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Population in New Zealand compared to the United Kingdom: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,324,700 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,380,024 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 13 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.51% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.38M (28.6% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

New Zealand vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand United Kingdom
2100 5,915,768 74,517,005
2099 5,920,061 74,647,273
2098 5,924,133 74,766,073
2097 5,927,189 74,879,923
2096 5,929,831 74,991,940
2095 5,931,770 75,102,041
2094 5,933,105 75,198,597
2093 5,935,725 75,296,704
2092 5,936,005 75,390,038
2091 5,937,584 75,480,137
2090 5,938,671 75,566,962
2089 5,941,788 75,649,353
2088 5,942,552 75,721,067
2087 5,945,502 75,791,990
2086 5,948,659 75,859,854
2085 5,952,187 75,918,647
2084 5,956,025 75,969,065
2083 5,960,521 76,018,614
2082 5,963,849 76,059,464
2081 5,965,417 76,086,593
2080 5,967,986 76,118,679
2079 5,969,234 76,147,352
2078 5,969,831 76,165,841
2077 5,968,708 76,183,437
2076 5,968,290 76,185,828
2075 5,967,889 76,198,349
2074 5,966,738 76,209,676
2073 5,965,412 76,218,781
2072 5,961,455 76,211,187
2071 5,961,400 76,200,495
2070 5,960,718 76,190,801
2069 5,959,460 76,184,140
2068 5,957,827 76,183,288
2067 5,955,348 76,175,881
2066 5,951,452 76,168,987
2065 5,947,293 76,168,193
2064 5,943,767 76,165,129
2063 5,941,828 76,165,534
2062 5,937,757 76,158,910
2061 5,936,521 76,156,587
2060 5,933,016 76,157,104
2059 5,928,350 76,157,593
2058 5,922,743 76,139,384
2057 5,916,754 76,119,478
2056 5,910,221 76,086,799
2055 5,901,290 76,047,952
2054 5,891,739 75,980,524
2053 5,881,824 75,907,047
2052 5,873,115 75,815,200
2051 5,861,135 75,709,173
2050 5,849,861 75,591,218
2049 5,841,135 75,460,140
2048 5,830,154 75,313,837
2047 5,819,016 75,153,802
2046 5,806,848 74,986,563
2045 5,792,780 74,808,886
2044 5,777,886 74,623,687
2043 5,761,590 74,424,133
2042 5,743,549 74,224,922
2041 5,724,283 74,020,934
2040 5,705,914 73,812,680
2039 5,687,068 73,600,788
2038 5,667,019 73,378,310
2037 5,647,323 73,155,497
2036 5,627,207 72,921,995
2035 5,606,247 72,671,687
2034 5,585,417 72,418,766
2033 5,562,621 72,145,065
2032 5,539,615 71,869,259
2031 5,514,530 71,581,519
2030 5,488,472 71,267,237
2029 5,460,094 70,948,992
2028 5,429,936 70,609,246
2027 5,397,099 70,248,858
2026 5,361,990 69,883,746
2025 5,324,700 69,487,000
2024 5,290,000 69,281,000
2023 5,200,000 68,526,000
2022 5,081,700 67,636,000
2021 5,084,600 66,978,000
2020 5,072,400 66,740,000
2019 4,970,300 66,628,000
2018 4,900,600 66,287,000
2017 4,813,600 65,964,000
2016 4,714,100 65,606,000
2015 4,609,400 65,087,000
2014 4,516,500 64,619,000
2013 4,442,100 64,138,000
2012 4,408,100 63,711,000
2011 4,384,000 63,258,810
2010 4,350,700 62,766,365
2009 4,302,600 62,276,270
2008 4,259,800 61,806,995
2007 4,223,800 61,322,463
2006 4,184,600 60,846,820
2005 4,133,900 60,401,206
2004 4,087,500 59,987,905
2003 4,027,200 59,647,577
2002 3,948,500 59,370,479
2001 3,880,500 59,119,673
2000 3,857,700 58,892,514
1999 3,835,100 58,682,466
1998 3,815,000 58,487,141
1997 3,781,300 58,316,954
1996 3,732,000 58,166,950
1995 3,673,400 58,019,030
