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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of New Zealand was 5,287,500 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current New Zealand's population is 5,374,272 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 3.23 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • New Zealand is ranked the 124th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.06% for New Zealand vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, New Zealand has had an average growth rate of +1.6% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of New Zealand has increased from 4.18M people to 5.37M (28.4% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

New Zealand vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
New Zealand Zimbabwe
2100 5,918,837 37,483,053
2099 5,923,132 37,412,398
2098 5,927,206 37,328,255
2097 5,930,263 37,235,542
2096 5,932,907 37,142,915
2095 5,934,847 37,032,129
2094 5,936,183 36,912,747
2093 5,938,804 36,810,893
2092 5,939,085 36,688,511
2091 5,940,665 36,567,262
2090 5,941,752 36,425,606
2089 5,944,871 36,280,973
2088 5,945,635 36,141,446
2087 5,948,586 35,977,638
2086 5,951,745 35,808,135
2085 5,955,275 35,637,092
2084 5,959,115 35,456,207
2083 5,963,613 35,268,035
2082 5,966,943 35,078,904
2081 5,968,511 34,873,129
2080 5,971,082 34,658,962
2079 5,972,331 34,439,720
2078 5,972,928 34,217,295
2077 5,971,804 33,982,909
2076 5,971,386 33,739,228
2075 5,970,985 33,495,867
2074 5,969,834 33,244,838
2073 5,968,506 32,978,488
2072 5,964,548 32,706,059
2071 5,964,493 32,445,747
2070 5,963,811 32,181,119
2069 5,962,551 31,906,793
2068 5,960,918 31,631,000
2067 5,958,438 31,345,338
2066 5,954,539 31,062,884
2065 5,950,378 30,766,830
2064 5,946,851 30,479,939
2063 5,944,910 30,176,104
2062 5,940,838 29,867,679
2061 5,939,601 29,557,068
2060 5,936,094 29,252,423
2059 5,931,426 28,945,088
2058 5,925,816 28,631,679
2057 5,919,823 28,307,305
2056 5,913,287 27,990,713
2055 5,904,352 27,658,887
2054 5,894,795 27,331,920
2053 5,884,875 26,986,935
2052 5,876,162 26,643,553
2051 5,864,176 26,287,592
2050 5,852,896 25,934,893
2049 5,844,165 25,585,239
2048 5,833,178 25,228,082
2047 5,822,035 24,874,649
2046 5,809,860 24,513,443
2045 5,795,785 24,147,637
2044 5,780,884 23,783,088
2043 5,764,579 23,401,965
2042 5,746,528 23,035,288
2041 5,727,253 22,647,950
2040 5,708,874 22,273,520
2039 5,690,018 21,902,980
2038 5,669,959 21,530,130
2037 5,650,253 21,159,664
2036 5,630,126 20,791,034
2035 5,609,155 20,413,656
2034 5,588,315 20,048,019
2033 5,565,507 19,676,339
2032 5,542,488 19,311,985
2031 5,517,391 18,959,300
2030 5,491,320 18,613,738
2029 5,462,926 18,270,049
2028 5,432,752 17,933,466
2027 5,399,898 17,600,984
2026 5,364,771 17,273,208
2025 5,327,462 16,949,303
2024 5,287,500 16,634,373
2023 5,200,000 16,340,822
2022 5,081,700 16,069,056
2021 5,084,600 15,797,210
2020 5,072,400 15,526,888
2019 4,970,300 15,271,368
2018 4,900,600 15,034,452
2017 4,813,600 14,812,482
2016 4,714,100 14,600,294
2015 4,609,400 14,399,013
2014 4,516,500 14,207,359
2013 4,442,100 14,013,808
2012 4,408,100 13,817,887
2011 4,384,000 13,595,424
2010 4,350,700 13,356,548
2009 4,302,600 13,142,790
2008 4,259,800 12,959,149
2007 4,223,800 12,804,058
2006 4,184,600 12,636,445
2005 4,133,900 12,483,432
2004 4,087,500 12,365,896
2003 4,027,200 12,232,323
2002 3,948,500 12,087,653
2001 3,880,500 11,971,901
2000 3,857,700 11,892,055
1999 3,835,100 11,783,458
1998 3,815,000 11,594,297
1997 3,781,300 11,369,827
1996 3,732,000 11,158,360
1995 3,673,400 10,974,599
1994 3,620,000 10,873,148
1993 3,572,200 10,860,288
1992 3,531,700 10,702,700
1991 3,495,100 10,404,816
1990 3,329,800 10,137,281
1989 3,299,200 9,864,798
1988 3,283,400 9,583,094
1987 3,274,400 9,284,644
1986 3,246,300 8,982,578
1985 3,247,100 8,686,813
1984 3,227,100 8,391,488
1983 3,199,300 8,098,404
1982 3,156,100 7,796,496
1981 3,124,900 7,498,635
1980 3,112,900 7,041,303
1979 3,109,000 6,647,556
1978 3,121,200 6,543,575
1977 3,120,200 6,449,512
1976 3,110,500 6,287,105
1975 3,083,100 6,098,658
1974 3,023,700 5,908,328
1973 2,961,300 5,720,404
1972 2,903,900 5,542,445
1971 2,853,000 5,374,712
1970 2,810,700 5,215,918
1969 2,772,800 5,058,181
1968 2,748,100 4,900,440
1967 2,724,100 4,748,307
1966 2,675,900 4,601,217
1965 2,628,400 4,458,462
1964 2,585,400 4,320,006
1963 2,531,800 4,185,877
1962 2,482,000 4,055,959
1961 2,419,700 3,930,401
1960 2,371,800 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of New Zealand increased by 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, New Zealand gained 660,172 people (a 14% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

