Population (Our World) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Population (Our World) was 5.17 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.17 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
124th
of 239 countries
All-time high
5.17 million
in 2023
All-time low
16,000
in 1200
Years of data
239
1200–2023
Population in New Zealand, 1200–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, population in New Zealand stood at 5.17 million. That is the highest value across all 239 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 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 16,000, in 1200.
New Zealand ranks 124th of 239 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population (Our World) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 | 16,000 | — |
| 1300 | 20,000 | +25.0% |
| 1400 | 20,000 | +0.0% |
| 1500 | 80,000 | +300.0% |
| 1600 | 140,000 | +75.0% |
| 1700 | 200,000 | +42.9% |
| 1710 | 187,739 | -6.1% |
| 1720 | 185,880 | -1.0% |
| 1730 | 184,040 | -1.0% |
| 1740 | 182,218 | -1.0% |
| 1750 | 180,414 | -1.0% |
| 1760 | 178,627 | -1.0% |
| 1770 | 176,859 | -1.0% |
| 1780 | 175,108 | -1.0% |
| 1790 | 173,374 | -1.0% |
| 1800 | 200,000 | +15.4% |
| 1801 | 193,187 | -3.4% |
| 1802 | 186,607 | -3.4% |
| 1803 | 180,250 | -3.4% |
| 1804 | 174,110 | -3.4% |
| 1805 | 168,179 | -3.4% |
| 1806 | 162,450 | -3.4% |
| 1807 | 156,917 | -3.4% |
| 1808 | 151,572 | -3.4% |
| 1809 | 146,409 | -3.4% |
| 1810 | 141,591 | -3.3% |
| 1811 | 136,768 | -3.4% |
| 1812 | 132,109 | -3.4% |
| 1813 | 127,609 | -3.4% |
| 1814 | 123,262 | -3.4% |
| 1815 | 119,064 | -3.4% |
| 1816 | 115,008 | -3.4% |
| 1817 | 111,090 | -3.4% |
| 1818 | 107,306 | -3.4% |
| 1819 | 104,332 | -2.8% |
| 1820 | 102,141 | -2.1% |
| 1821 | 100,705 | -1.4% |
| 1822 | 100,000 | -0.7% |
| 1823 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 100,000 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 99,299 | -0.7% |
| 1830 | 97,922 | -1.4% |
| 1831 | 95,893 | -2.1% |
| 1832 | 93,233 | -2.8% |
| 1833 | 89,967 | -3.5% |
| 1834 | 86,814 | -3.5% |
| 1835 | 83,772 | -3.5% |
| 1836 | 80,837 | -3.5% |
| 1837 | 78,005 | -3.5% |
| 1838 | 75,272 | -3.5% |
| 1839 | 73,481 | -2.4% |
| 1840 | 72,621 | -1.2% |
| 1841 | 72,683 | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 73,655 | +1.3% |
| 1843 | 75,529 | +2.5% |
| 1844 | 77,452 | +2.5% |
| 1845 | 79,423 | +2.5% |
| 1846 | 81,444 | +2.5% |
| 1847 | 83,517 | +2.5% |
| 1848 | 85,642 | +2.5% |
| 1849 | 88,066 | +2.8% |
| 1850 | 90,807 | +3.1% |
| 1851 | 93,877 | +3.4% |
| 1852 | 97,300 | +3.6% |
| 1853 | 101,095 | +3.9% |
| 1854 | 105,039 | +3.9% |
| 1855 | 109,136 | +3.9% |
| 1856 | 113,392 | +3.9% |
| 1857 | 117,815 | +3.9% |
| 1858 | 122,411 | +3.9% |
| 1859 | 128,326 | +4.8% |
| 1860 | 135,706 | +5.8% |
| 1861 | 144,710 | +6.6% |
| 1862 | 155,510 | +7.5% |
| 1863 | 168,297 | +8.2% |
| 1864 | 182,134 | +8.2% |
| 1865 | 197,110 | +8.2% |
| 1866 | 213,316 | +8.2% |
| 1867 | 230,856 | +8.2% |
| 1868 | 249,837 | +8.2% |
| 1869 | 269,071 | +7.7% |
| 1870 | 288,500 | +7.2% |
| 1871 | 308,057 | +6.8% |
| 1872 | 327,666 | +6.4% |
| 1873 | 347,238 | +6.0% |
| 1874 | 367,978 | +6.0% |
| 1875 | 389,958 | +6.0% |
| 1876 | 413,250 | +6.0% |
| 1877 | 437,933 | +6.0% |
| 1878 | 464,091 | +6.0% |
| 1879 | 488,189 | +5.2% |
| 1880 | 510,014 | +4.5% |
| 1881 | 529,338 | +3.8% |
| 1882 | 545,917 | +3.1% |
| 1883 | 559,490 | +2.5% |
| 1884 | 573,401 | +2.5% |
| 1885 | 587,658 | +2.5% |
| 1886 | 602,269 | +2.5% |
| 1887 | 617,244 | +2.5% |
| 1888 | 632,591 | +2.5% |
| 1889 | 647,608 | +2.4% |
| 1890 | 662,272 | +2.3% |
| 1891 | 676,562 | +2.2% |
| 1892 | 690,453 | +2.1% |
| 1893 | 703,920 | +2.0% |
| 1894 | 717,650 | +2.0% |
| 1895 | 731,648 | +2.0% |
| 1896 | 745,919 | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 760,468 | +2.0% |
| 1898 | 775,301 | +2.0% |
| 1899 | 791,494 | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 809,099 | +2.2% |
| 1901 | 828,174 | +2.4% |
| 1902 | 848,778 | +2.5% |
| 1903 | 870,968 | +2.6% |
| 1904 | 893,740 | +2.6% |
| 1905 | 917,106 | +2.6% |
| 1906 | 941,083 | +2.6% |
| 1907 | 965,687 | +2.6% |
| 1908 | 990,935 | +2.6% |
| 1909 | 1.01 million | +2.4% |
| 1910 | 1.04 million | +2.2% |
| 1911 | 1.06 million | +2.1% |
| 1912 | 1.08 million | +1.9% |
| 1913 | 1.10 million | +1.7% |
| 1914 | 1.12 million | +1.7% |
| 1915 | 1.14 million | +1.7% |
| 1916 | 1.16 million | +1.7% |
| 1917 | 1.18 million | +1.7% |
| 1918 | 1.20 million | +1.7% |
| 1919 | 1.22 million | +1.8% |
| 1920 | 1.24 million | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 1.26 million | +1.8% |
| 1922 | 1.29 million | +1.8% |
| 1923 | 1.31 million | +1.9% |
