New Zealand: Population and Key Statistics
Despite a population of only 5.2 million, New Zealand is the world's largest dairy exporter, handling roughly one-third of global dairy trade. Sheep outnumber people in the country by about five to one.
The first country to grant women the right to vote, in 1893, New Zealand consistently places at the very top of global rankings for perceived corruption, ease of doing business, and quality of life. More than 85% of its electricity comes from renewable sources, chiefly hydroelectric and geothermal.
Population (2025)
5.3 million
5,324,700 people
GDP (2025)
$264bn
nominal, current US dollars
GDP per capita
$49,591
Life expectancy
82.0
years
Area
267,710
km²
Population density
20
people/km²
Internet usage
93.5%
Military Strength
Military expenditure (2024)
$3.0bn
2,999 million dollars
Share of GDP
1.19%
NATO guideline: 2%
Share of government spending
2.82%
Spending per capita
$563
per year, per person
Armed forces (2020)
10 thousand
10,000 active personnel
Armed forces per 1,000 people
1.9
0.35% of the labor force
Expenditure figures come from SIPRI and personnel counts from the IISS, both distributed through the World Bank. Source years differ by indicator, so each figure is shown with its own year.
Data sourcesPopulation and social indicators: UN World Population Prospects, World BankEconomy: IMF World Economic Outlook, World BankMilitary: SIPRI and IISS, distributed through the World BankLast refreshed: 2026-08-26