New Zealand
- Capital:
- Wellington
- Continent:
- Oceania
- Region(s):
- Australia and New Zealand
- Largest Cities:
- Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington
- Abbreviation:
- NZL
5,287,479
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
5,287,479
As of Jan 1, 2026 - Source
New Zealand's population is projected to be 5,824,249 by 2097.
Historical
Switch the toggle to see projected data.
| Year ↓ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,287,479 | 0.69% | 126 |
| 2025 | 5,251,899 | 0.71% | 126 |
| 2020 | 5,069,895 | 1.61% | 121 |
| 2019 | 4,989,403 | 1.81% | 122 |
| 2018 | 4,900,847 | 1.83% | 122 |
| 2017 | 4,812,752 | 2.08% | 122 |
| 2015 | 4,614,029 | 1.2% | 124 |
| 2010 | 4,347,770 | 1.01% | 123 |
| 2005 | 4,135,007 | 1.4% | 123 |
| 2000 | 3,857,574 | 0.98% | 123 |
| Year ↑ | Population | Change | Pop. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,287,479 | 0.69% | 126 |
| 2032 | 5,456,117 | 0.5% | 125 |
| 2037 | 5,560,355 | 0.38% | 125 |
| 2042 | 5,654,120 | 0.34% | 125 |
| 2047 | 5,724,904 | 0.25% | 123 |
| 2052 | 5,776,883 | 0.18% | 124 |
| 2057 | 5,818,439 | 0.14% | 123 |
| 2062 | 5,838,140 | 0.07% | 124 |
| 2067 | 5,854,647 | 0.06% | 121 |
| 2072 | 5,861,376 | 0.02% | 121 |
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Auckland has a metropolitan area population of 1,536,416, comprising 29.06%% of New Zealand's total population.
| Rank | City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | % of National Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 1,536,416 | 29.06% |
| 2 | Christchurch | 410,972 | 7.77% |
| 3 | Wellington | 207,964 | 3.93% |
| 4 | Hamilton | 194,076 | 3.67% |
| 5 | Tauranga | 169,633 | 3.21% |
| 6 | Lower Hutt | 112,340 | 2.12% |
| 7 | Dunedin | 102,287 | 1.93% |
| 8 | Palmerston North | 80,984 | 1.53% |
| 9 | Hibiscus Coast | 72,288 | 1.37% |
| 10 | Napier | 67,430 | 1.28% |
As of 2026, New Zealand has a total population of 5,287,479, ranking as the 126th most populous nation in the world.
New Zealand has a net population change of approximately 95 people per day, driven by 159 births, 109 deaths, and net immigration of 45 people.
New Zealand represents 0.07% of the total global population and 11.22% of Oceania's population.
New Zealand has a population density of 20.1 people per km² (approximately 52.0 per mi²), making it the 198th most densely populated country in the world.
Currently, 83.92% of the population resides in urban areas, a figure that is increasing annually.
*Rates last updated: June 8, 2026
As of 2026, the largest ethnicity in New Zealand is European (64.1%) , followed by Maori (16.5%) .
As of 2026, no religion is the largest religion in New Zealand, comprising 48.6% of the population.