New Zealand was ranked 122nd most populous country in 2006 and is 124th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

New Zealand is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 5.97M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

New Zealand
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
New Zealand Zimbabwe
2100 -0.07% 0.19%
2099 -0.07% 0.23%
2098 -0.05% 0.25%
2097 -0.04% 0.25%
2096 -0.03% 0.3%
2095 -0.02% 0.32%
2094 -0.04% 0.28%
2093 -0.005% 0.33%
2092 -0.03% 0.33%
2091 -0.02% 0.39%
2090 -0.05% 0.4%
2089 -0.01% 0.39%
2088 -0.05% 0.46%
2087 -0.05% 0.47%
2086 -0.06% 0.48%
2085 -0.06% 0.51%
2084 -0.08% 0.53%
2083 -0.06% 0.54%
2082 -0.03% 0.59%
2081 -0.04% 0.62%
2080 -0.02% 0.64%
2079 -0.01% 0.65%
2078 0.02% 0.69%
2077 0.007% 0.72%
2076 0.007% 0.73%
2075 0.02% 0.76%
2074 0.02% 0.81%
2073 0.07% 0.83%
2072 0.001% 0.8%
2071 0.01% 0.82%
2070 0.02% 0.86%
2069 0.03% 0.87%
2068 0.04% 0.91%
2067 0.07% 0.91%
2066 0.07% 0.96%
2065 0.06% 0.94%
2064 0.03% 1.01%
2063 0.07% 1.03%
2062 0.02% 1.05%
2061 0.06% 1.04%
2060 0.08% 1.06%
2059 0.09% 1.09%
2058 0.1% 1.15%
2057 0.11% 1.13%
2056 0.15% 1.2%
2055 0.16% 1.2%
2054 0.17% 1.28%
2053 0.15% 1.29%
2052 0.2% 1.35%
2051 0.19% 1.36%
2050 0.15% 1.37%
2049 0.19% 1.42%
2048 0.19% 1.42%
2047 0.21% 1.47%
2046 0.24% 1.51%
2045 0.26% 1.53%
2044 0.28% 1.63%
2043 0.31% 1.59%
2042 0.34% 1.71%
2041 0.32% 1.68%
2040 0.33% 1.69%
2039 0.35% 1.73%
2038 0.35% 1.75%
2037 0.36% 1.77%
2036 0.37% 1.85%
2035 0.37% 1.82%
2034 0.41% 1.89%
2033 0.42% 1.89%
2032 0.45% 1.86%
2031 0.47% 1.86%
2030 0.52% 1.88%
2029 0.56% 1.88%
2028 0.61% 1.89%
2027 0.65% 1.9%
2026 0.7% 1.91%
2025 0.76% 1.89%
2024 1.68% 1.8%
2023 2.33% 1.69%
2022 -0.06% 1.72%
2021 0.24% 1.74%
2020 2.05% 1.67%
2019 1.42% 1.58%
2018 1.81% 1.5%
2017 2.11% 1.45%
2016 2.27% 1.4%
2015 2.06% 1.35%
2014 1.67% 1.38%
2013 0.77% 1.42%
2012 0.55% 1.64%
2011 0.77% 1.79%
2010 1.12% 1.63%
2009 1% 1.42%
2008 0.85% 1.21%
2007 0.94% 1.33%
2006 1.23% 1.23%
2005 1.14% 0.95%
2004 1.5% 1.09%
2003 1.99% 1.2%
2002 1.75% 0.97%
2001 0.59% 0.67%
2000 0.59% 0.92%
1999 0.53% 1.63%
1998 0.89% 1.97%
1997 1.32% 1.9%
1996 1.6% 1.67%
1995 1.48% 0.93%
1994 1.34% 0.12%
1993 1.15% 1.47%
1992 1.05% 2.86%
1991 4.96% 2.64%
1990 0.93% 2.76%
1989 0.48% 2.94%
1988 0.27% 3.21%
1987 0.87% 3.36%
1986 -0.02% 3.4%
1985 0.62% 3.52%
1984 0.87% 3.62%
1983 1.37% 3.87%
1982 1% 3.97%
1981 0.39% 6.49%
1980 0.13% 5.92%
1979 -0.39% 1.59%
1978 0.03% 1.46%
1977 0.31% 2.58%
1976 0.89% 3.09%
1975 1.96% 3.22%
1974 2.11% 3.29%
1973 1.98% 3.21%
1972 1.78% 3.12%
1971 1.5% 3.04%
1970 1.37% 3.12%
1969 0.9% 3.22%
1968 0.88% 3.2%
1967 1.8% 3.2%
1966 1.81% 3.2%
1965 1.66% 3.2%
1964 2.12% 3.2%
1963 2.01% 3.2%
1962 2.57% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of New Zealand grew by 1.68%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

