The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.
Population statistics:
- New Zealand's population is 5,742 times bigger than the Vatican's.
- New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
- The countries together account for 0.06% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
- For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
- Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).
New Zealand vs Vatican: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
New Zealand
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | 5,918,837 | 2,521 |
| 2099 | 5,923,132 | 2,506 |
| 2098 | 5,927,206 | 2,497 |
| 2097 | 5,930,263 | 2,482 |
| 2096 | 5,932,907 | 2,469 |
| 2095 | 5,934,847 | 2,452 |
| 2094 | 5,936,183 | 2,435 |
| 2093 | 5,938,804 | 2,421 |
| 2092 | 5,939,085 | 2,400 |
| 2091 | 5,940,665 | 2,384 |
| 2090 | 5,941,752 | 2,359 |
| 2089 | 5,944,871 | 2,337 |
| 2088 | 5,945,635 | 2,319 |
| 2087 | 5,948,586 | 2,291 |
| 2086 | 5,951,745 | 2,269 |
| 2085 | 5,955,275 | 2,248 |
| 2084 | 5,959,115 | 2,217 |
| 2083 | 5,963,613 | 2,183 |
| 2082 | 5,966,943 | 2,159 |
| 2081 | 5,968,511 | 2,129 |
| 2080 | 5,971,082 | 2,105 |
| 2079 | 5,972,331 | 2,089 |
| 2078 | 5,972,928 | 2,068 |
| 2077 | 5,971,804 | 2,050 |
| 2076 | 5,971,386 | 2,025 |
| 2075 | 5,970,985 | 2,001 |
| 2074 | 5,969,834 | 1,970 |
| 2073 | 5,968,506 | 1,944 |
| 2072 | 5,964,548 | 1,912 |
| 2071 | 5,964,493 | 1,866 |
| 2070 | 5,963,811 | 1,829 |
| 2069 | 5,962,551 | 1,795 |
| 2068 | 5,960,918 | 1,777 |
| 2067 | 5,958,438 | 1,755 |
| 2066 | 5,954,539 | 1,729 |
| 2065 | 5,950,378 | 1,701 |
| 2064 | 5,946,851 | 1,679 |
| 2063 | 5,944,910 | 1,651 |
| 2062 | 5,940,838 | 1,623 |
| 2061 | 5,939,601 | 1,595 |
| 2060 | 5,936,094 | 1,556 |
| 2059 | 5,931,426 | 1,530 |
| 2058 | 5,925,816 | 1,512 |
| 2057 | 5,919,823 | 1,493 |
| 2056 | 5,913,287 | 1,469 |
| 2055 | 5,904,352 | 1,441 |
| 2054 | 5,894,795 | 1,419 |
| 2053 | 5,884,875 | 1,382 |
| 2052 | 5,876,162 | 1,358 |
| 2051 | 5,864,176 | 1,335 |
| 2050 | 5,852,896 | 1,311 |
| 2049 | 5,844,165 | 1,283 |
| 2048 | 5,833,178 | 1,256 |
| 2047 | 5,822,035 | 1,237 |
| 2046 | 5,809,860 | 1,215 |
| 2045 | 5,795,785 | 1,192 |
| 2044 | 5,780,884 | 1,174 |
| 2043 | 5,764,579 | 1,152 |
| 2042 | 5,746,528 | 1,135 |
| 2041 | 5,727,253 | 1,105 |
| 2040 | 5,708,874 | 1,070 |
| 2039 | 5,690,018 | 1,033 |
| 2038 | 5,669,959 | 1,001 |
| 2037 | 5,650,253 | 996 |
| 2036 | 5,630,126 | 1,001 |
| 2035 | 5,609,155 | 988 |
| 2034 | 5,588,315 | 988 |
| 2033 | 5,565,507 | 974 |
| 2032 | 5,542,488 | 964 |
| 2031 | 5,517,391 | 977 |
| 2030 | 5,491,320 | 979 |
| 2029 | 5,462,926 | 985 |
| 2028 | 5,432,752 | 983 |
| 2027 | 5,399,898 | 946 |
| 2026 | 5,364,771 | 933 |
| 2025 | 5,327,462 | 927 |
| 2024 | 5,287,500 | 910 |
| 2023 | 5,200,000 | 927 |
