New Zealand facts & statistics: the country by the numbers

Illustration of a New Zealand landscape: snow-capped Southern Alps behind a large blue lake, sheep grazing on green hills, small islands off the coast and a campervan on a winding road.

Area, population, islands, mountains, lakes and sheep: the key numbers about New Zealand, each with its date and official source.

Published

New Zealand had about 5.36 million residents at 30 June 2026, according to provisional Stats NZ figures1, on about 268,000 square kilometres (103,000 square miles) of land, lakes and rivers2. That is about 20 people per square kilometre (52 per square mile), against 285 in the United Kingdom3.

Key facts

  • 5.36 million people lived in New Zealand at 30 June 2026 (provisional)1.
  • About 268,000 km² (103,000 sq mi) is the country's total area, including lakes and rivers2.
  • More than 600 smaller islands lie within about 50 km (31 miles) of the mainland coast (2009)4.
  • 3,724 m (12,218 ft) is the height of Aoraki/Mount Cook, the highest mountain5.
  • 425 km (264 miles) is the length of the Waikato River, the longest river6.
  • 616 km² (238 sq mi) is the area of Lake Taupō (Taupo), the largest freshwater lake in Australasia (2025)7.
  • 23.3 million sheep were farmed at 30 June 2025, about 4.4 for every person8.
  • 32% of the country (8.7 million hectares) is public conservation land managed by the Department of Conservation (2022 figures)9.

How big is New Zealand?

New Zealand covers 267,707 square kilometres (103,362 square miles), including its lakes and rivers, according to Land Information New Zealand figures in the New Zealand Official Yearbook 20082. That is almost exactly the size of the US state of Colorado (269,601 km²)10 and about 71% of the size of Japan (377,980 km²)11.

  • The South Island is the larger of the two main islands at 150,416 km² (58,076 sq mi), 56% of the country; the North Island covers 114,154 km² (44,075 sq mi)2.
  • New Zealand is more than 1,600 km (1,000 miles) long and 450 km (280 miles) across at its widest point2.
  • To drive the length of both islands, compare campervan hire in New Zealand.
How big is New Zealand? Area compared with Japan and ColoradoTotal area in square kilometres, including inland waterSource: Stats NZ / Land Information New Zealand (NZ Official Yearbook 2008); US Census Bureaustate area measurements; Statistics Bureau of Japan, Statistical Handbook of Japan 2026Japan377,980Colorado (US state)269,601New Zealand267,707Area (km²)
Total area including inland water. New Zealand: Land Information New Zealand (published 2008); Colorado: US Census Bureau; Japan: Statistical Handbook of Japan 2026.
Land area of New Zealand by island
IslandArea (km²)Area (sq mi)Share of total (%)
North Island114,154244,07542.6
South Island150,416258,07656.2
Stewart Island/Rakiura1,68126490.6
Chatham Islands96323720.4
Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku1132440.04
Raoul Island342130.01
Other offshore islands (20 km² or larger)34621340.1
Total267,7072103,362100

Source · Stats NZ, New Zealand Official Yearbook 2008, Table 1.01 (data: Land Information New Zealand). Areas include lakes and rivers.

How many people live in New Zealand?

New Zealand's estimated resident population was 5,357,300 at 30 June 2026, according to provisional Stats NZ estimates1. The population grew by 36,400 (0.7%) in the year to June 2026.

  • Births minus deaths added 18,700 people, the lowest natural increase since the early 1940s, during the Second World War; net migration added 17,6001.
  • The population has grown 53% since 30 June 1991, when it was 3,495,1001.
  • There were 2,699,500 females and 2,657,800 males at 30 June 20261.
  • Overseas visitor arrivals were 3.71 million in the year to August 202612.
New Zealand population, 1991 to 2026Estimated resident population at 30 June each year, number of people (2026 provisional)Source: Stats NZ, National population estimates: At 30 June 20262M4M6MEstimated resident population199119941997200020032006200920122015201820212024At 30 June
Estimated resident population at 30 June each year; 2026 is provisional.

How crowded is New Zealand?

New Zealand has about 20 people per square kilometre (52 per square mile): 5,357,300 residents1 spread over 267,707 km²2 (our calculation). The United Kingdom has 285 residents per km² (2024)3, and Japan about 328 (2024, our calculation)11.

People per square kilometre: New Zealand, the UK and JapanResidents per km²; New Zealand 2026 and Japan 2024 are our calculations, UK 2024 is the ONS figureSource: Motorhome Choice calculation from Stats NZ (population at 30 June 2026; area from LINZ)and the Statistical Handbook of Japan 2026; ONS population density 2024Japan328United Kingdom285New Zealand20People per km²
People per square kilometre. New Zealand (2026) and Japan (2024) are our calculations; the UK figure (2024) is from the Office for National Statistics.

What are the largest cities in New Zealand?

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, with an estimated 1,816,000 residents at 30 June 2025, about one in three New Zealanders (34%)13. Christchurch (419,200) and the capital, Wellington (210,800), come next.

  • Hamilton grew fastest of the five largest cities, up 1.4% in the year to June 202513.
  • Wellington city's population fell by 720 (0.3%) over the same year13.
  • These are council areas, not urban areas: Auckland's figure includes the Waiheke and Aotea/Great Barrier local boards13.
Largest cities and districts in New Zealand by population, 2025Estimated resident population (number of people) of the 10 largest council areas at 30 June 2025, provisionalSource: Stats NZ, Subnational population estimates: At 30 June 2025Auckland1,816,000Christchurch city419,200Wellington city210,800Hamilton city192,100Tauranga city161,000Dunedin city132,800Lower Hutt city114,200Whangārei district100,600Waikato district91,100Palmerston North city90,500Estimated resident population
Estimated resident population of territorial authority (council) areas at 30 June 2025, provisional. Stats NZ publishes the 2026 estimates in late October 2026.

