New Zealand vs Sweden: Population in largest city
New Zealand
1.71 million
in 2025
Sweden
1.74 million
in 2025
New Zealand rank
97th
Sweden rank
94th
Population in largest city over time
- New Zealand
- Sweden
How they compare
Sweden currently reports 1.74 million against 1.71 million in New Zealand, a difference of 26,630.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 66 shared years of data; in 1960 it was Sweden ahead.
New Zealand ranks 97th and Sweden ranks 94th of 153 countries.
Sweden has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | Sweden | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 522,811 | 959,921 | 437,110 | Sweden |
| 1970s | 711,545 | 1.02 million | 311,191 | Sweden |
| 1980s | 811,126 | 1.01 million | 199,156 | Sweden |
| 1990s | 984,590 | 1.12 million | 135,802 | Sweden |
| 2000s | 1.22 million | 1.26 million | 33,978 | Sweden |
| 2010s | 1.45 million | 1.48 million | 29,468 | Sweden |
| 2020s | 1.66 million | 1.69 million | 26,623 | Sweden |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher population in largest city, New Zealand or Sweden?
- Sweden, at 1.74 million against 1.71 million in New Zealand as of 2025.
- What is the difference in population in largest city between New Zealand and Sweden?
- 26,630, with Sweden ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and Sweden?
- 66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
- How do New Zealand and Sweden rank globally for population in largest city?
- New Zealand ranks 97th and Sweden ranks 94th of 153 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as Population in largest city. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.