Population growth in New Zealand
New Zealand: Population growth was 1.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in New Zealand, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 1.8% for population growth in 2024.
The figure is down 28.4% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in New Zealand peaked at 2.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -0.4%, in 1979.
That places New Zealand 64th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.1% | -0.4% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6% | -0.0% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.1% | 0.5% | 1.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.6% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 0.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 0.1% | 2.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 61 Eritrea 1.9% compare
- 62 Papua New Guinea 1.8% compare
- 63 Zimbabwe 1.8% compare
- 65 Turkmenistan 1.8% compare
- 66 Kyrgyzstan 1.7% compare
- 67 Egypt 1.7% compare
More population data for New Zealand
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.077 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 256,010 (2100)
- Population density 22.07 (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.077 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.628 Percent per annum (2030)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.628 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 1.57 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 2,063 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in New Zealand?
- Population growth in New Zealand was 1.8% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4% in 1979.
- How does New Zealand rank for population growth?
- New Zealand ranks 64th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release