1994 3,620,000 57,865,745
1993 3,572,200 57,718,614
1992 3,531,700 57,580,402
1991 3,495,100 57,424,897
1990 3,329,800 57,247,586
1989 3,299,200 57,076,711
1988 3,283,400 56,928,327
1987 3,274,400 56,802,050
1986 3,246,300 56,681,396
1985 3,247,100 56,550,268
1984 3,227,100 56,422,072
1983 3,199,300 56,332,848
1982 3,156,100 56,313,641
1981 3,124,900 56,333,829
1980 3,112,900 56,314,216
1979 3,109,000 56,246,951
1978 3,121,200 56,196,504
1977 3,120,200 56,193,492
1976 3,110,500 56,211,968
1975 3,083,100 56,225,800
1974 3,023,700 56,229,974
1973 2,961,300 56,194,527
1972 2,903,900 56,086,065
1971 2,853,000 55,896,223
1970 2,810,700 55,663,250
1969 2,772,800 55,441,750
1968 2,748,100 55,211,700
1967 2,724,100 54,943,600
1966 2,675,900 54,648,500
1965 2,628,400 54,348,050
1964 2,585,400 54,000,000
1963 2,531,800 53,650,000
1962 2,482,000 53,250,000
1961 2,419,700 52,800,000
1960 2,371,800 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 76.2M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand United Kingdom
2100 -0.07% -0.17%
2099 -0.07% -0.16%
2098 -0.05% -0.15%
2097 -0.04% -0.15%
2096 -0.03% -0.15%
2095 -0.02% -0.13%
2094 -0.04% -0.13%
2093 -0.005% -0.12%
2092 -0.03% -0.12%
2091 -0.02% -0.11%
2090 -0.05% -0.11%
2089 -0.01% -0.09%
2088 -0.05% -0.09%
2087 -0.05% -0.09%
2086 -0.06% -0.08%
2085 -0.06% -0.07%
2084 -0.08% -0.07%
2083 -0.06% -0.05%
2082 -0.03% -0.04%
2081 -0.04% -0.04%
2080 -0.02% -0.04%
2079 -0.01% -0.02%
2078 0.02% -0.02%
2077 0.007% -0.003%
2076 0.007% -0.02%
2075 0.02% -0.01%
2074 0.02% -0.01%
2073 0.07% 0.01%
2072 0.001% 0.01%
2071 0.01% 0.01%
2070 0.02% 0.009%
2069 0.03% 0.001%
2068 0.04% 0.01%
2067 0.07% 0.009%
2066 0.07% 0.001%
2065 0.06% 0.004%
2064 0.03% -0%
2063 0.07% 0.009%
2062 0.02% 0.003%
2061 0.06% -0.001%
2060 0.08% -0.001%
2059 0.09% 0.02%
2058 0.1% 0.03%
2057 0.11% 0.04%
2056 0.15% 0.05%
2055 0.16% 0.09%
2054 0.17% 0.1%
2053 0.15% 0.12%
2052 0.2% 0.14%
2051 0.19% 0.16%
2050 0.15% 0.17%
2049 0.19% 0.19%
2048 0.19% 0.21%
2047 0.21% 0.22%
2046 0.24% 0.24%
2045 0.26% 0.25%
2044 0.28% 0.27%
2043 0.31% 0.27%
2042 0.34% 0.28%
2041 0.32% 0.28%
2040 0.33% 0.29%
2039 0.35% 0.3%
2038 0.35% 0.3%
2037 0.36% 0.32%
2036 0.37% 0.34%
2035 0.37% 0.35%
2034 0.41% 0.38%
2033 0.42% 0.38%
2032 0.45% 0.4%
2031 0.47% 0.44%
2030 0.52% 0.45%
2029 0.56% 0.48%
2028 0.61% 0.51%
2027 0.65% 0.52%
2026 0.7% 0.57%
2025 0.66% 0.3%
2024 1.73% 1.1%
2023 2.33% 1.32%
2022 -0.06% 0.98%
2021 0.24% 0.36%
2020 2.05% 0.17%
2019 1.42% 0.51%
2018 1.81% 0.49%
2017 2.11% 0.55%
2016 2.27% 0.8%
2015 2.06% 0.72%
2014 1.67% 0.75%
2013 0.77% 0.67%
2012 0.55% 0.71%
2011 0.77% 0.78%
2010 1.12% 0.79%
2009 1% 0.76%
2008 0.85% 0.79%
2007 0.94% 0.78%
2006 1.23% 0.74%
2005 1.14% 0.69%
2004 1.5% 0.57%
2003 1.99% 0.47%
2002 1.75% 0.42%
2001 0.59% 0.39%
2000 0.59% 0.36%
1999 0.53% 0.33%
1998 0.89% 0.29%
1997 1.32% 0.26%
1996 1.6% 0.25%
1995 1.48% 0.26%
1994 1.34% 0.25%
1993 1.15% 0.24%
1992 1.05% 0.27%
1991 4.96% 0.31%
1990 0.93% 0.3%
1989 0.48% 0.26%
1988 0.27% 0.22%
1987 0.87% 0.21%
1986 -0.02% 0.23%
1985 0.62% 0.23%
1984 0.87% 0.16%
1983 1.37% 0.03%
1982 1% -0.04%
1981 0.39% 0.03%
1980 0.13% 0.12%
1979 -0.39% 0.09%
1978 0.03% 0.005%
1977 0.31% -0.03%
1976 0.89% -0.02%
1975 1.96% -0.007%
1974 2.11% 0.06%
1973 1.98% 0.19%
1972 1.78% 0.34%
1971 1.5% 0.42%
