The population of New Zealand is expected to grow by 33,054 in 2026 and reach 5,388,361 in 2027. Migration (including immigration and emigration) increases population by 16,435 people yearly. On average there are 57,962 births and 39,633 deaths in New Zealand per year. Rate of natural increase is approximately 0.34 percent per year. The population density of New Zealand has changed from 11.8 in 1980 to 20.1 in 2024.
| Current population | 5,383,497 people at present (Tuesday 3rd of November 2026) | |
| Median Age | 40.2 years |
| Life expectancy | 82.4 years | |
| Population density | 20.0 per km2 |
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,357,754 | 33,054 (0.6%) | 16,435 | 40.2 | 1.59 | 20 | 4,504,471 (84.1%) |
| 2025 | 5,324,700 | 34,700 (0.7%) | 17,403 | 40.0 | 1.58 | 20 | 4,472,634 (84.0%) |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 18,766 | 39.8 | 1.57 | 20 | 4,440,271 (83.9%) |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 21,404 | 39.6 | 1.57 | 20 | 4,362,275 (83.9%) |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 21,404 | 39.4 | 1.67 | 19 | 4,261,246 (83.9%) |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | -14,944 | 39.1 | 1.65 | 19 | 4,262,417 (83.8%) |
| 2020 | 5,072,400 | 102,100 (2.0%) | 42,124 | 38.8 | 1.62 | 19 | 4,251,376 (83.8%) |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 69,770 | 38.6 | 1.72 | 19 | 4,165,358 (83.8%) |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 59,139 | 38.5 | 1.71 | 19 | 4,106,790 (83.8%) |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 68,349 | 38.3 | 1.81 | 18 | 4,051,612 (84.2%) |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 75,512 | 38.2 | 1.87 | 18 | 3,992,436 (84.7%) |
| 2015 | 4,609,400 | 92,900 (2.0%) | 70,870 | 38.1 | 1.99 | 18 | 3,924,991 (85.2%) |
| 2010 | 4,350,700 | 48,100 (1.1%) | 6,722 | 37.2 | 2.17 | 17 | 3,735,572 (85.9%) |
| 2005 | 4,133,900 | 46,400 (1.1%) | 19,212 | 36.3 | 1.97 | 16 | 3,552,257 (85.9%) |
| 2000 | 3,857,700 | 22,600 (0.6%) | -6,604 | 35.5 | 1.98 | 15 | 3,306,279 (85.7%) |
| 1995 | 3,673,400 | 53,400 (1.5%) | 26,743 | 34.5 | 1.98 | 14 | 3,136,818 (85.4%) |
| 1990 | 3,329,800 | 30,600 (0.9%) | 70,432 | 33.8 | 2.18 | 13 | 2,823,140 (84.8%) |
| 1985 | 3,247,100 | 20,000 (0.6%) | -13,462 | 32.9 | 1.93 | 12 | 2,719,866 (83.8%) |
| 1980 | 3,112,900 | 3,900 (0.1%) | -15,423 | 31.8 | 2.03 | 12 | 2,596,314 (83.4%) |
| 1975 | 3,083,100 | 59,400 (1.9%) | 13,196 | 30.7 | 2.37 | 12 | 2,550,289 (82.7%) |
| 1970 | 2,810,700 | 37,900 (1.4%) | 4,511 | 30.4 | 3.17 | 11 | 2,261,088 (80.4%) |
| 1965 | 2,628,400 | 43,000 (1.6%) | 9,245 | 30.2 | 3.54 | 10 | 1,772,574 (67.4%) |
| 1960 | 2,371,800 | 47,900 (2.0%) | 3,846 | 30.6 | 4.24 | 9 | 1,479,424 (62.4%) |
In 2025 the population of New Zealand was 5,324,700 and the average age increased from 30.6 in 1960 to 40.0. Urban population has increased from 3,306,279 (85.7%) in 2000 to 4,504,471 (84.1%) in the current year. The population density of New Zealand has changed from 11.8 in 1980 to 20.1 in 2024.
| Year | Population | Year change | Migrants | Median age | Fertility rate | Density (Ppl/km2) | Urban population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 42,124 | 38.8 | 1.62 | 19 | 4,251,376 (83.8%) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 (0.0%) | 17,403 | 40.0 | 1.58 | 20 | 4,472,634 (84.0%) |
| 2030 | 5,466,252 | 23,895 (0.4%) | 12,297 | 41.1 | 1.62 | 20 | 4,622,415 (84.6%) |
| 2035 | 5,569,727 | 19,287 (0.4%) | 11,925 | 42.1 | 1.62 | 21 | 4,773,882 (85.7%) |
| 2040 | 5,659,103 | 16,935 (0.3%) | 12,687 | 43.0 | 1.62 | 21 | 4,959,965 (87.6%) |
| 2045 | 5,735,134 | 12,948 (0.2%) | 12,079 | 43.6 | 1.61 | 22 | 5,194,249 (90.6%) |
| 2050 | 5,787,281 | 11,334 (0.2%) | 13,647 | 44.1 | 1.62 | 22 | 5,479,566 (94.7%) |
The life expectancy at birth should reach 85.7 (84.6 years for male and 86.8 years for females). Population density will go up to 21.7 people per square kilometer.
The population growth rate is 0.62% (34,700 residents, including 37,718 deaths). The demographics of New Zealand constitutes of 2,693,673 women and 2,664,081 men, which means there are 989 men per 1000 women. As far as age distribution goes, 24.1% of population (1,292,826) is 19 or younger, 57.8% of population (3,098,389) is between age 20 and 64 and 18.0% of population (966,539) is over 65.