Population in New Zealand
New Zealand: Population was 5.17 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population in New Zealand, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in New Zealand is 5.17 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in New Zealand peaked at 5.17 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.91 million people, in 1950.
New Zealand ranks 123rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.12 million people | 1.91 million people | 2.33 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.60 million people | 2.38 million people | 2.78 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.03 million people | 2.82 million people | 3.14 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.25 million people | 3.15 million people | 3.33 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.64 million people | 3.40 million people | 3.84 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.09 million people | 3.86 million people | 4.30 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.62 million people | 4.35 million people | 4.99 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.12 million people | 5.07 million people | 5.17 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More population data for New Zealand
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.57 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.57 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 2,063 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.57 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.67 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.65 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in New Zealand?
- Population in New Zealand was 5.17 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 5.17 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.91 million people in 1950.
- How does New Zealand rank for population?
- New Zealand ranks 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.