Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 327,777 people in Vanuatu in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 344,750 in Vanuatu.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 15.6 times bigger than Vanuatu's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Vanuatu is the 174th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.004% for Vanuatu.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +2.33% in Vanuatu.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Vanuatu has grown from 216K to 345K (59.7% growth).

New Zealand vs Vanuatu: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Vanuatu
2100 5,918,837 883,219
2099 5,923,132 878,572
2098 5,927,206 873,798
2097 5,930,263 868,872
2096 5,932,907 863,899
2095 5,934,847 858,713
2094 5,936,183 853,379
2093 5,938,804 847,908
2092 5,939,085 842,392
2091 5,940,665 836,807
2090 5,941,752 831,106
2089 5,944,871 825,333
2088 5,945,635 819,413
2087 5,948,586 813,386
2086 5,951,745 807,304
2085 5,955,275 801,030
2084 5,959,115 794,642
2083 5,963,613 788,195
2082 5,966,943 781,693
2081 5,968,511 775,091
2080 5,971,082 768,410
2079 5,972,331 761,593
2078 5,972,928 754,638
2077 5,971,804 747,679
2076 5,971,386 740,583
2075 5,970,985 733,404
2074 5,969,834 726,144
2073 5,968,506 718,748
2072 5,964,548 711,260
2071 5,964,493 703,705
2070 5,963,811 696,123
2069 5,962,551 688,506
2068 5,960,918 680,826
2067 5,958,438 673,074
2066 5,954,539 665,248
2065 5,950,378 657,389
2064 5,946,851 649,466
2063 5,944,910 641,532
2062 5,940,838 633,599
2061 5,939,601 625,729
2060 5,936,094 617,794
2059 5,931,426 609,801
2058 5,925,816 601,770
2057 5,919,823 593,715
2056 5,913,287 585,658
2055 5,904,352 577,507
2054 5,894,795 569,335
2053 5,884,875 561,113
2052 5,876,162 552,889
2051 5,864,176 544,646
2050 5,852,896 536,304
2049 5,844,165 527,975
2048 5,833,178 519,610
2047 5,822,035 511,256
2046 5,809,860 502,817
2045 5,795,785 494,393
2044 5,780,884 485,933
2043 5,764,579 477,540
2042 5,746,528 469,142
2041 5,727,253 460,812
2040 5,708,874 452,499
2039 5,690,018 444,231
2038 5,669,959 435,987
2037 5,650,253 427,825
2036 5,630,126 419,744
2035 5,609,155 411,746
2034 5,588,315 403,811
2033 5,565,507 395,944
2032 5,542,488 388,203
2031 5,517,391 380,500
2030 5,491,320 372,841
2029 5,462,926 365,246
2028 5,432,752 357,704
2027 5,399,898 350,204
2026 5,364,771 342,728
2025 5,327,462 335,246
2024 5,287,500 327,777
2023 5,200,000 320,409
2022 5,081,700 313,046
2021 5,084,600 305,868
2020 5,072,400 298,858
2019 4,970,300 291,985
2018 4,900,600 285,259
2017 4,813,600 278,507
2016 4,714,100 272,087
2015 4,609,400 266,101
2014 4,516,500 260,240
2013 4,442,100 254,482
2012 4,408,100 248,883
2011 4,384,000 243,474
2010 4,350,700 238,248
2009 4,302,600 232,731
2008 4,259,800 226,896
2007 4,223,800 221,276
2006 4,184,600 215,923
2005 4,133,900 210,760
2004 4,087,500 205,711
2003 4,027,200 200,746
2002 3,948,500 195,863
2001 3,880,500 191,031
2000 3,857,700 186,281
1999 3,835,100 182,048
1998 3,815,000 178,313
1997 3,781,300 174,626
1996 3,732,000 170,911
1995 3,673,400 167,137
1994 3,620,000 163,314
1993 3,572,200 159,463
1992 3,531,700 155,608
1991 3,495,100 151,793
1990 3,329,800 148,063
1989 3,299,200 144,393
1988 3,283,400 140,756
1987 3,274,400 137,187
1986 3,246,300 133,720
1985 3,247,100 130,356
1984 3,227,100 127,109
1983 3,199,300 123,998
1982 3,156,100 121,035
1981 3,124,900 118,249
1980 3,112,900 115,660
1979 3,109,000 113,040
1978 3,121,200 109,963
1977 3,120,200 106,618
1976 3,110,500 103,388
1975 3,083,100 100,269
1974 3,023,700 97,260
1973 2,961,300 94,362
1972 2,903,900 91,562
1971 2,853,000 88,862
1970 2,810,700 86,266
1969 2,772,800 83,755
1968 2,748,100 81,314
1967 2,724,100 78,921
1966 2,675,900 76,590
1965 2,628,400 74,358
1964 2,585,400 72,219
1963 2,531,800 70,159
1962 2,482,000 68,174
1961 2,419,700 66,264
1960 2,371,800 64,431

