New Zealand Population
East Asia & Pacific · 125th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
5,367,259
The population of New Zealand is about 5,367,259 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 5.4 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.06% of the world's people.
New Zealand is ranked 125th of 217 by population. The population is still growing, by about 0.62% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 5.8 million. That is 2.3 times its 1960 population of 2.4 million. Population density is 20 people per square kilometre. 84% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
5.4 million
Yearly change
+0.62%
World rank
125th
Share of world
0.06%
Density
20/km²
Land area
263,310 km²
Life expectancy
82.0 yrs
Births per woman
1.57
GDP per capita
$49,591
GDP
$264.1B
Population of New Zealand, 1960–2050
New Zealand population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,371,800 | — | 9 |
| 1970 | 2,810,700 | +1.37% | 11 |
| 1980 | 3,112,900 | +0.13% | 12 |
| 1990 | 3,329,800 | +0.93% | 13 |
| 2000 | 3,857,700 | +0.59% | 15 |
| 2010 | 4,350,700 | +1.12% | 17 |
| 2020 | 5,072,400 | +2.05% | 19 |
| 2024 | 5,290,000 | +1.73% | 20 |
| 2026proj. | 5,357,754 | +0.62% | 20 |
| 2030proj. | 5,466,252 | +0.44% | 21 |
| 2040proj. | 5,659,103 | +0.30% | 21 |
| 2050proj. | 5,787,281 | +0.20% | 22 |
New Zealand vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 33.2 times as many people as New Zealand. Bangladesh is 67.1 times more densely populated.
New Zealand population: questions and answers
What is the population of New Zealand in 2026?
About 5,357,754 (5.4 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is New Zealand's population growing?
Yes, by about 0.62% a year (2026).
What is the population density of New Zealand?
About 20 people per km², with a land area of 263,310 km².
What will the population of New Zealand be in 2050?
About 5.8 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of New Zealand?
Wellington.
What is the life expectancy in New Zealand?
82.0 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.