| 1924 | 1.33 million | +1.9% |
| 1925 | 1.36 million | +1.9% |
| 1926 | 1.38 million | +1.9% |
| 1927 | 1.41 million | +1.9% |
| 1928 | 1.44 million | +1.9% |
| 1929 | 1.46 million | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 1.48 million | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 1.50 million | +1.3% |
| 1932 | 1.52 million | +1.1% |
| 1933 | 1.53 million | +0.9% |
| 1934 | 1.55 million | +0.9% |
| 1935 | 1.56 million | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 1.57 million | +0.9% |
| 1937 | 1.59 million | +0.9% |
| 1938 | 1.60 million | +0.9% |
| 1939 | 1.62 million | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 1.64 million | +1.2% |
| 1941 | 1.66 million | +1.3% |
| 1942 | 1.68 million | +1.4% |
| 1943 | 1.71 million | +1.6% |
| 1944 | 1.74 million | +1.6% |
| 1945 | 1.76 million | +1.6% |
| 1946 | 1.79 million | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 1.82 million | +1.6% |
| 1948 | 1.85 million | +1.6% |
| 1949 | 1.88 million | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 1.91 million | +1.8% |
| 1951 | 1.95 million | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 2.00 million | +2.4% |
| 1953 | 2.05 million | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 2.10 million | +2.3% |
| 1955 | 2.14 million | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 2.18 million | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 2.23 million | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 2.29 million | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 2.33 million | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 2.38 million | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 2.43 million | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 2.48 million | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 2.54 million | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 2.59 million | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 2.64 million | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 2.68 million | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 2.72 million | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 2.75 million | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 2.78 million | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 2.82 million | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 2.87 million | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 2.92 million | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 2.98 million | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 3.04 million | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 3.09 million | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 3.13 million | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 3.14 million | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 3.14 million | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 3.14 million | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 3.15 million | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 3.16 million | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 3.19 million | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 3.22 million | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 3.25 million | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 3.27 million | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 3.28 million | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 3.30 million | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 3.32 million | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 3.33 million | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 3.40 million | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 3.48 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 3.53 million | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 3.57 million | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 3.62 million | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 3.67 million | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 3.73 million | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 3.78 million | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 3.81 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 3.84 million | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 3.86 million | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 3.89 million | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 3.95 million | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 4.02 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 4.08 million | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 4.13 million | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 