New Zealand — Population growth
Population Growth (Annual %) for New Zealand, 1961–2025.
Population growth for New Zealand was 0.65% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 64 years, from 1961 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 2.54% in 1962. The lowest was -0.39% in 1979 (about -1.7× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -1.73% per year.
New Zealand ranks 125 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 58%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 0.64%, so New Zealand sits above it. It peaked in 1962 and has fallen 74% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 68%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 17 of 37 economies; Naoero (0.65%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 4134% in 2023. That is 56% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 128th of 216 in 1961 → 151st of 216 in 1970 → 202nd of 216 in 1980 → 150th of 216 in 1990 → 161st of 217 in 2000 → 115th of 217 in 2010 → 51st of 217 in 2020 → 125th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1961 to 2025
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.65% | -1.1 pp |
| 2024 | 1.72% | -0.6 pp |
| 2023 | 2.3% | +2.4 pp |
| 2022 | -0.06% | -0.3 pp |
| 2021 | 0.24% | -1.8 pp |
| 2020 | 2.03% | +0.6 pp |
| 2019 | 1.41% | -0.4 pp |
| 2018 | 1.79% | -0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 2.09% | -0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 2.25% | +0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 2.04% | +0.4 pp |
| 2014 | 1.66% | +0.9 pp |
| 2013 | 0.77% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 0.55% | -0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 0.76% | -0.3 pp |
| 2010 | 1.11% | +0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 1% | +0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 0.85% | -0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 0.93% | -0.3 pp |
| 2006 | 1.22% | +0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 1.13% | -0.4 pp |
| 2004 | 1.49% | -0.5 pp |
| 2003 | 1.97% | +0.2 pp |
| 2002 | 1.74% | +1.1 pp |
| 2001 | 0.59% | +0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 0.59% | +0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 0.53% | -0.4 pp |
| 1998 | 0.89% | -0.4 pp |
| 1997 | 1.31% | -0.3 pp |
| 1996 | 1.58% | +0.1 pp |
| 1995 | 1.46% | +0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 1.33% | +0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 1.14% | +0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 1.04% | +0.1 pp |
| 1990 | 0.92% | +0.4 pp |
| 1989 | 0.48% | +0.2 pp |
| 1988 | 0.27% | -0.6 pp |
| 1987 | 0.86% | +0.9 pp |
| 1986 | -0.02% | -0.6 pp |
| 1985 | 0.62% | -0.2 pp |
| 1984 | 0.87% | -0.5 pp |
| 1983 | 1.36% | +0.4 pp |
| 1982 | 0.99% | +0.6 pp |
| 1981 | 0.38% | +0.3 pp |
| 1980 | 0.13% | +0.5 pp |
| 1979 | -0.39% | -0.4 pp |
| 1978 | 0.03% | -0.3 pp |
| 1977 | 0.31% | -0.6 pp |
| 1976 | 0.88% | -1.1 pp |
| 1975 | 1.95% | -0.1 pp |
| 1974 | 2.09% | +0.1 pp |
| 1973 | 1.96% | +0.2 pp |
| 1972 | 1.77% | +0.3 pp |
| 1971 | 1.49% | +0.1 pp |
| 1970 | 1.36% | +0.5 pp |
| 1969 | 0.89% | +0.0 pp |
| 1968 | 0.88% | -0.9 pp |
| 1967 | 1.79% | -0.0 pp |
| 1966 | 1.79% | +0.1 pp |
| 1965 | 1.65% | -0.4 pp |
| 1964 | 2.09% | +0.1 pp |
| 1963 | 1.99% | -0.6 pp |
| 1962 | 2.54% | +0.5 pp |
| 1961 | 2% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was New Zealand’s Population growth in 1962?
2.54% (1962). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is New Zealand’s Population growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1961 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -67.3% in total — about 1.7% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.POP.GROW. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 0.65%; 2024: 1.72%; 2023: 2.3%; 2022: -0.06%; 2021: 0.24%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.POP.GROW — Population Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.