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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 64 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.22% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

New Zealand vs United States: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand United States
2100 5,918,837 415,429,771
2099 5,923,132 414,829,167
2098 5,927,206 414,231,720
2097 5,930,263 413,576,381
2096 5,932,907 412,927,393
2095 5,934,847 412,225,379
2094 5,936,183 411,498,749
2093 5,938,804 410,785,729
2092 5,939,085 410,051,921
2091 5,940,665 409,320,183
2090 5,941,752 408,613,732
2089 5,944,871 407,885,645
2088 5,945,635 407,129,733
2087 5,948,586 406,421,298
2086 5,951,745 405,715,343
2085 5,955,275 405,059,379
2084 5,959,115 404,343,130
2083 5,963,613 403,612,785
2082 5,966,943 402,871,293
2081 5,968,511 402,054,554
2080 5,971,082 401,319,194
2079 5,972,331 400,554,914
2078 5,972,928 399,737,968
2077 5,971,804 398,906,565
2076 5,971,386 398,035,750
2075 5,970,985 397,109,170
2074 5,969,834 396,226,412
2073 5,968,506 395,307,725
2072 5,964,548 394,393,561
2071 5,964,493 393,415,363
2070 5,963,811 392,469,727
2069 5,962,551 391,479,981
2068 5,960,918 390,517,695
2067 5,958,438 389,543,856
2066 5,954,539 388,597,719
2065 5,950,378 387,685,327
2064 5,946,851 386,805,026
2063 5,944,910 385,911,917
2062 5,940,838 385,032,627
2061 5,939,601 384,170,837
2060 5,936,094 383,361,269
2059 5,931,426 382,542,030
2058 5,925,816 381,704,804
2057 5,919,823 380,907,023
2056 5,913,287 380,159,777
2055 5,904,352 379,430,756
2054 5,894,795 378,682,851
2053 5,884,875 377,878,421
2052 5,876,162 377,073,303
2051 5,864,176 376,229,840
2050 5,852,896 375,373,155
2049 5,844,165 374,493,150
2048 5,833,178 373,590,762
2047 5,822,035 372,626,259
2046 5,809,860 371,644,809
2045 5,795,785 370,602,914
2044 5,780,884 369,518,897
2043 5,764,579 368,375,680
2042 5,746,528 367,158,772
2041 5,727,253 365,937,822
2040 5,708,874 364,671,837
2039 5,690,018 363,367,337
2038 5,669,959 361,997,023
2037 5,650,253 360,606,236
2036 5,630,126 359,193,245
2035 5,609,155 357,750,686
2034 5,588,315 356,266,726
2033 5,565,507 354,775,032
2032 5,542,488 353,259,037
2031 5,517,391 351,721,511
2030 5,491,320 350,155,042
2029 5,462,926 348,564,667
2028 5,432,752 346,906,294
2027 5,399,898 345,257,605
2026 5,364,771 343,565,426
2025 5,327,462 341,784,857
2024 5,287,500 340,110,988
2023 5,200,000 334,914,895
2022 5,081,700 333,271,411
2021 5,084,600 331,893,745
2020 5,072,400 331,526,933
2019 4,970,300 328,329,953
2018 4,900,600 326,838,199
2017 4,813,600 325,122,128
2016 4,714,100 323,071,755
2015 4,609,400 320,738,994
2014 4,516,500 318,386,329
2013 4,442,100 316,059,947
2012 4,408,100 313,877,662
2011 4,384,000 311,583,481
2010 4,350,700 309,327,143
2009 4,302,600 306,771,529
2008 4,259,800 304,093,966
2007 4,223,800 301,231,207
2006 4,184,600 298,379,912
2005 4,133,900 295,516,599
2004 4,087,500 292,805,298
2003 4,027,200 290,107,933
2002 3,948,500 287,625,193
2001 3,880,500 284,968,955
2000 3,857,700 282,162,411
1999 3,835,100 279,294,713
1998 3,815,000 276,115,288
1997 3,781,300 272,911,760
1996 3,732,000 269,667,391
1995 3,673,400 266,557,091
1994 3,620,000 263,435,673
1993 3,572,200 260,255,352
1992 3,531,700 256,894,189
1991 3,495,100 253,492,503
1990 3,329,800 250,131,894
1989 3,299,200 246,819,222
1988 3,283,400 244,499,004
1987 3,274,400 242,288,936
1986 3,246,300 240,132,831
1985 3,247,100 237,923,734
1984 3,227,100 235,824,908
1983 3,199,300 233,792,014
1982 3,156,100 231,664,432
1981 3,124,900 229,465,744
1980 3,112,900 226,542,250
1979 3,109,000 225,055,487
