 -2,338
1995 29,828 26,743 2,476 -2,422
1994 30,372 20,420 2,547 -2,484
1993 31,685 12,638 2,594 -2,532
1992 32,067 6,460 2,622 -2,524
1991 33,518 31,156 2,637 -2,484
1990 33,298 70,432 2,641 -2,409
1989 30,749 -8,818 2,644 -2,280
1988 29,846 -17,005 2,649 -2,138
1987 27,603 -7,631 2,646 -1,970
1986 25,549 -10,234 2,704 -2,650
1985 24,126 -13,462 2,762 -2,775
1984 26,043 -901 2,814 -2,823
1983 24,315 11,464 2,840 -2,840
1982 24,207 7,982 2,853 -2,814
1981 25,374 -7,606 2,882 -2,778
1980 23,658 -15,423 2,885 -2,708
1979 26,675 -26,694 2,884 -2,604
1978 26,156 -28,783 2,862 -2,457
1977 28,020 -22,697 2,822 -2,273
1976 29,456 -9,138 2,769 -523
1975 31,355 13,196 2,709 -346
1974 33,896 27,580 2,650 -344
1973 35,239 28,261 2,617 -1,168
1972 38,244 17,779 2,605 -1,153
1971 40,000 7,547 2,611 -1,138
1970 37,101 4,511 2,628 -1,122
1969 38,098 -5,212 2,632 -1,101
1968 37,594 -11,853 2,614 -1,078
1967 37,974 -2,289 2,603 -1,060
1966 36,151 9,161 2,550 -465
1965 36,982 9,245 2,498 -426
1964 39,375 9,806 2,445 -428
1963 42,027 10,226 2,394 -426
1962 42,865 12,697 2,343 -420
1961 43,482 10,689 2,284 -401
1960 41,791 3,846 2,230 -384

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/tonga | 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 Tonga 47% is from natural causes (a gain of 18,513 people) and 53% is from migration (a loss of 20,911 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 3,581 people or 3.4% in Tonga.

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
Tonga
City Population
Nukualofa 23.2K
Mua 5K

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

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.