How many islands does New Zealand have?

New Zealand has two main islands and more than 600 smaller ones within about 50 km (31 miles) of the coast, according to Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand4. Farther out are the outlying groups: the Kermadecs, the Chathams and the subantarctic islands.

  • Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island, at 1,681 km² (649 sq mi)2.
  • The Bay of Islands alone has 150 islands, and Rakiura National Park includes 170 islands and rock stacks4.
  • The Chatham Islands lie 850 km (530 miles) east of Christchurch2.

How long is New Zealand's coastline?

New Zealand has more than 18,000 km (11,000 miles) of coastline, long for a country of its size, according to the New Zealand Official Yearbook 20082. The coast is deeply indented in places, which gives the country many natural harbours.

How high is New Zealand's highest mountain?

Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain at 3,724 m (12,218 ft), according to the Department of Conservation5. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park has 19 peaks over 3,000 m (9,843 ft), and glaciers cover 40% of the park.

  • Aoraki is the mountain's Māori name: in legend, Aoraki was a young boy whose canoe was stranded on a reef, and the south wind turned him and his brothers to stone, creating the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana5.

How long is the longest river in New Zealand?

The Waikato is New Zealand's longest river, at about 425 km (264 miles), according to Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA)6. Its 14,260 km² (5,506 sq mi) catchment includes more than 17,000 km of tributary streams, Lake Taupō and eight hydro-electric dams.

  • The river is Lake Taupō's only outlet; more than 30 rivers and streams flow into the lake7.

How big is Lake Taupō?

Lake Taupō (Taupo) covers 616 km² (238 sq mi), making it the largest freshwater lake in Australasia, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand7. Its maximum depth is about 184 m (604 ft), and it holds more than 60 cubic kilometres of water.

  • The lake fills a caldera created by the Ōruanui eruption about 25,500 years ago7.

How deep is the deepest lake in New Zealand?

Lake Hauroko is New Zealand's deepest lake, at 462 m (1,516 ft), according to the New Zealand Official Yearbook 20082. Lake Manapōuri (444 m) and Lake Te Anau (417 m) are the next deepest.

  • Six of the lakes larger than 20 km² are more than 300 m (984 ft) deep: Hauroko, Manapōuri, Te Anau, Hāwea, Wakatipu and Wānaka2.
New Zealand’s deepest lakesMaximum depth in metres, lakes larger than 20 km²Source: Stats NZ, New Zealand Official Yearbook 2008, Table 1.04 (depths: NIWA)Hauroko462Manapōuri444Te Anau417Hāwea384Wakatipu380Wānaka311Waikaremoana248Coleridge200Maximum depth (m)
Maximum depth of lakes larger than 20 km². Depths from NIWA as published in the New Zealand Official Yearbook 2008.

How many sheep are there in New Zealand?

New Zealand had 23.3 million sheep at 30 June 2025, according to Stats NZ8, or about 4.4 for every person (our calculation). The flock fell 1% in the year to June 2025.

  • In 2002 there were about 10 sheep per person: 39.6 million sheep and 3.9 million people8.
  • There were 57.9 million sheep in 1990, more than twice today's flock14.
  • Dairy cattle numbered 5.7 million and beef cattle 3.8 million at 30 June 20258.
Sheep per person in New Zealand, 2002 to 2025Sheep at 30 June divided by the estimated resident population at 30 June (our calculation)Source: Motorhome Choice calculation from Stats NZ, Agricultural production statistics: Year toJune 2025, and National population estimates: At 30 June 202624681012Sheep per person200220042006200820102012201420162018202020222024At 30 June
Sheep per person at 30 June each year (our calculation).

How much of New Zealand is conservation land?

About 8.7 million hectares (33,600 sq mi), or 32% of New Zealand, is public conservation land managed by the Department of Conservation, according to its November 2023 briefing to the incoming minister9. That includes nearly half of the South Island.

  • When the department was set up in 1987 it managed 8 million hectares, 30% of the country9.
  • It also looks after about 4.5 million hectares of water and 15,000 km (9,300 miles) of track9.

More New Zealand facts & statistics

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References

  1. National population estimates: At 30 June 2026stats.govt.nzPublished 2026-08-18 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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  2. New Zealand Official Yearbook 2008www3.stats.govt.nzPublished 2008-01-01 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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  3. Population density (Explore local statistics)ons.gov.ukPublished 2025-09-26 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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  5. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Parkdoc.govt.nzRetrieved 2026-10-14
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  8. Agricultural production statistics: Year to June 2025stats.govt.nzPublished 2026-04-16 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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  9. Briefing to the incoming Minister of Conservation, November 2023doc.govt.nzPublished 2023-11-01 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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  11. Statistical Handbook of Japan 2026stat.go.jpPublished 2026-01-01 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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  12. International travel: August 2026stats.govt.nzPublished 2026-10-14 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
  13. Subnational population estimates: At 30 June 2025stats.govt.nzPublished 2025-10-29 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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  14. Livestock numbers: Data to 2023stats.govt.nzPublished 2024-12-12 · Retrieved 2026-10-14
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