1978 3,121,200 222,584,545
1977 3,120,200 220,239,425
1976 3,110,500 218,035,164
1975 3,083,100 215,973,199
1974 3,023,700 213,853,928
1973 2,961,300 211,908,788
1972 2,903,900 209,896,021
1971 2,853,000 207,660,677
1970 2,810,700 205,052,174
1969 2,772,800 202,676,946
1968 2,748,100 200,706,052
1967 2,724,100 198,712,056
1966 2,675,900 196,560,338
1965 2,628,400 194,302,963
1964 2,585,400 191,888,791
1963 2,531,800 189,241,798
1962 2,482,000 186,537,737
1961 2,419,700 183,691,481
1960 2,371,800 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 the United States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand United States
2100 -0.07% 0.14%
2099 -0.07% 0.14%
2098 -0.05% 0.16%
2097 -0.04% 0.16%
2096 -0.03% 0.17%
2095 -0.02% 0.18%
2094 -0.04% 0.17%
2093 -0.005% 0.18%
2092 -0.03% 0.18%
2091 -0.02% 0.17%
2090 -0.05% 0.18%
2089 -0.01% 0.19%
2088 -0.05% 0.17%
2087 -0.05% 0.17%
2086 -0.06% 0.16%
2085 -0.06% 0.18%
2084 -0.08% 0.18%
2083 -0.06% 0.18%
2082 -0.03% 0.2%
2081 -0.04% 0.18%
2080 -0.02% 0.19%
2079 -0.01% 0.2%
2078 0.02% 0.21%
2077 0.007% 0.22%
2076 0.007% 0.23%
2075 0.02% 0.22%
2074 0.02% 0.23%
2073 0.07% 0.23%
2072 0.001% 0.25%
2071 0.01% 0.24%
2070 0.02% 0.25%
2069 0.03% 0.25%
2068 0.04% 0.25%
2067 0.07% 0.24%
2066 0.07% 0.24%
2065 0.06% 0.23%
2064 0.03% 0.23%
2063 0.07% 0.23%
2062 0.02% 0.22%
2061 0.06% 0.21%
2060 0.08% 0.21%
2059 0.09% 0.22%
2058 0.1% 0.21%
2057 0.11% 0.2%
2056 0.15% 0.19%
2055 0.16% 0.2%
2054 0.17% 0.21%
2053 0.15% 0.21%
2052 0.2% 0.22%
2051 0.19% 0.23%
2050 0.15% 0.23%
2049 0.19% 0.24%
2048 0.19% 0.26%
2047 0.21% 0.26%
2046 0.24% 0.28%
2045 0.26% 0.29%
2044 0.28% 0.31%
2043 0.31% 0.33%
2042 0.34% 0.33%
2041 0.32% 0.35%
2040 0.33% 0.36%
2039 0.35% 0.38%
2038 0.35% 0.39%
2037 0.36% 0.39%
2036 0.37% 0.4%
2035 0.37% 0.42%
2034 0.41% 0.42%
2033 0.42% 0.43%
2032 0.45% 0.44%
2031 0.47% 0.45%
2030 0.52% 0.46%
2029 0.56% 0.48%
2028 0.61% 0.48%
2027 0.65% 0.49%
2026 0.7% 0.52%
2025 0.76% 0.49%
2024 1.68% 1.55%
2023 2.33% 0.49%
2022 -0.06% 0.42%
2021 0.24% 0.11%
2020 2.05% 0.97%
2019 1.42% 0.46%
2018 1.81% 0.53%
2017 2.11% 0.63%
2016 2.27% 0.73%
2015 2.06% 0.74%
2014 1.67% 0.74%
2013 0.77% 0.7%
2012 0.55% 0.74%
2011 0.77% 0.73%
2010 1.12% 0.83%
2009 1% 0.88%
2008 0.85% 0.95%
2007 0.94% 0.96%
2006 1.23% 0.97%
2005 1.14% 0.93%
2004 1.5% 0.93%
2003 1.99% 0.86%
2002 1.75% 0.93%
2001 0.59% 0.99%
2000 0.59% 1.03%
1999 0.53% 1.15%
1998 0.89% 1.17%
1997 1.32% 1.2%
1996 1.6% 1.17%
1995 1.48% 1.18%
1994 1.34% 1.22%
1993 1.15% 1.31%
1992 1.05% 1.34%
1991 4.96% 1.34%
1990 0.93% 1.34%
1989 0.48% 0.95%
1988 0.27% 0.91%
1987 0.87% 0.9%
1986 -0.02% 0.93%
1985 0.62% 0.89%
1984 0.87% 0.87%
1983 1.37% 0.92%
1982 1% 0.96%
1981 0.39% 1.29%
1980 0.13% 0.66%
1979 -0.39% 1.11%
1978 0.03% 1.06%
1977 0.31% 1.01%
1976 0.89% 0.95%
1975 1.96% 0.99%
1974 2.11% 0.92%
1973 1.98% 0.96%
1972 1.78% 1.08%
1971 1.5% 1.27%
1970 1.37% 1.17%
1969 0.9% 0.98%
1968 0.88% 1%
1967 1.8% 1.09%
1966 1.81% 1.16%
1965 1.66% 1.26%
1964 2.12% 1.4%
1963 2.01% 1.45%
1962 2.57% 1.55%
1961 2.02% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

New Zealand United States
Current population
5374272
344023146
Population rank 124/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 4.15%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
9.31 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
14 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +240 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 134/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change +17,403 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 35/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 1,230,663