| 2022 | 5,081,700 | 951 |
| 2021 | 5,084,600 | 972 |
| 2020 | 5,072,400 | 987 |
| 2019 | 4,970,300 | 1,000 |
| 2018 | 4,900,600 | - |
| 2017 | 4,813,600 | 1,000 |
| 2016 | 4,714,100 | - |
| 2015 | 4,609,400 | 1,000 |
| 2014 | 4,516,500 | 842 |
| 2013 | 4,442,100 | 839 |
| 2012 | 4,408,100 | 836 |
| 2011 | 4,384,000 | 832 |
| 2010 | 4,350,700 | 829 |
| 2009 | 4,302,600 | 826 |
| 2008 | 4,259,800 | 824 |
| 2007 | 4,223,800 | 821 |
| 2006 | 4,184,600 | 932 |
| 2005 | 4,133,900 | 921 |
| 2004 | 4,087,500 | 921 |
| 2003 | 4,027,200 | 911 |
| 2002 | 3,948,500 | 900 |
| 2001 | 3,880,500 | 890 |
| 2000 | 3,857,700 | 880 |
| 1999 | 3,835,100 | - |
| 1998 | 3,815,000 | - |
| 1997 | 3,781,300 | - |
| 1996 | 3,732,000 | - |
| 1995 | 3,673,400 | - |
| 1994 | 3,620,000 | - |
| 1993 | 3,572,200 | - |
| 1992 | 3,531,700 | - |
| 1991 | 3,495,100 | - |
| 1990 | 3,329,800 | - |
| 1989 | 3,299,200 | - |
| 1988 | 3,283,400 | - |
| 1987 | 3,274,400 | - |
| 1986 | 3,246,300 | - |
| 1985 | 3,247,100 | - |
| 1984 | 3,227,100 | - |
| 1983 | 3,199,300 | - |
| 1982 | 3,156,100 | - |
| 1981 | 3,124,900 | - |
| 1980 | 3,112,900 | - |
| 1979 | 3,109,000 | - |
| 1978 | 3,121,200 | - |
| 1977 | 3,120,200 | - |
| 1976 | 3,110,500 | - |
| 1975 | 3,083,100 | - |
| 1974 | 3,023,700 | - |
| 1973 | 2,961,300 | - |
| 1972 | 2,903,900 | - |
| 1971 | 2,853,000 | - |
| 1970 | 2,810,700 | - |
| 1969 | 2,772,800 | - |
| 1968 | 2,748,100 | - |
| 1967 | 2,724,100 | - |
| 1966 | 2,675,900 | - |
| 1965 | 2,628,400 | - |
| 1964 | 2,585,400 | - |
| 1963 | 2,531,800 | - |
| 1962 | 2,482,000 | - |
| 1961 | 2,419,700 | - |
| 1960 | 2,371,800 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/vatican | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).
New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.
New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
New Zealand
|
Vatican
|
|
| 2100 | -0.07% | 0.59% |
| 2099 | -0.07% | 0.37% |
| 2098 | -0.05% | 0.6% |
| 2097 | -0.04% | 0.53% |
| 2096 | -0.03% | 0.68% |
| 2095 | -0.02% | 0.69% |
| 2094 | -0.04% | 0.61% |
| 2093 | -0.005% | 0.85% |
| 2092 | -0.03% | 0.7% |
| 2091 | -0.02% | 1.02% |
| 2090 | -0.05% | 0.95% |
| 2089 | -0.01% | 0.8% |
| 2088 | -0.05% | 1.21% |
| 2087 | -0.05% | 0.98% |
| 2086 | -0.06% | 0.91% |
| 2085 | -0.06% | 1.42% |
| 2084 | -0.08% | 1.53% |
| 2083 | -0.06% | 1.12% |
| 2082 | -0.03% | 1.39% |
| 2081 | -0.04% | 1.15% |
| 2080 | -0.02% | 0.8% |
| 2079 | -0.01% | 0.99% |
| 2078 | 0.02% | 0.9% |
| 2077 | 0.007% | 1.19% |
| 2076 | 0.007% | 1.2% |
| 2075 | 0.02% | 1.6% |
| 2074 | 0.02% | 1.34% |
| 2073 | 0.07% | 1.65% |
| 2072 | 0.001% | 2.49% |
| 2071 | 0.01% | 2.03% |
| 2070 | 0.02% | 1.86% |
| 2069 | 0.03% | 1.04% |
| 2068 | 0.04% | 1.27% |
| 2067 | 0.07% | 1.5% |
| 2066 | 0.07% | 1.64% |
| 2065 | 0.06% | 1.33% |
