The total population in New Zealand was estimated at 5.3 million people in 2025, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. Looking back, in the year of 1960, New Zealand had a population of 2.4 million people. source: Statistics New Zealand

Population in New Zealand is expected to reach 5.38 Million by the end of 2026, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the New Zealand Population is projected to trend around 5.42 Million in 2027 and 5.45 Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 2889.00 2885.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Change 0.20 0.50 percent Mar 2026
Employment Rate 66.70 66.70 percent Mar 2026
Full Time Employment 2303.00 2300.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Participation Rate 70.40 70.50 percent Mar 2026
Labour Costs Index 1450.00 1443.00 points Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 588.00 585.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Population 5.34 5.31 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 1391.00 1380.00 points Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 163.00 165.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.30 5.40 percent Mar 2026
Wages 44.20 44.08 NZD/Hour Mar 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 40.66 40.54 NZD/Hour Mar 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 15.90 13.50 percent Mar 2026


New Zealand Population
The population of New Zealand represents 0.06 percent of the world´s total population which arguably means that one person in every 1585 people on the planet is a resident of New Zealand.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.34 5.31 5.34 2.37 1960 - 2025 Million Yearly