New Zealand Population 2024 (Live)

5,257,399

New Zealand continues to rise in population, although at a slower rate than in years past. By the end of the century, the population is estimated to level off around a peak of just over 6 million. Of course, with estimates so far into the future, changes in fertility rates or migration could dramatically alter these projections.

The current UN estimates have the population surpassing the 5 million person plateau towards the end of the next decade.

New Zealand Population Growth

Like its neighbor Australia, New Zealand publishes its own online population clock and in late 2016, the estimated figure is shown as 4,723,562. Government statistics draw on their estimated levels of natural growth, and are slightly higher than the UN's estimates.

The New Zealand population clock projects from the June 2016 estimated population using the following factors:

  • One birth every nine minutes
  • One death every fifteen minutes
  • One net migration gain every six minutes and twenty-nine seconds

New Zealand was actually losing citizens to migration as recently as 2012, but now has a significant positive net migration. This, coupled with the difference between births and deaths, contributes to a healthy rise in population that is expected to continue throughout the 21st century.

The most recent New Zealand census was taken in 2013. This census counted 4,242,048 people, up from 4,027,947 in 2006. This represents a 5.3% gain in the 7 years between censuses. The census is usually held every five years, but in 2011 New Zealand suffered from a major earthquake, which pushed the 2011 census back to 2013. The next census is scheduled to be taken in 2018.

New Zealand Population Projections

The declining population is expected to continue in the years to come in New Zealand, but the population will still be growing- just at a slower rate. Current projections believe that the annual growth rate will peak in 2020 at 0.94% before gradually decreasing toward 0.34% in 2050. With growth rates this small, it is unlikely that New Zealand will see large changes in their numbers. The same set of predictions believe that the population of New Zealand will be 4,834,420 in 2020, 5,213,103 in 2030, 5,502,172 in 2040, and 5,711,484 by 2050.

Population Rank
Growth Rate
2024 World Percentage
Land Area
263,310
The current population of New Zealand is 5,257,399 based on projections of the latest United Nations data. The UN estimates the July 1, 2024 population at 5,269,939.

New Zealand Growth Rate

New Zealand Population 2024 (Live)

New Zealand Population Clock

New Zealand Population (as of 3/11/2024)5,257,399
Next UN Estimate (July 1, 2024)5,269,939
Births per Day175
Deaths per Day97
Migrations per Day36
Net Change per Day113
Population Change Since Jan. 18,023

Components of Population Change

One birth every 8.23 minutes
One death every 14.85 minutes
One immigrant every 40 minutes
Net gain of one person every 12.75 minutes

New Zealand Population Clock

City
2024 Population
Auckland417,910
Wellington381,900
Christchurch363,926
Manukau City362,000
Waitakere208,100
North Shore207,865
Hamilton152,641
Dunedin114,347
Tauranga110,338
Lower Hutt101,194

New Zealand Area and Population Density

New Zealand is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia. There are two main islands: the North Island and the South Island, in addition to roughly 600 smaller islands. The total surface area within New Zealand comes in at 103,483 square miles (268,021 square kilometers) which ranks 76th in the world just in terms of size. Using the 2017 population of 4.794 million people, the population density is approximately 46 people per square mile (18 people per square kilometer) which ranks New Zealand 166th in the world in terms of population density.

Largest Cities in New Zealand

A substantial 86.1% of people living in New Zealand live either in or around a major city. The two largest cities are both on the North Island. Auckland is the largest by far, with 1.45 million people living there. Auckland has two natural harbors and is the trade center of the country. It is also one of the most livable cities in the world. The second largest city is the nation's capital of Wellington with a population of 398,000. Wellington is built along a fault line that causes some of the worst traffic in thr country. On the South Island, the largest city is Christchurch with 382,000 people living within its limits. Other major cities include Hamilton (224,000), Tauranga (131,000), Napier-Hastings (130,000), Dunedin (117,000), and Palmerston North with 84,000.

