Updated
Overview
Australia has 5.2 times the population of New Zealand: 27.61 million people against 5.32 million (2025).
Australia's economy is 6.8 times the size of New Zealand's, at $1.80T versus $264.06B.
Per person, Australia is the wealthier of the two: $65,130 against $49,591 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Australia | New Zealand | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.80T | $264.06B | 2025 | $1.75T / $260.24B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $65,130 | $49,591 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.4% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | 3.2% / 2.9% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.1% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 90 | 86 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,436 | $3,798 | 2021 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,655 | $2,427 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.95 | $5.14 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 27.61 million | 5.32 million | 2025 | 27.49 million / 5.16 million |
| Population growth | 1.5% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.3 yrs | 37.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.64 | 1.65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 96% | 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 7,692,024 km² | 270,467 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 3.6/km² | 19.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 387 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.5 t | Lower: 6.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $33.82B | $3.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 1.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 60,000 | 10,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Australia is growing faster: 1.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in Australia and 2.8% in New Zealand.
Average monthly earnings favour Australia: $4,436 against $3,798 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 38.3 (Australia) and 37.7 (New Zealand).
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in Australia (83.1 vs 82.0).
Geography
By land area, Australia is 28 times the size of New Zealand: 7,692,024 km² versus 270,467 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
New Zealand is far more densely settled: 20 people per km² against 4.
Military
Australia spends 11 times as much on defence as New Zealand: $33.82B versus $3.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Australia fields the larger armed forces: 60,000 personnel against 10,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Australia bigger than New Zealand?
- Australia is larger by land area. Australia covers 7,692,024 km² while New Zealand covers 270,467 km², so Australia is 28 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Australia or New Zealand?
- Australia has the larger population: 27.61 million versus 5.32 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Australia richer than New Zealand?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $49,591. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.80T for Australia versus $264.06B for New Zealand.
- Who spends more on their military, Australia or New Zealand?
- Australia spends more: $33.82B versus $3.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).