New Zealand population growth: New Zealand recorded the fastest population growth in a decade, mainly due to internal immigration

New Zealand is experiencing one of the most important demographic trends in its history, with more than 5.3 million people now calling it Aotearoa (the Maori name of New Zealand). According to data released by NZ STATS, the country’s population has grown by an average of 1.3% since 2018, similar to adding two cities with Hamilton.

New demographics include data from the 2023 Census and Post-issue Survey (PES).

STATS NZ population analyst Kim Dunstan said this marks the fastest population growth in the past decade, which is expected to be driven primarily by international migration.
“Over the past decade, New Zealand has experienced the fastest population growth in its history driven by international migration,” Dunstan said.

Between 2018 and 2023, all major races have grown. The Asian population grew by 4.8% annually, followed by Melaa (Middle East, Latin America and Africa), at 6.1%. The Pacific population grew by 2.6%, while the Maori ethnic population grew by 2.2%. The growth rate of the “European or other” group is 0.3%.

According to Victoria Treliving, spokesperson for population estimates, forecasts and coverage, younger generations are increasingly identifying with multiple races. Now, there are more than one in the New Zealanders, and one in ten of the nine points in 2018. North Island has homes of more than 4 million people, with more than 2.5 million people concentrated in the North, Auckland and the excess Bay area, accounting for only 62% of the country’s population since 2018, and Papakura accounts for the growth of the region.

The South Island grew at a slightly higher rate of 1.4% per year, while the North was 1.3%. Canterbury’s Selwyn district has grown by the largest annual growth of 5.1%. Queenstown’s lakes are close behind, with an annual growth of 3.7%.

Even in the indigenous Maori community, their population has increased. As of June 30, 2023, more than one million people in New Zealand have been identified as gross-profit and account for one-fifth of the country’s residents.

They are also often younger, with two-thirds of Maori ancestry under the age of 40, while the non-Mary population accounts for only half.

But population declines in some areas, such as the Chatham Islands, which lost an estimated 80 people, and as of 2024, its population dropped to 610 residents.

Urban hubs like Wellington have seen a slight decline, with the capital population falling from 211,200 in 2018 to 209,900 in 2024.

The population continues to age, and migration remains a major growth factor due to the slowdown of natural increase.