New Zealand Population Density Map

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
20245,269,9391.22%20122195
20235,228,1001.56%20123195
20205,061,1332.06%19123195
20194,959,0342.49%19123195
20184,838,5261.94%18123195
20174,746,2521.68%18124196
20154,590,5901.1%17124197
20104,346,3381.01%17124196
20054,132,7811.4%16122193
20003,855,2660.97%15123193
19953,673,8931.58%14123191
19903,397,3890.78%13125190
19853,268,3560.76%12122190
19803,147,1680.33%12117188
19753,095,4281.85%12113186
19702,824,0611.37%11112184
19652,638,3162.07%10110184
19602,381,1892.15%9110183
19552,140,9762.29%8111181

New Zealand Population by Year (Historical)

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
20245,269,9391.22%20122195
20255,310,6950.97%20122196
20305,495,6700.69%21123197
20355,647,6380.55%21121199
20405,770,7080.43%22120201
20455,871,2980.35%22121201
20505,949,0020.26%23121200
20556,009,7640.2%23121200
20606,058,3470.16%23121199
20656,096,9000.13%23121200
20706,124,9260.09%23119201
20756,140,2490.05%23119201
20806,141,9300.01%23120200
20856,131,972-0.03%23120200
20906,113,774-0.06%23120200
20956,092,150-0.07%23120199

New Zealand Population by Year (Projections)

New Zealand Population Pyramid 2024

New Zealand Median Age

37.2

Total

36.4

Male

37.9

Female

New Zealand Population by Age

There are people over age 18 in New Zealand.

Census Years

Year
Date
2018March 2018
20135 March 2013
20067 March 2006
20016 March 2001
19965 March 1996
19915 March 1991
19864 March 1986

New Zealand Population Pyramid

New Zealand Demographics

As far as demographics are concerned, the indigenous Maoris were overtaken in terms of numbers by European settlers as early as the 19th century. The 2013 census revealed that of the total population of over 4 million, 74% of citizens declared themselves to be of European descent. Maoris made up for 14.9% with those of Asian ethnicity contributing another 11.8%.

In terms of languages used within New Zealand, there are quite a few. They include English (de facto official language) 89.8%, Maori (de jure official) 3.5%, Samoan 2%, Hindi 1.6%, French 1.2%, Northern Chinese 1.2%, Yue 1%, other or not stated 20.5%, New Zealand Sign Language (official language). Many respondents use multiple languages which will create 100%+ sums in some of these notes.

New Zealand Religion, Economy and Politics

The religions among the residents of New Zealand come in at Christian 44.3% (including Catholic 11.6%, Anglican 10.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 7.8%, Methodist, 2.4%, Pentecostal 1.8%, other 9.9%), Hindu 2.1%, Buddhist 1.4%, Maori Christian 1.3%, Islam 1.1%, other religion 1.4% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 38.5%, not stated or unidentified 8.2%, and those objected to answering came in at 4.1%.

The terms of GDP, the economy in New Zealand is the 53rd strongest in the world, much of which is dependent upon their foreign trade with countries like Australia, all of the European Union, the United States, China, South Korea, Canada, and Japan. Their proximity and the Closer Economic Relations agreement in 1983 brought the economies of New Zealand and Australia close together and they operate in very similar fashions.

New Zealand's government is a unitary parliamentary representative democracy, as well as a constitutional, hereditary monarchy. While the Prime Minister is the most important person in the day-to-day government, above them in the constitutional hierarchy is New Zealand's monarch, the British King or Queen. Therefore, King Charles III is the current Head of State in New Zealand, having succeeded his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. Legislative power is divided between the king and the House of Representatives. Since the king is not often physically present, the Governor-General of New Zealand acts in his place. Executive power is more in the hands of the people and ministers for the House of Representatives are elected democraticaly.

New Zealand Population History

New Zealand was occupied by the Polynesian people since roughly 1200-1300 AD, but not much is known about the people of this time. Abel Tasman from the Netherlands came to the south island in 1642 and dubbed the territory with its current name. The British began to inhabit the area in the early 1800s.

The British officially established their rule in 1840, much to the disdain of the indigenous people, causing nearly 30 years of civil disputes. New Zealand sent thousands to fight for the British in World War I, causing mass casualties. They were in a similar situation during World War II. Post World War II, New Zealand gained full independence from Britian in 1947.

New Zealand Population Rank 2024
Area (km²)
270,467
2024 Growth Rate
Capital
GDP (IMF '23)
$249.41
GDP (UN '22)
$245.85 Bn

New Zealand - General Info

Sources