New Zealand Population (LIVE)

retrieving data...
New Zealand Population (1950 - 2026)

Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)
  • The current population of New Zealand is 5,281,498 as of Tuesday, April 14, 2026, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data1.
  • New Zealand 2026 population is estimated at 5,287,479 people at mid-year.
  • New Zealand population is equivalent to 0.064% of the total world population.
  • New Zealand ranks number 126 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
  • The population density in New Zealand is 20 per Km² (52 people per mi²).
  • The total land area is 263,310 Km² (101,665 sq. miles).
  • 83.73% of the population is urban (4,427,041 people in 2026)
  • The median age in New Zealand is 38 years.
1. U.N. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Population of New Zealand (2026 and historical)

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country's Share of World Pop World Population New Zealand Global Rank
2026 5,287,479 0.68% 35,580 16,435 38 1.64 20 83.7% 4,427,041 0.064% 8,300,678,395 126
2025 5,251,899 0.73% 37,955 17,403 37.7 1.65 20 83.6% 4,388,310 0.064% 8,231,613,070 126
2024 5,213,944 0.79% 41,108 18,766 37.5 1.66 20 83.4% 4,349,435 0.064% 8,161,972,572 125
2023 5,172,836 0.8% 41,102 21,404 37.3 1.67 20 83.3% 4,310,389 0.064% 8,091,734,930 123
2022 5,131,734 0.61% 30,920 21,404 37.1 1.67 19 83.2% 4,271,104 0.064% 8,021,407,192 122
2020 5,069,895 1.9% 91,173 42,124 36.5 1.63 19 82.7% 4,191,405 0.064% 7,887,001,292 121
2015 4,614,029 1.2% 53,252 70,870 36.4 1.98 18 86.3% 3,984,212 0.062% 7,470,491,872 124
2010 4,347,770 1.01% 42,553 6,722 35.9 2.17 17 86.6% 3,765,257 0.062% 7,021,732,148 123
2005 4,135,007 1.4% 55,487 19,212 34.5 1.96 16 86.3% 3,570,490 0.063% 6,586,970,132 123
2000 3,857,574 0.98% 36,629 −6,604 33.3 1.98 15 86.1% 3,319,552 0.063% 6,171,702,993 123
1995 3,674,428 1.58% 55,490 26,743 31.6 1.98 14 85.6% 3,144,004 0.064% 5,758,878,982 122
1990 3,396,979 0.78% 25,790 70,432 30.1 2.17 13 84.8% 2,879,680 0.064% 5,327,803,110 125
1985 3,268,028 0.76% 24,340 −13,462 28.4 1.93 12 83.7% 2,734,626 0.067% 4,868,943,465 121
1980 3,146,327 0.34% 10,459 −15,423 26.9 2.03 12 83.4% 2,625,162 0.071% 4,447,606,236 118
1975 3,094,032 1.86% 54,371 13,196 25.3 2.36 12 82.5% 2,551,621 0.076% 4,070,735,277 113
1970 2,822,177 1.37% 37,137 4,511 24.6 3.17 11 81% 2,285,874 0.076% 3,694,683,794 112
1965 2,636,494 2.07% 51,403 9,245 24.9 3.54 10 78.6% 2,072,193 0.079% 3,334,533,703 110
1960 2,379,481 2.15% 47,962 3,846 26.5 4.24 9 75.8% 1,803,134 0.079% 3,015,470,894 110
1955 2,139,672 2.28% 45,682 7,768 27.7 3.88 8 73.5% 1,572,956 0.078% 2,740,213,792 110

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

New Zealand Population Forecast

Year Population Yearly % Change Yearly Change Migrants (net) Median Age Fertility Rate Density (P/Km²) Urban Pop % Urban Population Country's Share of World Pop World Population New Zealand Global Rank
2030 5,407,349 0.59% 31,090 12,297 39.2 1.62 21 84.7% 4,578,933 0.063% 8,569,124,911 125
2035 5,520,602 0.42% 22,651 11,925 40.7 1.62 21 86.2% 4,756,338 0.062% 8,885,210,181 126
2040 5,617,291 0.35% 19,338 12,687 41.6 1.62 21 87.6% 4,918,991 0.061% 9,177,190,203 125
2045 5,700,556 0.29% 16,653 12,079 42.1 1.61 22 88.9% 5,067,731 0.060% 9,439,639,668 124
2050 5,755,288 0.19% 10,946 13,647 42.7 1.62 22 90.4% 5,200,447 0.060% 9,664,378,587 123

Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)

Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

New Zealand Demographics (2026)

Life Expectancy
82.5 years

(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)

View by sex and historical chart

Infant Mortality Rate
3.5

(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Deaths under age 5
4.4

(per 1,000 live births)

View historical chart

Main Cities by Population in New Zealand

(includes boroughs, districts, urban agglomerations, etc.)

Rank Urban Area Population Estimate (2025)
1 Auckland 1,123,094
2 Glenfield 275,322
3 Christchurch 260,804
4 Hamilton 166,249
5 Papakura 154,112
6 Wellington 148,555
7 Dunedin 82,204
8 Otūmoetai 62,796
9 Palmerston North 60,992
10 Lower Hutt 54,560
More info

See also


Notes

The New Zealand Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the current population of New Zealand delivered by Worldometer's RTS algorithm, which processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.

The Population of New Zealand (1950 - 2026) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2026.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2026. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period.

Definitions

Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the country as of July 1 of the year indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.

Yearly % Change: For 2026: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). For all other years: latest year annual percentage change equivalent assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period, calculated through reverse compounding.

Yearly Change: For 2026: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). For all other years: average annual numerical change over the preceding five year period.

Migrants (net): The average annual number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over the preceding five year period (running from July 1 to June 30 of the initial and final years), or subsequent five year period (for 2016 data). A negative number means that there are more emigrants than immigrants.

Median Age: age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups: half of the people are older than the median age indicated and half are younger. This parameter provides an indication of age distribution.

Fertility Rate: (Total Fertility Rate, or TFR), it is expressed as children per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children an average woman will have during her reproductive period (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of every age group in the country, and assuming she is not subject to mortality.

Density (P/Km²): (Population Density) Population per square Kilometer (Km²).

Urban Pop % : Urban population as a percentage of total population.

Urban Population: Population living in areas classified as urban according to the criteria used by each country.

Country's Share of World Pop: Total population in the country as a percentage of total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

World Population: Total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Global Rank: Position held by New Zealand in the list of all countries worldwide ranked by population (from the highest population to the lowest population) as of July 1 of the year indicated.