| 2064 | 0.03% | 1.69% |
| 2063 | 0.07% | 1.71% |
| 2062 | 0.02% | 1.74% |
| 2061 | 0.06% | 2.5% |
| 2060 | 0.08% | 1.7% |
| 2059 | 0.09% | 1.23% |
| 2058 | 0.1% | 1.24% |
| 2057 | 0.11% | 1.64% |
| 2056 | 0.15% | 1.93% |
| 2055 | 0.16% | 1.57% |
| 2054 | 0.17% | 2.68% |
| 2053 | 0.15% | 1.78% |
| 2052 | 0.2% | 1.67% |
| 2051 | 0.19% | 1.84% |
| 2050 | 0.15% | 2.17% |
| 2049 | 0.19% | 2.22% |
| 2048 | 0.19% | 1.5% |
| 2047 | 0.21% | 1.83% |
| 2046 | 0.24% | 1.87% |
| 2045 | 0.26% | 1.58% |
| 2044 | 0.28% | 1.93% |
| 2043 | 0.31% | 1.47% |
| 2042 | 0.34% | 2.68% |
| 2041 | 0.32% | 3.29% |
| 2040 | 0.33% | 3.59% |
| 2039 | 0.35% | 3.15% |
| 2038 | 0.35% | 0.56% |
| 2037 | 0.36% | -0.56% |
| 2036 | 0.37% | 1.31% |
| 2035 | 0.37% | 0% |
| 2034 | 0.41% | 1.52% |
| 2033 | 0.42% | 0.96% |
| 2032 | 0.45% | -1.33% |
| 2031 | 0.47% | -0.19% |
| 2030 | 0.52% | -0.56% |
| 2029 | 0.56% | 0.19% |
| 2028 | 0.61% | 3.92% |
| 2027 | 0.65% | 1.39% |
| 2026 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 0.76% | 1.83% |
| 2024 | 1.68% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 2.33% | -2.53% |
| 2022 | -0.06% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.24% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 2.05% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 1.42% | 0% |
| 2018 | 1.81% | 0% |
| 2017 | 2.11% | 0% |
| 2016 | 2.27% | 0% |
| 2015 | 2.06% | 18.8% |
| 2014 | 1.67% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 0.77% | 0.36% |
| 2012 | 0.55% | 0.48% |
| 2011 | 0.77% | 0.36% |
| 2010 | 1.12% | 0.36% |
| 2009 | 1% | 0.24% |
| 2008 | 0.85% | 0.37% |
| 2007 | 0.94% | -11.9% |
| 2006 | 1.23% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 1.14% | 0% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| 2003 | 1.99% | 1.22% |
| 2002 | 1.75% | 1.12% |
| 2001 | 0.59% | 1.14% |
| 2000 | 0.59% | - |
| 1999 | 0.53% | - |
| 1998 | 0.89% | - |
| 1997 | 1.32% | - |
| 1996 | 1.6% | - |
| 1995 | 1.48% | - |
| 1994 | 1.34% | - |
| 1993 | 1.15% | - |
| 1992 | 1.05% | - |
| 1991 | 4.96% | - |
| 1990 | 0.93% | - |
| 1989 | 0.48% | - |
| 1988 | 0.27% | - |
| 1987 | 0.87% | - |
| 1986 | -0.02% | - |
| 1985 | 0.62% | - |
| 1984 | 0.87% | - |
| 1983 | 1.37% | - |
| 1982 | 1% | - |
| 1981 | 0.39% | - |
| 1980 | 0.13% | - |
| 1979 | -0.39% | - |
| 1978 | 0.03% | - |
| 1977 | 0.31% | - |
| 1976 | 0.89% | - |
| 1975 | 1.96% | - |
| 1974 | 2.11% | - |
| 1973 | 1.98% | - |
| 1972 | 1.78% | - |
| 1971 | 1.5% | - |
| 1970 | 1.37% | - |
| 1969 | 0.9% | - |
| 1968 | 0.88% | - |
| 1967 | 1.8% | - |
| 1966 | 1.81% | - |
| 1965 | 1.66% | - |
| 1964 | 2.12% | - |
| 1963 | 2.01% | - |
| 1962 | 2.57% | - |
| 1961 | 2.02% | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/vatican | CC BY
In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.
