Population of New Zealand
As of August 2026, the population of New Zealand is 5.3 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 35 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.68%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 36.3 years in 2016 to 38 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 82.5 years and population density is 20 inhabitants per square kilometer.
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Population Growth
The population growth rate of New Zealand peaked in 1990, reaching around 3.06% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.65% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 103.78 thousand in 1990 to nearly 34.51 thousand in 2026.
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Life Expectancy
In New Zealand, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 80 years in 2006 to 82.5 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 3 years over the past 2 decades.
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Most populous cities in New Zealand
The cities of New Zealand are mostly small, but 9 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Auckland, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 1.5 million inhabitants. It is followed by Christchurch, Canterbury with 419.2 thousand and Wellington, Wellington Region with 381.9 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in New Zealand:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 1,547,200 |
| 2 | Christchurch, Canterbury | 419,200 |
| 3 | Wellington, Wellington Region | 381,900 |
| 4 | Manukau City, Auckland | 362,000 |
| 5 | North Shore, Auckland | 258,697 |
| 6 | Hamilton, Waikato Region | 192,100 |
| 7 | Tauranga, Bay of Plenty | 161,000 |
| 8 | Dunedin, Otago | 132,800 |
| 9 | Lower Hutt, Wellington Region | 114,200 |
| 10 | Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui | 90,500 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | New Plymouth, Taranaki Region | 90,100 |
| 12 | Hastings, Hawke's Bay Region | 88,300 |
| 13 | Napier, Hawke's Bay Region | 66,400 |
| 14 | Rotorua, Bay of Plenty | 65,901 |
| 15 | Porirua, Wellington Region | 61,500 |
| 16 | Invercargill, Southland | 58,000 |
| 17 | Papatoetoe, Auckland | 56,010 |
| 18 | Nelson, Nelson Region | 54,400 |
| 19 | Whangarei, Northland | 50,900 |
| 20 | Whanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui | 49,200 |