4.18 million | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 4.22 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 4.26 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 4.30 million | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 4.35 million | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 4.38 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 4.41 million | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 4.45 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 4.52 million | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 4.61 million | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 4.71 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 4.81 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 4.90 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 4.99 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 5.07 million | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 5.11 million | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 5.13 million | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 5.17 million | +0.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 5.17 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.98 million, 1.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 5.17 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million, 3.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population (Our World) in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | +300.0% | 20,000 | 80,000 |
| 1600 | +75.0% | 80,000 | 140,000 |
| 1700 | +42.9% | 140,000 | 200,000 |
| 1300 | +25.0% | 16,000 | 20,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200s | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 1 |
| 1300s | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 1 |
| 1400s | 20,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 1 |
| 1500s | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 1 |
| 1600s | 140,000 | 140,000 | 140,000 | 1 |
| 1700s | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 1 |
| 1710s | 187,739 | 187,739 | 187,739 | 1 |
| 1720s | 185,880 | 185,880 | 185,880 | 1 |
| 1730s | 184,040 | 184,040 | 184,040 | 1 |
| 1740s | 182,218 | 182,218 | 182,218 | 1 |
| 1750s | 180,414 | 180,414 | 180,414 | 1 |
| 1760s | 178,627 | 178,627 | 178,627 | 1 |
| 1770s | 176,859 | 176,859 | 176,859 | 1 |
| 1780s | 175,108 | 175,108 | 175,108 | 1 |
| 1790s | 173,374 | 173,374 | 173,374 | 1 |
| 1800s | 171,968 | 146,409 | 200,000 | 10 |
| 1810s | 121,814 | 104,332 | 141,591 | 10 |
| 1820s | 100,214 | 99,299 | 102,141 | 10 |
| 1830s | 85,520 | 73,481 | 97,922 | 10 |
| 1840s | 79,003 | 72,621 | 88,066 | 10 |
| 1850s | 107,920 | 90,807 | 128,326 | 10 |
| 1860s | 194,655 | 135,706 | 269,071 | 10 |
| 1870s | 383,286 | 288,500 | 488,189 | 10 |
| 1880s | 580,553 | 510,014 | 647,608 | 10 |
| 1890s | 725,569 | 662,272 | 791,494 | 10 |
| 1900s | 908,057 | 809,099 | 1.01 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.13 million | 1.04 million | 1.22 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.35 million | 1.24 million | 1.46 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.55 million | 1.48 million | 1.62 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.75 million | 1.64 million | 1.88 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.12 million | 1.91 million | 2.33 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.60 million | 2.38 million | 2.78 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.03 million | 2.82 million | 3.14 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.25 million | 3.15 million | 3.33 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.64 million | 3.40 million | 3.84 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.09 million | 3.86 million | 4.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.62 million | 4.35 million | 4.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.12 million | 5.07 million | 5.17 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
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)
- Population growth rate -0.077 (2100)
- Population density 22.07 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 256,010 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in New Zealand?
- Population in New Zealand was 5.17 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 5.17 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,000 in 1200.
- How does New Zealand rank for population?
- New Zealand ranks 124th out of 239 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 volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 239 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).