Live population counters
|
New Zealand
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5374272
|
936
|
| Population rank | 124/197 | 197/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.06% | 0.00001% |
| One net population change |
6.01 minutes
|
1 month
|
| One birth every |
9.31 minutes
|
n/a |
| One death every |
14 minutes
|
n/a |
| Daily growth/decline | +240 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline | +87,500 | +0 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.68% | +0% |
| Population growth rate rank | 65/197 | 163/197 |
| One migration net change every |
30.3 minutes
|
n/a |
| Annual migration change | +17,403 | n/a |
| Net migration rank | 35/196 | |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,467,989 | n/a |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 45/195 | |
| Foreign-born share of population | 28.2% | n/a |
| Foreign-born share rank | 20/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New Zealand
|
Vatican
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 17,403 | - | - |
| 2024 | - | 18,766 | - | - |
| 2023 | 18,876 | 21,404 | - | - |
| 2022 | 20,123 | 21,404 | - | - |
| 2021 | 23,644 | -14,944 | - | - |
| 2020 | 24,905 | 42,124 | - | - |
| 2019 | 25,299 | 69,770 | - | - |
| 2018 | 24,797 | 59,139 | - | - |
| 2017 | 26,282 | 68,349 | - | - |
| 2016 | 28,237 | 75,512 | - | - |
| 2015 | 29,408 | 70,870 | - | - |
| 2014 | 26,196 | 57,974 | - | - |
| 2013 | 29,096 | 26,385 | - | - |
| 2012 | 31,077 | -1,015 | - | - |
| 2011 | 31,302 | -2,196 | - | - |
| 2010 | 35,458 | 6,722 | - | - |
| 2009 | 33,560 | 12,700 | - | - |
| 2008 | 35,143 | 4,804 | - | - |
| 2007 | 35,480 | 3,053 | - | - |
| 2006 | 30,924 | 14,542 | - | - |
| 2005 | 30,674 | 19,212 | - | - |
| 2004 | 29,634 | 24,521 | - | - |
| 2003 | 28,150 | 42,456 | - | - |
| 2002 | 25,941 | 48,195 | - | - |
| 2001 | 27,939 | 17,793 | - | - |
| 2000 | 29,897 | -6,604 | - | - |
| 1999 | 28,916 | -7,634 | - | - |
| 1998 | 29,146 | -1,387 | - | - |
| 1997 | 30,137 | 12,040 | - | - |
| 1996 | 28,997 | 25,169 | - | - |
| 1995 | 29,828 | 26,743 | - | - |
| 1994 | 30,372 | 20,420 | - | - |
| 1993 | 31,685 | 12,638 | - | - |
| 1992 | 32,067 | 6,460 | - | - |
| 1991 | 33,518 | 31,156 | - | - |
| 1990 | 33,298 | 70,432 | - | - |
| 1989 | 30,749 | -8,818 | - | - |
| 1988 | 29,846 | -17,005 | - | - |
| 1987 | 27,603 | -7,631 | - | - |
| 1986 | 25,549 | -10,234 | - | - |
| 1985 | 24,126 | -13,462 | - | - |
| 1984 | 26,043 | -901 | - | - |
| 1983 | 24,315 | 11,464 | - | - |
| 1982 | 24,207 | 7,982 | - | - |
| 1981 | 25,374 | -7,606 | - | - |
| 1980 | 23,658 | -15,423 | - | - |
| 1979 | 26,675 | -26,694 | - | - |
| 1978 | 26,156 | -28,783 | - | - |
| 1977 | 28,020 | -22,697 | - | - |
| 1976 | 29,456 | -9,138 | - | - |
| 1975 | 31,355 | 13,196 | - | - |
| 1974 | 33,896 | 27,580 | - | - |
| 1973 | 35,239 | 28,261 | - | - |
| 1972 | 38,244 | 17,779 | - | - |
| 1971 | 40,000 | 7,547 | - | - |
| 1970 | 37,101 | 4,511 | - | - |
| 1969 | 38,098 | -5,212 | - | - |
| 1968 | 37,594 | -11,853 | - | - |
| 1967 | 37,974 | -2,289 | - | - |
| 1966 | 36,151 | 9,161 | - | - |
| 1965 | 36,982 | 9,245 | - | - |
| 1964 | 39,375 | 9,806 | - | - |
| 1963 | 42,027 | 10,226 | - | - |
| 1962 | 42,865 | 12,697 | - | - |
| 1961 | 43,482 | 10,689 | - | - |
| 1960 | 41,791 | 3,846 | - | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/vatican | CC BY
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 |
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Vatican City | 882 |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between New Zealand and the Vatican
|
New Zealand
|
Vatican
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 82.5 years | 83.4 years |
| Average age | 39.8 years | n/a |
| Median age | 38.6 years | n/a |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.7:50.3 | n/a |
| Fertility rate | 1.56 births per woman | n/a |
| Population density | 52.8 ppl/mi² | 5,493 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/vatican | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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