Which country is more populous, Australia or New Zealand?
Australia has a larger population compared to New Zealand. Both Australia and New Zealand are sparsely populated countries.
Population of Australia – 27 million (2025 estimate)
Population of New Zealand – 5.3 million (2025 estimate)
GDP comparison
2024 (IMF)
Australia
New Zealand
Currency
Australian Dollar
New Zealand Dollar
GDP (nominal)
$1.8 trillion
$257.73 billion
GDP per capita
$66.25 thousand
$48.31 thousand
GDP (PPP)
$1.9 trillion
$287.26 billion
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
Women’s suffrage
New Zealand was the first self-governing country in the world to give voting rights to women (in 1893).
In 1902, Australia became the second country in the world to provide voting rights to females. However, Indigenous Australian women were granted the right to vote in 1962.
Overview
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
International tourist arrivals
8.3 million (2024)
1.4 million (2022)
Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
20
3
Geography
Australia
New Zealand
Region
Oceania
Oceania
Highest mountain
Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) (mainland)
Mount Cook/Aoraki (3,724 m)
Major rivers
Murray River, Murrumbidgee River, Darling River, Lachlan River, Warrego River, etc.
Waikato River, Clutha River, Whanganui River, Taieri River, Rangitīkei River, etc.