New Zealand Population Clock
New Zealand has an estimated population of about 5.32 million, which makes it the 110th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing slowly, at 0.65% a year.
The capital is Wellington.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How New Zealand's population is changing
New Zealand records about 161 births and 104 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 57 people per day, or about 20,819 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 17,403 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 84% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, New Zealand would take roughly 106 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 4.71 million to 5.32 million — a gain of 610,600, or 13.0%.
Where people live in New Zealand
With about 20 people per square kilometre, New Zealand is sparsely populated, well below the world average of 62. That ranks 100th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Mali and Algeria.
New Zealand covers about 263,310 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 5.32 million into that density figure.
About 84.0% of people live in urban areas, making New Zealand highly urbanised, above the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 4.47 million town and city dwellers and 852,066 living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in New Zealand
New Zealand has an ageing population: about 17.9% are under 15 and 17.6% are 65 or older.
The total fertility rate is about 1.57 births per woman, below the ~2.1 replacement level, so without net immigration the population would eventually decline. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 82.0 years, roughly 8.5 years above the global average of 73.5.
New Zealand at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5.32 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #110 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.65% | 2025 |
| Population density | 20 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 263,310 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 84.0% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.0 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 1.57 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 17.9% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 17.6% | 2025 |
| Net migration | 17,403 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 161 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 104 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of New Zealand?
Is New Zealand's population growing or shrinking?
How densely populated is New Zealand?
Where do these New Zealand figures come from?
Current local time in New Zealand
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank