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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 4.22 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

New Zealand vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Zambia
2100 5,918,837 65,217,429
2099 5,923,132 64,871,545
2098 5,927,206 64,515,891
2097 5,930,263 64,148,736
2096 5,932,907 63,777,313
2095 5,934,847 63,393,169
2094 5,936,183 62,992,652
2093 5,938,804 62,590,327
2092 5,939,085 62,175,930
2091 5,940,665 61,750,591
2090 5,941,752 61,321,399
2089 5,944,871 60,880,148
2088 5,945,635 60,434,676
2087 5,948,586 59,970,107
2086 5,951,745 59,499,234
2085 5,955,275 59,023,040
2084 5,959,115 58,535,857
2083 5,963,613 58,040,512
2082 5,966,943 57,538,672
2081 5,968,511 57,027,491
2080 5,971,082 56,506,421
2079 5,972,331 55,983,242
2078 5,972,928 55,449,777
2077 5,971,804 54,906,771
2076 5,971,386 54,361,075
2075 5,970,985 53,806,856
2074 5,969,834 53,246,777
2073 5,968,506 52,677,348
2072 5,964,548 52,101,139
2071 5,964,493 51,519,691
2070 5,963,811 50,931,614
2069 5,962,551 50,334,700
2068 5,960,918 49,737,479
2067 5,958,438 49,135,488
2066 5,954,539 48,530,443
2065 5,950,378 47,918,592
2064 5,946,851 47,299,740
2063 5,944,910 46,677,439
2062 5,940,838 46,048,819
2061 5,939,601 45,416,657
2060 5,936,094 44,777,347
2059 5,931,426 44,137,306
2058 5,925,816 43,494,451
2057 5,919,823 42,851,923
2056 5,913,287 42,206,898
2055 5,904,352 41,558,284
2054 5,894,795 40,906,492
2053 5,884,875 40,255,629
2052 5,876,162 39,603,888
2051 5,864,176 38,949,958
2050 5,852,896 38,294,607
2049 5,844,165 37,634,194
2048 5,833,178 36,971,309
2047 5,822,035 36,309,749
2046 5,809,860 35,645,868
2045 5,795,785 34,981,812
2044 5,780,884 34,316,981
2043 5,764,579 33,652,420
2042 5,746,528 32,990,657
2041 5,727,253 32,329,447
2040 5,708,874 31,664,262
2039 5,690,018 31,001,305
2038 5,669,959 30,335,662
2037 5,650,253 29,668,561
2036 5,630,126 29,000,264
2035 5,609,155 28,333,498
2034 5,588,315 27,671,195
2033 5,565,507 27,011,974
2032 5,542,488 26,356,580
2031 5,517,391 25,702,812
2030 5,491,320 25,055,216
2029 5,462,926 24,414,405
2028 5,432,752 23,780,809
2027 5,399,898 23,151,479
2026 5,364,771 22,529,742
2025 5,327,462 21,918,187
2024 5,287,500 21,314,956
2023 5,200,000 20,723,965
2022 5,081,700 20,152,938
2021 5,084,600 19,603,607
2020 5,072,400 19,059,395
2019 4,970,300 18,513,839
2018 4,900,600 17,973,569
2017 4,813,600 17,441,320
2016 4,714,100 16,914,423
2015 4,609,400 16,399,089
2014 4,516,500 15,895,315
2013 4,442,100 15,398,997
2012 4,408,100 14,913,629
2011 4,384,000 14,437,796
2010 4,350,700 13,965,594
2009 4,302,600 13,490,389
2008 4,259,800 13,021,324
2007 4,223,800 12,565,085
2006 4,184,600 12,129,553
2005 4,133,900 11,718,819
2004 4,087,500 11,338,198
2003 4,027,200 10,983,595
2002 3,948,500 10,647,949
2001 3,880,500 10,325,185
2000 3,857,700 10,017,631
1999 3,835,100 9,740,005
1998 3,815,000 9,482,408
1997 3,781,300 9,237,063
1996 3,732,000 9,004,053
1995 3,673,400 8,785,763
1994 3,620,000 8,576,269
1993 3,572,200 8,373,921
1992 3,531,700 8,176,680
1991 3,495,100 7,981,650
1990 3,329,800 7,786,169
1989 3,299,200 7,589,216
1988 3,283,400 7,391,440
1987 3,274,400 7,191,282
1986 3,246,300 6,986,471
1985 3,247,100 6,780,953
1984 3,227,100 6,580,490
1983 3,199,300 6,381,038
1982 3,156,100 6,178,637
1981 3,124,900 5,983,289
1980 3,112,900 5,802,833
1979 3,109,000 5,631,728
1978 3,121,200 5,465,374
1977 3,120,200 5,302,480
1976 3,110,500 5,143,842
1975 3,083,100 4,990,086
1974 3,023,700 4,842,746
1973 2,961,300 4,702,693
1972 2,903,900 4,569,309
1971 2,853,000 4,442,525
1970 2,810,700 4,321,718
1969 2,772,800 4,197,116
1968 2,748,100 4,065,593
1967 2,724,100 3,936,343
1966 2,675,900 3,812,003
1965 2,628,400 3,692,086
1964 2,585,400 3,577,017
1963 2,531,800 3,465,907
1962 2,482,000 3,358,099
1961 2,419,700 3,254,086
1960 2,371,800 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Zambia
2100 -0.07% 0.53%
2099 -0.07% 0.55%
2098 -0.05% 0.57%
2097 -0.04% 0.58%
2096 -0.03% 0.61%
2095 -0.02% 0.64%
2094 -0.04% 0.64%
2093 -0.005% 0.67%
2092 -0.03% 0.69%
2091 -0.02% 0.7%
2090 -0.05% 0.72%
2089 -0.01% 0.74%
2088 -0.05% 0.77%
2087 -0.05% 0.79%
2086 -0.06% 0.81%
2085 -0.06% 0.83%
2084 -0.08% 0.85%
2083 -0.06% 0.87%
2082 -0.03% 0.9%
2081 -0.04% 0.92%
2080 -0.02% 0.93%
2079 -0.01% 0.96%
2078 0.02% 0.99%
2077 0.007% 1%
2076 0.007% 1.03%
2075 0.02% 1.05%
2074 0.02% 1.08%
2073 0.07% 1.11%
2072 0.001% 1.13%
2071 0.01% 1.15%
2070 0.02% 1.19%
2069 0.03% 1.2%
2068 0.04% 1.23%
2067 0.07% 1.25%
2066 0.07% 1.28%
2065 0.06% 1.31%
2064 0.03% 1.33%
2063 0.07% 1.37%
2062 0.02% 1.39%
2061 0.06% 1.43%
2060 0.08% 1.45%
2059 0.09% 1.48%
2058 0.1% 1.5%
2057 0.11% 1.53%
2056 0.15% 1.56%
2055 0.16% 1.59%
2054 0.17% 1.62%
2053 0.15% 1.65%
2052 0.2% 1.68%
2051 0.19% 1.71%
2050 0.15% 1.75%
2049 0.19% 1.79%
2048 0.19% 1.82%
2047 0.21% 1.86%
2046 0.24% 1.9%
2045 0.26% 1.94%
2044 0.28% 1.97%
2043 0.31% 2.01%
2042 0.34% 2.05%
2041 0.32% 2.1%
2040 0.33% 2.14%
2039 0.35% 2.19%
2038 0.35% 2.25%
2037 0.36% 2.3%
2036 0.37% 2.35%
2035 0.37% 2.39%
2034 0.41% 2.44%
2033 0.42% 2.49%
2032 0.45% 2.54%
2031 0.47% 2.58%
2030 0.52% 2.62%
2029 0.56% 2.66%
2028 0.61% 2.72%
2027 0.65% 2.76%
2026 0.7% 2.79%
2025 0.76% 2.83%
2024 1.68% 2.85%
2023 2.33% 2.83%
2022 -0.06% 2.8%
2021 0.24% 2.86%
2020 2.05% 2.95%
2019 1.42% 3.01%
2018 1.81% 3.05%
2017 2.11% 3.12%
2016 2.27% 3.14%
2015 2.06% 3.17%
2014 1.67% 3.22%
2013 0.77% 3.25%
2012 0.55% 3.3%
2011 0.77% 3.38%
2010 1.12% 3.52%
2009 1% 3.6%
2008 0.85% 3.63%
2007 0.94% 3.59%
2006 1.23% 3.5%
2005 1.14% 3.36%
2004 1.5% 3.23%
2003 1.99% 3.15%
2002 1.75% 3.13%
2001 0.59% 3.07%
2000 0.59% 2.85%
1999 0.53% 2.72%
1998 0.89% 2.66%
1997 1.32% 2.59%
1996 1.6% 2.48%
1995 1.48% 2.44%
1994 1.34% 2.42%
1993 1.15% 2.41%
1992 1.05% 2.44%
1991 4.96% 2.51%
1990 0.93% 2.6%
1989 0.48% 2.68%
1988 0.27% 2.78%
1987 0.87% 2.93%
1986 -0.02% 3.03%
1985 0.62% 3.05%
1984 0.87% 3.13%
1983 1.37% 3.28%
1982 1% 3.26%
1981 0.39% 3.11%
1980 0.13% 3.04%
1979 -0.39% 3.04%
1978 0.03% 3.07%
1977 0.31% 3.08%
1976 0.89% 3.08%
1975 1.96% 3.04%
