New Zealand Population History
1960 - 2026
New Zealand's population has grown from 2,371,800 in 1960 to 5,200,000 in 2023, a total increase of 119.2% (2.19x). The population reached its all-time recorded high in 2023.
1960 Population
2.4M
2023 Population
5.2M
Total Growth
119.2%
Peak Year
2023
Population by Decade
1960
2.4M
1970
2.8M
1980
3.1M
1990
3.3M
2000
3.9M
2010
4.4M
2020
5.1M
2023
5.2M
Growth Rate by Period
1960-1965
+2.08%
1965-1970
+1.35%
1970-1975
+1.87%
1975-1980
+0.19%
1980-1985
+0.85%
1985-1990
+0.50%
1990-1995
+1.98%
1995-2000
+0.98%
2000-2005
+1.39%
2005-2010
+1.03%
2010-2015
+1.16%
2015-2020
+1.93%
Year-by-Year Population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,200,000 | +118,300 |
| 2022 | 5,081,700 | -2,900 |
| 2021 | 5,084,600 | +12,200 |
| 2020 | 5,072,400 | +102,100 |
| 2019 | 4,970,300 | +69,700 |
| 2018 | 4,900,600 | +87,000 |
| 2017 | 4,813,600 | +99,500 |
| 2016 | 4,714,100 | +104,700 |
| 2015 | 4,609,400 | +92,900 |
| 2014 | 4,516,500 | +74,400 |
| 2013 | 4,442,100 | +34,000 |
| 2012 | 4,408,100 | +24,100 |
| 2011 | 4,384,000 | +33,300 |
| 2010 | 4,350,700 | +48,100 |
| 2009 | 4,302,600 | +42,800 |
| 2008 | 4,259,800 | +36,000 |
| 2007 | 4,223,800 | +39,200 |
| 2006 | 4,184,600 | +50,700 |
| 2005 | 4,133,900 | +46,400 |
| 2004 | 4,087,500 | +60,300 |
| 2003 | 4,027,200 | +78,700 |
| 2002 | 3,948,500 | +68,000 |
| 2001 | 3,880,500 | +22,800 |
| 2000 | 3,857,700 | +22,600 |
| 1999 | 3,835,100 | +20,100 |
| 1998 | 3,815,000 | +33,700 |
| 1997 | 3,781,300 | +49,300 |
| 1996 | 3,732,000 | +58,600 |
| 1995 | 3,673,400 | +53,400 |
| 1994 | 3,620,000 | +47,800 |
| 1993 | 3,572,200 | +40,500 |
| 1992 | 3,531,700 | +36,600 |
| 1991 | 3,495,100 | +165,300 |
| 1990 | 3,329,800 | +30,600 |
| 1989 | 3,299,200 | +15,800 |
| 1988 | 3,283,400 | +9,000 |
| 1987 | 3,274,400 | +28,100 |
| 1986 | 3,246,300 | -800 |
| 1985 | 3,247,100 | +20,000 |
| 1984 | 3,227,100 | +27,800 |
| 1983 | 3,199,300 | +43,200 |
| 1982 | 3,156,100 | +31,200 |
| 1981 | 3,124,900 | +12,000 |
| 1980 | 3,112,900 | +3,900 |
| 1979 | 3,109,000 | -12,200 |
| 1978 | 3,121,200 | +1,000 |
| 1977 | 3,120,200 | +9,700 |
| 1976 | 3,110,500 | +27,400 |
| 1975 | 3,083,100 | +59,400 |
| 1974 | 3,023,700 | +62,400 |
| 1973 | 2,961,300 | +57,400 |
| 1972 | 2,903,900 | +50,900 |
| 1971 | 2,853,000 | +42,300 |
| 1970 | 2,810,700 | +37,900 |
| 1969 | 2,772,800 | +24,700 |
| 1968 | 2,748,100 | +24,000 |
| 1967 | 2,724,100 | +48,200 |
| 1966 | 2,675,900 | +47,500 |
| 1965 | 2,628,400 | +43,000 |
| 1964 | 2,585,400 | +53,600 |
| 1963 | 2,531,800 | +49,800 |
| 1962 | 2,482,000 | +62,300 |
| 1961 | 2,419,700 | +47,900 |
| 1960 | 2,371,800 | — |