Quick facts
New Zealand population overview
New Zealand is the 3rd most populous of 23 countries and territories in Oceania. The United Nations put the population at 5,271,037 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.7% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 94 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 57,981 births (11 per 1,000 people) and 40,060 deaths (7.6 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 16,340 people. The infant mortality rate is 3.5 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 2,371,800 in 1960 to 5,324,700 in 2025 — a change of +124.5%, or +1.3% per year on average. It peaked at 5,324,700 in 2025 and has declined 0.5% since.
Demographically, the median age is 38 years; life expectancy at birth is 82.5 years; women have on average 1.6 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 17.9% of residents are under 15 and 17.6% are 65 or older (2025); 84% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Wellington. New Zealand covers 267,710 km², giving a population density of about 19.8 people per km². GDP was $264.06B in 2025 — about $49,591 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
New Zealand population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #126 of 238 → | 5,298,461 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 5,271,037 |
| World rank | #126 of 238 |
| Rank in Oceania | #3 of 23 |
| Share of world population | 0.064% |
| Annual growth rate #123 of 238 → | +0.7% |
| Births per year est. | 57,981 |
| Deaths per year est. | 40,060 |
| Net migration per year est. · #38 of 238 → | +16,340 |
| Birth rate #137 of 216 → | 11 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #111 of 216 → | 7.6 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #187 of 238 → | 3.5 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #101 of 238 → | 98.9 males per 100 females |
| Median age #85 of 238 → | 38 years |
| Life expectancy #35 of 216 → | 82.5 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #138 of 216 → | 1.6 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #48 of 216 → | 84% |
| Surface area 2023 · #75 of 215 → | 267,710 km² |
| Population density #184 of 215 → | 19.8 per km² |
| Capital | Wellington |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #53 of 212 → | $264.06B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #32 of 212 → | $49,591 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
New Zealand population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 5,298,461 | – | – |
| 2025 | 5,324,700 | +34,700 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 5,290,000 | +90,000 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 5,200,000 | +118,300 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 5,081,700 | -2,900 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 5,084,600 | +12,200 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 5,072,400 | +463,000 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 4,609,400 | +258,700 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 4,350,700 | +216,800 | +1% |
| 2005 | 4,133,900 | +276,200 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 3,857,700 | +184,300 | +1% |
| 1995 | 3,673,400 | +343,600 | +2% |
| 1990 | 3,329,800 | +82,700 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 3,247,100 | +134,200 | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 3,112,900 | +29,800 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 3,083,100 | +272,400 | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 2,810,700 | +182,300 | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 2,628,400 | +256,600 | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 2,371,800 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in New Zealand
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 1,547,200 | 29.2% |
| 2 | Christchurch | 419,200 | 7.9% |
| 3 | Wellington Capital | 381,900 | 7.2% |
| 4 | Hamilton | 192,100 | 3.6% |
| 5 | Tauranga | 161,000 | 3% |
| 6 | Dunedin | 132,800 | 2.5% |
| 7 | Palmerston North | 90,500 | 1.7% |
| 8 | New Plymouth | 90,100 | 1.7% |
Auckland is the largest city with 1,547,200 people; the capital, Wellington, has 381,900. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of New Zealand cities →
About New Zealand
Population over time
- From 2,371,800 in 1960 to 5,298,461 today — up 123.4%.
- Population peaked at 5,324,700 in 2025 and is down 0.5% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.5% per year.
- World rank: Population #126 of 238 · Population growth rate #123 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 82 years (2024), up 10.8 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.6 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #35 of 216 · Fertility rate #138 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 11 births vs 7.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 3.9 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #137 of 216 · Death rate #111 of 216.
Age structure
- 17.9% of the population is under 15 and 17.6% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 8.7% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #143 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #53 of 216 · Median age #85 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 31.81 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 37.25 Mt in 2019 — down 14.6% since.
- Per person: 6.01 t in 2024, vs 5.51 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #70 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #42 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 3,557.5 kg of oil equivalent per person (2024), down 8.7% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 28.9% of final energy in 2021 (+0.9 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #24 of 150 · Renewable energy share #82 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 37.8% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 35.6% to 37.8% since 1990 — roughly 5,877 km² of forest gained.
- World rank: Forest area #81 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 84% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 62.4% in 1960 (+21.6 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
- World rank: Urban population #48 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 3% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 64,349 m³ in 2022, down 52.4% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #9 of 183 · Water stress #121 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $264.06B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 48.2% since 2015.
- That works out to $49,591 per person.
- World rank: GDP #53 of 212 · GDP per capita #32 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 5.1% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 2.8% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #96 of 186 · Inflation rate #102 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 93.5% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 130.1 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #41 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #59 of 210.
New Zealand in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of New Zealand in 2026?
As of October 2026, New Zealand has an estimated population of 5,298,461. The United Nations estimated 5,271,037 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.7% annual growth rate.
Is the population of New Zealand growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.7% per year — roughly 94 more people every day. Each year there are about 57,981 births and 40,060 deaths, with net migration of +16,340.
What is the population density of New Zealand?
About 19.8 people per square kilometre: 5,298,461 people living on 267,710 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in New Zealand?
The median age is 38 years, and life expectancy at birth is 82.5 years. 17.9% of the population is under 15 and 17.6% is 65 or older (2025).
How does New Zealand rank by population?
New Zealand is the 126th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 3rd in Oceania, with 0.064% of the global population.
How has the population of New Zealand changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 2,371,800; by 2025 it had grown to 5,324,700 (+124.5%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). New Zealand Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/new-zealand/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/new-zealand/">New Zealand Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.7%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.