What is the population of New Zealand in 2026?
New Zealand has a population of 5,324,700 people (2025 estimate), which is 125th in the world and about 0.06% of the global total.
Population 2025
5,324,700
0.06% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+0.65%
+34,824 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
20/km²
263,310 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
37.7 years
Life expectancy 82.0 years
Our World in Data, 2025About New Zealand
New Zealand ranks 123rd globally in population with 5,324,700 people as of 2025, growing at 0.7% annually across 263,310 km² of land in Oceania. The population density of 20 people per km² reflects relatively sparse habitation, though 84% of residents live in urban areas. A median age of 37.7 years and life expectancy of 82 years indicate an aging population, while the fertility rate of 1.6 births per woman remains below replacement level.
The nation operates as a parliamentary monarchy established in 1841, with Wellington as its capital. English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language are official languages. Per capita GDP stands at $49,591, supported by the New Zealand dollar as the currency. The combination of low population growth, modest density, and high urbanization characterizes this island nation's demographic profile.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Wellington
- Continent
- Oceania
- ISO codes
- NZ · NZL
- Demonym
- New Zealander
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar (NZD $)
- Government
- Parliamentary monarchy, Constitutional monarchy, Unitary state
- State inception
- 1841
- Time zone
- UTC+12:00
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +64
- Internet TLD
- .nz
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- English
- Māori
- New Zealand Sign Language
Demographics
Economy
Not published for New Zealand: Poverty Rate, Gini Index.
Health
Education
Not published for New Zealand: Literacy Rate.
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 18.1%
- Age 15–64
- 64.7%
- Age 65+
- 17.2%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 235 | 577 |
| 95-99 | 2,454 | 4,676 |
| 90-94 | 10,617 | 16,564 |
| 85-89 | 26,800 | 36,190 |
| 80-84 | 52,829 | 63,413 |
| 75-79 | 86,452 | 95,450 |
| 70-74 | 109,585 | 117,989 |
| 65-69 | 131,352 | 141,393 |
| 60-64 | 152,544 | 163,595 |
| 55-59 | 155,490 | 163,876 |
| 50-54 | 162,709 | 170,279 |
| 45-49 | 151,822 | 155,820 |
| 40-44 | 163,734 | 166,345 |
| 35-39 | 181,434 | 184,001 |
| 30-34 | 198,072 | 192,790 |
| 25-29 | 180,769 | 169,060 |
| 20-24 | 169,003 | 160,273 |
| 15-19 | 169,903 | 161,150 |
| 10-14 | 171,385 | 162,733 |
| 5-9 | 160,501 | 151,831 |
| 0-4 | 152,906 | 145,342 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,911,263 |
| 1960 | 2,379,481 |
| 1970 | 2,822,177 |
| 1980 | 3,146,327 |
| 1990 | 3,396,979 |
| 2000 | 3,857,574 |
| 2010 | 4,347,770 |
| 2020 | 5,069,895 |
| 2030 | 5,407,349 |
| 2040 | 5,617,291 |
| 2050 | 5,755,288 |
| 2060 | 5,833,202 |
| 2070 | 5,859,042 |
| 2080 | 5,864,587 |
| 2090 | 5,836,503 |
| 2100 | 5,812,293 |
How New Zealand Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
- New Zealand5.32M
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| New Zealand | 5.32M |
Major Cities in New Zealand
1 metropolitan area in our city dataset.
- Auckland1.7M · +1.35%
New Zealand Population FAQ
Is the population of New Zealand growing or shrinking?
New Zealand's population is growing at +0.65% per year, a change of roughly 34,824 people annually.
What is the capital of New Zealand?
The capital of New Zealand is Wellington.
What is the largest city in New Zealand?
Auckland is the largest metropolitan area in New Zealand, with about 1.7M people.
How densely populated is New Zealand?
New Zealand has 20/km² across 263,310 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in New Zealand?
Life expectancy at birth in New Zealand is 82.0 years (2024).
What is the median age in New Zealand?
The median age in New Zealand is 37.7 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is New Zealand in?
New Zealand is in Oceania.