2024 - 18,766 - 1,286,132
2023 18,876 21,404 502,372 1,322,668
2022 20,123 21,404 399,926 1,319,009
2021 23,644 -14,944 199,137 674,787
2020 24,905 42,124 208,862 329,769
2019 25,299 69,770 887,476 1,774,500
2018 24,797 59,139 955,022 1,764,961
2017 26,282 68,349 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 28,237 75,512 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 29,408 70,870 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 26,196 57,974 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 29,096 26,385 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 31,077 -1,015 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 31,302 -2,196 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 35,458 6,722 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 33,560 12,700 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 35,143 4,804 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 35,480 3,053 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 30,924 14,542 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 30,674 19,212 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 29,634 24,521 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 28,150 42,456 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 25,941 48,195 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 27,939 17,793 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 29,897 -6,604 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 28,916 -7,634 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 29,146 -1,387 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 30,137 12,040 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 28,997 25,169 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 29,828 26,743 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 30,372 20,420 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 31,685 12,638 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 32,067 6,460 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 33,518 31,156 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 33,298 70,432 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 30,749 -8,818 1,875,826 400,998
1988 29,846 -17,005 1,735,943 460,778
1987 27,603 -7,631 1,720,252 480,815
1986 25,549 -10,234 1,656,917 493,082
1985 24,126 -13,462 1,689,258 598,777
1984 26,043 -901 1,627,192 622,793
1983 24,315 11,464 1,636,544 662,840
1982 24,207 7,982 1,714,317 600,149
1981 25,374 -7,606 1,652,153 583,070
1980 23,658 -15,423 1,608,450 595,916
1979 26,675 -26,694 1,597,894 503,559
1978 26,156 -28,783 1,402,283 556,521
1977 28,020 -22,697 1,431,556 577,060
1976 29,456 -9,138 1,264,604 635,590
1975 31,355 13,196 1,252,644 655,078
1974 33,896 27,580 1,218,968 706,978
1973 35,239 28,261 1,165,499 783,163
1972 38,244 17,779 1,301,355 833,543
1971 40,000 7,547 1,640,519 833,549
1970 37,101 4,511 1,824,965 744,902
1969 38,098 -5,212 1,702,487 523,740
1968 37,594 -11,853 1,565,507 594,514
1967 37,974 -2,289 1,669,181 585,410
1966 36,151 9,161 1,749,387 637,692
1965 36,982 9,245 1,943,030 644,902
1964 39,375 9,806 2,245,099 618,635
1963 42,027 10,226 2,289,826 639,495
1962 42,865 12,697 2,406,337 625,617
1961 43,482 10,689 2,571,681 580,333
1960 41,791 3,846 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/united-states | 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 the United States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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/united-states | 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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