1974 2.11% 2.98%
1973 1.98% 2.92%
1972 1.78% 2.85%
1971 1.5% 2.8%
1970 1.37% 2.97%
1969 0.9% 3.24%
1968 0.88% 3.28%
1967 1.8% 3.26%
1966 1.81% 3.25%
1965 1.66% 3.22%
1964 2.12% 3.21%
1963 2.01% 3.21%
1962 2.57% 3.2%
1961 2.02% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Zambia
Current population
5374272
22697916
Population rank 124/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.27%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
9.31 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
14 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 21/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +17,403 +6,562
Net migration rank 35/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - 6,562
2024 - 18,766 - 7,381
2023 18,876 21,404 577,660 9,521
2022 20,123 21,404 563,456 -8,566
2021 23,644 -14,944 535,629 8,143
2020 24,905 42,124 536,484 8,156
2019 25,299 69,770 528,089 18,385
2018 24,797 59,139 515,644 18,431
2017 26,282 68,349 504,630 25,789
2016 28,237 75,512 497,521 25,860
2015 29,408 70,870 491,021 16,261
2014 26,196 57,974 483,663 16,574
2013 29,096 26,385 476,846 15,542
2012 31,077 -1,015 469,406 8,958
2011 31,302 -2,196 459,743 13,569
2010 35,458 6,722 448,337 22,761
2009 33,560 12,700 434,458 44,867
2008 35,143 4,804 419,560 39,249
2007 35,480 3,053 403,729 49,945
2006 30,924 14,542 387,891 29,517
2005 30,674 19,212 368,756 35,316
2004 29,634 24,521 349,352 7,819
2003 28,150 42,456 331,189 20,845
2002 25,941 48,195 316,041 3,206
2001 27,939 17,793 302,682 23,582
2000 29,897 -6,604 293,186 -4,338
1999 28,916 -7,634 283,297 -16,888
1998 29,146 -1,387 275,568 -26,796
1997 30,137 12,040 268,198 -26,276
1996 28,997 25,169 262,468 -38,358
1995 29,828 26,743 257,897 -45,423
1994 30,372 20,420 252,023 -45,504
1993 31,685 12,638 245,917 -47,739
1992 32,067 6,460 239,953 -43,656
1991 33,518 31,156 237,957 -44,203
1990 33,298 70,432 235,835 -38,619
1989 30,749 -8,818 233,429 -36,736
1988 29,846 -17,005 230,118 -31,270
1987 27,603 -7,631 227,813 -26,338
1986 25,549 -10,234 224,768 -16,610
1985 24,126 -13,462 221,351 -18,474
1984 26,043 -901 216,695 -18,652
1983 24,315 11,464 212,712 -11,849
1982 24,207 7,982 207,621 -3,676
1981 25,374 -7,606 202,822 -16,072
1980 23,658 -15,423 198,817 -24,664
1979 26,675 -26,694 197,578 -29,515
1978 26,156 -28,783 194,933 -30,284
1977 28,020 -22,697 191,557 -30,423
1976 29,456 -9,138 186,762 -30,612
1975 31,355 13,196 182,258 -30,886
1974 33,896 27,580 174,484 -31,178
1973 35,239 28,261 168,258 -31,472
1972 38,244 17,779 161,648 -31,672
1971 40,000 7,547 155,249 -31,651
1970 37,101 4,511 149,380 -31,370
1969 38,098 -5,212 142,660 -11,469
1968 37,594 -11,853 137,315 -5,447
1967 37,974 -2,289 131,938 -5,298
1966 36,151 9,161 127,164 -5,129
1965 36,982 9,245 122,814 -5,023
1964 39,375 9,806 117,197 -4,851
1963 42,027 10,226 114,555 -4,676
1962 42,865 12,697 110,173 -4,428
1961 43,482 10,689 106,318 -4,043
1960 41,791 3,846 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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