New Zealand Zimbabwe
Current population
5374272
17361868
Population rank 124/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.21%
One net population change
6.01 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
9.31 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
14 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +240 +804
Annual growth/decline +87,500 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.68% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 65/197 60/197
One migration net change every
30.3 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +17,403 -54,555
Net migration rank 35/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 1,467,989 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 45/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 28.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 20/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

New Zealand
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
New Zealand Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 17,403 - -54,555
2024 - 18,766 - -60,528
2023 18,876 21,404 372,505 -97,380
2022 20,123 21,404 371,243 -102,828
2021 23,644 -14,944 349,908 -74,623
2020 24,905 42,124 354,790 -89,440
2019 25,299 69,770 348,798 -103,107
2018 24,797 59,139 345,883 -117,758
2017 26,282 68,349 344,035 -128,241
2016 28,237 75,512 348,772 -140,181
2015 29,408 70,870 356,203 -162,220
2014 26,196 57,974 366,350 -177,029
2013 29,096 26,385 374,757 -176,972
2012 31,077 -1,015 371,135 -177,061
2011 31,302 -2,196 359,572 -108,714
2010 35,458 6,722 335,570 -108,671
2009 33,560 12,700 309,316 -108,689
2008 35,143 4,804 280,527 -113,858
2007 35,480 3,053 261,805 -118,299
2006 30,924 14,542 248,963 -57,257
2005 30,674 19,212 248,545 -134,212
2004 29,634 24,521 248,307 -127,550
2003 28,150 42,456 243,057 -96,667
2002 25,941 48,195 244,170 -101,212
2001 27,939 17,793 227,909 -139,361
2000 29,897 -6,604 236,343 -165,181
1999 28,916 -7,634 232,393 -86,343
1998 29,146 -1,387 225,614 6,645
1997 30,137 12,040 216,288 395
1996 28,997 25,169 205,269 978
1995 29,828 26,743 206,695 -45,428
1994 30,372 20,420 216,343 -174,723
1993 31,685 12,638 228,045 -243,947
1992 32,067 6,460 255,291 75,788
1991 33,518 31,156 260,943 3,749
1990 33,298 70,432 265,444 4,948
1989 30,749 -8,818 270,838 3,736
1988 29,846 -17,005 277,498 11,327
1987 27,603 -7,631 286,766 21,308
1986 25,549 -10,234 289,894 6,154
1985 24,126 -13,462 290,756 4,718
1984 26,043 -901 290,052 5,124
1983 24,315 11,464 286,545 4,456
1982 24,207 7,982 279,934 32,899
1981 25,374 -7,606 271,361 11,523
1980 23,658 -15,423 241,179 390,593
1979 26,675 -26,694 223,657 -67,937
1978 26,156 -28,783 222,979 -170,727
1977 28,020 -22,697 225,139 -89,270
1976 29,456 -9,138 221,419 -32,495
1975 31,355 13,196 216,947 -28,988
1974 33,896 27,580 208,806 -16,105
1973 35,239 28,261 201,885 -18,733
1972 38,244 17,779 193,725 -20,959
1971 40,000 7,547 185,427 -22,719
1970 37,101 4,511 178,979 -24,102
1969 38,098 -5,212 172,626 -12,028
1968 37,594 -11,853 166,865 -11,997
1967 37,974 -2,289 161,205 -11,814
1966 36,151 9,161 156,014 -11,211
1965 36,982 9,245 151,164 -10,465
1964 39,375 9,806 145,848 -9,631
1963 42,027 10,226 140,984 -8,936
1962 42,865 12,697 136,317 -8,529
1961 43,482 10,689 131,531 -8,204
1960 41,791 3,846 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/new-zealand/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 1,467,989 residents or 28.2% of the population were not native-born in New Zealand, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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