Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 910.52 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
910.52 thousands
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
83rd
of 233 countries
All-time high
910.52 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
237.08 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in New Zealand, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 65 years or older in New Zealand is 910.52 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 37.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in New Zealand peaked at 910.52 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 237.08 thousands, in 1970.
That places New Zealand 83rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 237.08 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 242.21 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 248.01 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 254.25 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 260.82 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 268.07 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 275.41 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 282.26 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 289.12 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 296.38 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 303.05 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 308.98 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 315.86 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 321.72 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 326.69 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 332.8 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 339.17 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 346.34 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 353.46 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 360.42 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 368.03 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 382.13 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 394.9 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 403.07 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 411.24 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 419.06 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 426.3 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 432.59 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 438.55 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 444.98 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 450.21 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 456.94 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 463.66 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 471.26 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 479.88 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 490.11 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 504.1 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 518.44 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 530.39 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 541.83 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 556.23 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 572.73 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 592.49 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 615.71 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 639.07 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 660.77 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 682.41 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 704.8 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 726.38 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 749.55 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 777.37 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 806.54 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 832.68 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 855.29 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 882.63 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 910.52 thousands | +3.2% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 910.52 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 291.46 thousands, 3.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 910.52 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 105.87 thousands, 8.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 265.36 thousands | 237.08 thousands | 296.38 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 330.85 thousands | 303.05 thousands | 360.42 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 412.08 thousands | 368.03 thousands | 444.98 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 490.68 thousands | 450.21 thousands | 541.83 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 650.01 thousands | 556.23 thousands | 749.55 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 844.17 thousands | 777.37 thousands | 910.52 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 80 Mozambique 964.53 thousands compare
- 81 Dominican Republic 921.72 thousands compare
- 82 Azerbaijan 917.17 thousands compare
- 84 Guatemala 910.01 thousands compare
- 85 Croatia 903.66 thousands compare
- 86 Cote d'Ivoire 850.08 thousands compare
More population data for New Zealand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -14.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0739 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.628 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population density 22.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 256,010 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in New Zealand?
- Population aged 65 years or older in New Zealand was 910.52 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 910.52 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 237.08 thousands in 1970.
- How does New Zealand rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- New Zealand ranks 83rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release