The following is a comparison between Australia and New Zealand, two developed countries in the Oceania region. Let’s read.
Australia and New Zealand – country comparison
GDP
Australia has a larger GDP and a higher GDP per capita than New Zealand. Both countries are advanced economies, with the service sector accounting for the largest share of economic activity. The table below compares the GDP and GDP per capita of the two countries.
| 2026 (IMF) | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Australian Dollar | New Zealand Dollar |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $2.11 trillion | $273.4 billion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $75.17 thousand | $51.04 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $2.11 trillion | $313.68 billion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $75.04 thousand | $58.56 thousand |
| Real GDP growth | 1.9% | 2% |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Population
Australia has a larger population than New Zealand. Both countries are sparsely populated. The table below compares the population, total fertility rate (TFR), and the percentage of the population in different age groups in the two countries.
| 2025 estimate | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 27 million | 5.3 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 18% | 17.8% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 64% | 64.4% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 18% | 17.8% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.6 | 1.7 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Life
| Australia | New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 83.92 | 82.09 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 7th | 17th |
| Human Development Index value | 0.958 | 0.938 |
Overview
Australia is one of the largest countries in the world. It is more than 28 times larger than New Zealand.
| Australia | New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | around 7.7 million sq km | around 268,000 sq km |
| Population | 27 million (2025 estimate) | 5.3 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Canberra | Wellington |
| Largest city | Sydney | Auckland |
| Most spoken language | English | English |
| Most popular sport | Australian rules football | Rugby |
(Also read: India vs New Zealand: GDP, Population, Life, Area, and Key Comparisons)
Geography
| Australia | New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Oceania | Oceania |
| Forest cover (2023) | 17.4% | 37.8% |
| Total number of time zones | 9 | 5 |
| Highest mountain | Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m/7,310 ft) (mainland) | Mount Cook/Aoraki (3,724 m/12,218 ft) |
| Major rivers | Murray River, Murrumbidgee River, Darling River, Lachlan River, Warrego River, etc. | Waikato River, Clutha River, Whanganui River, Taieri River, Rangitīkei River, etc. |
| Longest river | Murray River | Waikato River |
| Largest island | Mainland Australia | South Island |
| Largest lake | Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre | Lake Taupō |
| National animal | Kangaroo and Emu | Kiwi |
Tourism
| Australia | New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 8.3 million (2024) | 3.2 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 21 | 3 |
| Popular places to visit | Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, etc. | Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington, Bay Of Islands, Tongariro National Park, Napier, Fiordland National Park, etc. |