New Zealand’s population has ballooned to 5.3 million, with most of the explosive growth driven by international migration, according to the latest Stats NZ data.
Since 2018, the country has added the equivalent of two cities the size of Hamilton, placing enormous pressure on infrastructure, housing, and public services—particularly in Auckland and other fast-growing regions.
While advocates tout internal migration and census improvements, open-door immigration policies are transforming the country at a pace many communities cannot sustain, while some rural areas face depopulation and neglect.
The population has grown from 4.94 million in December 2018, as estimated after the 2018 Census. Since then, the population has increased by 374,400 people, or an average annual increase of 1.2 percent each year. Growth over the previous 20 years (1999 to 2018) averaged 1.3 percent a year.
“The increase in population since 2018 is roughly equivalent to adding two cities the size of Hamilton,” Stats NZ spokeswoman Victoria Treliving said.
Natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration (international arrivals minus international departures) contribute to New Zealand’s population change.
“Natural increase has been a steady contributor to population growth historically, but it has declined over the last decade as the population ages,” Treliving said.
“In contrast, net migration has been the main contributor to New Zealand’s population growth over the last decade but has fluctuated widely.”
Image credit: Metin Ozer