1970 1.37% 0.4%
1969 0.9% 0.42%
1968 0.88% 0.49%
1967 1.8% 0.54%
1966 1.81% 0.55%
1965 1.66% 0.64%
1964 2.12% 0.65%
1963 2.01% 0.75%
1962 2.57% 0.85%
1961 2.02% 0.76%

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of New Zealand grew by 0.66%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

New Zealand United Kingdom
Current population
5380024
70071289
Population rank 124/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.84%
One net population change
15.2 minutes
2.56 minutes
One birth every
9.01 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
13.9 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +95 +564
Annual growth/decline +34,700 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.66% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 118/197 145/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 +389,911
Net migration rank 35/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 389,911
2024 20,631 18,766 13,233 417,114
2023 19,031 21,404 34,606 445,523
2022 20,276 21,404 39,770 487,029
2021 23,745 -14,944 30,609 462,967
2020 25,007 42,124 -4,272 144,221
2019 25,349 69,770 108,338 232,727
2018 24,797 59,139 119,317 259,744
2017 26,282 68,349 145,121 272,311
2016 28,237 75,512 177,136 324,649
2015 29,408 70,870 175,735 347,839
2014 26,196 57,974 206,781 306,091
2013 29,096 26,385 198,827 237,272
2012 31,077 -1,015 248,473 172,088
2011 31,302 -2,196 259,361 228,773
2010 35,458 6,722 251,066 274,811
2009 33,560 12,700 230,422 249,639
2008 35,143 4,804 216,325 263,390
2007 35,480 3,053 196,232 309,385
2006 30,924 14,542 176,455 288,923
2005 30,674 19,212 144,963 308,279
2004 29,634 24,521 131,974 276,077
2003 28,150 42,456 89,471 211,846
2002 25,941 48,195 65,308 203,577
2001 27,939 17,793 65,032 175,133
2000 29,897 -6,604 70,671 153,917
1999 28,916 -7,634 64,551 152,653
1998 29,146 -1,387 87,730 125,541
1997 30,137 12,040 99,138 59,723
1996 28,997 25,169 98,884 54,964
1995 29,828 26,743 87,028 61,385
1994 30,372 20,420 127,304 45,339
1993 31,685 12,638 103,893 27,403
1992 32,067 6,460 149,709 17,846
1991 33,518 31,156 143,562 27,601
1990 33,298 70,432 154,569 57,132
1989 30,749 -8,818 119,861 49,586
1988 29,846 -17,005 136,628 13,952
1987 27,603 -7,631 136,325 8,266
1986 25,549 -10,234 90,690 41,836
1985 24,126 -13,462 79,170 83,164
1984 26,043 -901 84,633 71,107
1983 24,315 11,464 61,966 27,063
1982 24,207 7,982 56,314 -61,152
1981 25,374 -7,606 73,234 -83,876
1980 23,658 -15,423 95,734 -25,187
1979 26,675 -26,694 61,872 11,255
1978 26,156 -28,783 16,859 3,783
1977 28,020 -22,697 0 -21,636
1976 29,456 -9,138 -5,621 -19,135
1975 31,355 13,196 33,735 -40,241
1974 33,896 27,580 67,476 -65,710
1973 35,239 28,261 112,389 -33,840
1972 38,244 17,779 162,650 -1,406
1971 40,000 7,547 257,123 1,175
1970 37,101 4,511 244,918 -15,254
1969 38,098 -5,212 260,577 -60,655
1968 37,594 -11,853 292,622 -38,852
1967 37,974 -2,289 346,145 -39,659
1966 36,151 9,161 333,356 -27,935
1965 36,982 9,245 364,132 -24,955
1964 39,375 9,806 405,000 -23,885
1963 42,027 10,226 337,995 8,271
1962 42,865 12,697 340,800 76,443
1961 43,482 10,689 311,519 52,295
1960 41,791 3,846 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | 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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