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/vanuatu | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Vanuatu gained 56,164 people (a 26% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Vanuatu's population increased by 72,663 people (a 26.7% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Vanuatu was ranked 175th in 2006 and ranked 174th 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 Vanuatu will increase by 55.6% to 536,304 people and rank change from 174th to 169th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 883K people in 2100 for Vanuatu.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Vanuatu
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Vanuatu
2100 -0.07% 0.53%
2099 -0.07% 0.55%
2098 -0.05% 0.57%
2097 -0.04% 0.58%
2096 -0.03% 0.6%
2095 -0.02% 0.63%
2094 -0.04% 0.65%
2093 -0.005% 0.65%
2092 -0.03% 0.67%
2091 -0.02% 0.69%
2090 -0.05% 0.7%
2089 -0.01% 0.72%
2088 -0.05% 0.74%
2087 -0.05% 0.75%
2086 -0.06% 0.78%
2085 -0.06% 0.8%
2084 -0.08% 0.82%
2083 -0.06% 0.83%
2082 -0.03% 0.85%
2081 -0.04% 0.87%
2080 -0.02% 0.9%
2079 -0.01% 0.92%
2078 0.02% 0.93%
2077 0.007% 0.96%
2076 0.007% 0.98%
2075 0.02% 1%
2074 0.02% 1.03%
2073 0.07% 1.05%
2072 0.001% 1.07%
2071 0.01% 1.09%
2070 0.02% 1.11%
2069 0.03% 1.13%
2068 0.04% 1.15%
2067 0.07% 1.18%
2066 0.07% 1.2%
2065 0.06% 1.22%
2064 0.03% 1.24%
2063 0.07% 1.25%
2062 0.02% 1.26%
2061 0.06% 1.28%
2060 0.08% 1.31%
2059 0.09% 1.33%
2058 0.1% 1.36%
2057 0.11% 1.38%
2056 0.15% 1.41%
2055 0.16% 1.44%
2054 0.17% 1.47%
2053 0.15% 1.49%
2052 0.2% 1.51%
2051 0.19% 1.56%
2050 0.15% 1.58%
2049 0.19% 1.61%
2048 0.19% 1.63%
2047 0.21% 1.68%
2046 0.24% 1.7%
2045 0.26% 1.74%
2044 0.28% 1.76%
2043 0.31% 1.79%
2042 0.34% 1.81%
2041 0.32% 1.84%
2040 0.33% 1.86%
2039 0.35% 1.89%
2038 0.35% 1.91%
2037 0.36% 1.93%
2036 0.37% 1.94%
2035 0.37% 1.97%
2034 0.41% 1.99%
2033 0.42% 1.99%
2032 0.45% 2.02%
2031 0.47% 2.05%
2030 0.52% 2.08%
2029 0.56% 2.11%
2028 0.61% 2.14%
2027 0.65% 2.18%
2026 0.7% 2.23%
2025 0.76% 2.28%
2024 1.68% 2.3%
2023 2.33% 2.35%
2022 -0.06% 2.35%
2021 0.24% 2.35%
2020 2.05% 2.35%
2019 1.42% 2.36%
2018 1.81% 2.42%
2017 2.11% 2.36%
2016 2.27% 2.25%
2015 2.06% 2.25%
2014 1.67% 2.26%
2013 0.77% 2.25%
2012 0.55% 2.22%
2011 0.77% 2.19%
2010 1.12% 2.37%
2009 1% 2.57%
2008 0.85% 2.54%
2007 0.94% 2.48%
2006 1.23% 2.45%
2005 1.14% 2.45%
2004 1.5% 2.47%
2003 1.99% 2.49%
2002 1.75% 2.53%
2001 0.59% 2.55%
2000 0.59% 2.33%
1999 0.53% 2.09%
1998 0.89% 2.11%
1997 1.32% 2.17%
1996 1.6% 2.26%
1995 1.48% 2.34%
1994 1.34% 2.41%
1993 1.15% 2.48%
1992 1.05% 2.51%
1991 4.96% 2.52%
1990 0.93% 2.54%
1989 0.48% 2.58%
1988 0.27% 2.6%
1987 0.87% 2.59%
1986 -0.02% 2.58%
1985 0.62% 2.55%
1984 0.87% 2.51%
1983 1.37% 2.45%
1982 1% 2.36%
1981 0.39% 2.24%
1980 0.13% 2.32%
1979 -0.39% 2.8%
1978 0.03% 3.14%
1977 0.31% 3.12%
1976 0.89% 3.11%
1975 1.96% 3.09%
1974 2.11% 3.07%
1973 1.98% 3.06%
1972 1.78% 3.04%
1971 1.5% 3.01%
1970 1.37% 3%
1969 0.9% 3%
1968 0.88% 3.03%
1967 1.8% 3.04%
1966 1.81% 3%
1965 1.66% 2.96%
1964 2.12% 2.94%
1963 2.01% 2.91%
1962 2.57% 2.88%
1961 2.02% 2.84%

