Total population (thousands) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Total population (thousands) was 5,234 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
5,234 thousands
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
125th
of 233 countries
All-time high
5,234 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
2,801 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in New Zealand, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 5,234 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in New Zealand peaked at 5,234 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,801 thousands, in 1970.
That places New Zealand 125th 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.
Total population (thousands) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,801 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 2,843 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 2,891 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 2,947 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 3,011 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 3,072 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 3,116 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 3,137 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 3,143 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 3,141 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 3,142 thousands | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3,151 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 3,169 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 3,201 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 3,237 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 3,262 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 3,274 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 3,289 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 3,309 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 3,323 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 3,345 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 3,449 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 3,513 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 3,552 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 3,596 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 3,646 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 3,703 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 3,756 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 3,798 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 3,825 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 3,846 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 3,869 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 3,914 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 3,988 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 4,057 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 4,110 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 4,160 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 4,204 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 4,242 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 4,281 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 4,327 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 4,368 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 4,397 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 4,426 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 4,481 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 4,565 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 4,663 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 4,766 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 4,859 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 4,942 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 5,037 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 5,103 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 5,112 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 5,151 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 5,194 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 5,234 thousands | +0.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 5,234 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 1.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 5,234 thousands is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,410 thousands, 3.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,010 thousands | 2,801 thousands | 3,143 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,236 thousands | 3,142 thousands | 3,323 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,618 thousands | 3,345 thousands | 3,825 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,067 thousands | 3,846 thousands | 4,281 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,580 thousands | 4,327 thousands | 4,942 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,139 thousands | 5,037 thousands | 5,234 thousands | 6 |
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)
- 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 total population in New Zealand?
- Total population in New Zealand was 5,234 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 5,234 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,801 thousands in 1970.
- How does New Zealand rank for total population?
- New Zealand ranks 125th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. 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 Total population (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