New Zealand Is Experiencing the Fastest Population Growth in the Past Decade

New Zealand is going through one of the fastest periods of population growth in its history, with over 5.3 million people now calling Aotearoa – the country’s traditional Māori name – home.

According to Kim Dunstan, a population analyst at Stats NZ, New Zealand’s population has grown by an average of 1.3% per year since 2018. This is equivalent to adding two cities the size of Hamilton in just a few years. The South Island has seen slightly faster growth at 1.4% annually.

This is the first population estimate that fully incorporates data from both the 2023 Census and the 2023 Post-enumeration Survey.

International Migration – The Key Driver of Growth

“In the past decade, New Zealand has experienced its fastest population growth ever, primarily driven by international migration,” said Dunstan.

Between 2018 and December 2023, New Zealand’s population grew from 4.94 million to 5.31 million.

Strong Population Growth in the North Island

Today, more than 4 million people live in the North Island, with over 2.5 million residents concentrated in regions such as Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty. During the same period, the South Island saw an increase of nearly 300,000 people.

These areas accounted for 62% of the total national growth since 2018, and along with Tasman and Canterbury, are among the only regions growing faster than the national average.

Fastest Growing Areas

Papakura (Auckland) is the fastest-growing area in the North Island, with 5% growth per year from 2018 to 2024.
Selwyn (Canterbury) leads the country with 5.1% annual growth, followed by Queenstown Lakes at 3.7% per year.

According to Dunstan, much of this growth is driven by domestic migration, particularly to outer suburban areas where people are seeking better quality of life, lower housing costs, and improved access to services.

Areas Experiencing Population Decline

In contrast to the national trend, some regions are seeing a population decline. The Chatham Islands, for example, have seen a drop from 690 to 610 residents by 2024.

In Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, the population slightly decreased from 211,200 in 2018 to 209,900 in 2024.

Job and Residency Opportunities in New Zealand

With such rapid population growth, demand for skilled workers is rising across New Zealand – particularly in high-demand sectors like food processing, construction, healthcare, and community services.

If you’re looking for employment and residency opportunities in New Zealand under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) pathway, Koroo is your trusted partner!