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/vanuatu | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Vanuatu's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Vanuatu
Current population
5374272
344750
Population rank 124/197 174/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.004%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
1.19 hours
One birth every
9.31 minutes
58.5 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
5.38 hours
Daily growth/decline +240 +20
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +7,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 38/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
1.01 weeks
Annual migration change +17,403 -52
Net migration rank 35/196 80/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 3,315
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 188/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 155/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Vanuatu
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Vanuatu
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -52
2024 - 18,766 - -43
2023 18,876 21,404 7,359 0
2022 20,123 21,404 7,358 0
2021 23,644 -14,944 7,199 -201
2020 24,905 42,124 7,233 -201
2019 25,299 69,770 7,364 -652
2018 24,797 59,139 7,379 -638
2017 26,282 68,349 7,371 -610
2016 28,237 75,512 7,315 -1,235
2015 29,408 70,870 7,220 -1,324
2014 26,196 57,974 7,143 -1,320
2013 29,096 26,385 7,036 -1,343
2012 31,077 -1,015 6,877 -1,369
2011 31,302 -2,196 6,715 -1,395
2010 35,458 6,722 6,548 -1,413
2009 33,560 12,700 6,362 -467
2008 35,143 4,804 6,138 -372
2007 35,480 3,053 5,842 -374
2006 30,924 14,542 5,606 -364
2005 30,674 19,212 5,454 -364
2004 29,634 24,521 5,353 -349
2003 28,150 42,456 5,258 -342
2002 25,941 48,195 5,181 -329
2001 27,939 17,793 5,144 -328
2000 29,897 -6,604 5,026 -339
1999 28,916 -7,634 4,871 -1,090
1998 29,146 -1,387 4,866 -1,178
1997 30,137 12,040 4,854 -1,166
1996 28,997 25,169 4,897 -1,154
1995 29,828 26,743 4,945 -1,140
1994 30,372 20,420 4,973 -1,132
1993 31,685 12,638 4,973 -1,115
1992 32,067 6,460 4,941 -1,095
1991 33,518 31,156 4,859 -1,078
1990 33,298 70,432 4,762 -1,072
1989 30,749 -8,818 4,656 -1,006
1988 29,846 -17,005 4,577 -959
1987 27,603 -7,631 4,427 -907
1986 25,549 -10,234 4,360 -938
1985 24,126 -13,462 4,219 -916
1984 26,043 -901 4,088 -907
1983 24,315 11,464 3,944 -899
1982 24,207 7,982 3,778 -897
1981 25,374 -7,606 3,592 -896
1980 23,658 -15,423 3,383 -896
1979 26,675 -26,694 3,590 -845
1978 26,156 -28,783 3,428 -15
1977 28,020 -22,697 3,285 -3
1976 29,456 -9,138 3,174 3
1975 31,355 13,196 3,074 -15
1974 33,896 27,580 2,968 -17
1973 35,239 28,261 2,876 -22
1972 38,244 17,779 2,775 -28
1971 40,000 7,547 2,685 -40
1970 37,101 4,511 2,597 -46
1969 38,098 -5,212 2,529 -53
1968 37,594 -11,853 2,470 -68
1967 37,974 -2,289 2,384 0
1966 36,151 9,161 2,278 0
1965 36,982 9,245 2,180 0
1964 39,375 9,806 2,098 0
1963 42,027 10,226 2,025 0
1962 42,865 12,697 1,947 0
1961 43,482 10,689 1,872 0
1960 41,791 3,846 1,796 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/vanuatu | 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 Vanuatu 92.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 72,941 people) and 7.81% is from migration (a loss of 6,181 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 3,315 people or 1% in Vanuatu.

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
Vanuatu
City Population
Port Vila 49K
Luganville 17.7K

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/vanuatu | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.