📜 A long story
New Zealand, 1800 → today
New Zealand grew from 200,000 in 1800 to 5.17 million; a newborn can expect 13.3 more years of life than in 1948, and output per person is 46× its 1820 level, adjusted for inflation.
Told with long-run reconstructions, not the yearly series used elsewhere on the site: each chapter names its source. Scroll to move through the years.
☺ Chapter 1 · Population
How many people live there?
1800
In 1800, about 200,000 people lived in New Zealand.
1900
809,100 people.
4× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1876.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 24% between 1801 and 1809 (193,200 → 146,400).
1950
1.91 million people.
2.4× the 1900 level
Reached 5 times the 1800 level in 1909.
2023
5.17 million people, the latest year in this series.
2.7× the 1950 level
Reached 10 times the 1800 level in 1953.
Reached 20 times the 1800 level in 2003.
Long-run series: before 1950, reconstructions by HYDE and Gapminder, filled in between benchmark years by those sources. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
✚ Chapter 2 · Life expectancy
How long do people live?
1948
In 1948, a newborn in New Zealand could expect to live 68.8 years, on average.
2023
82.1 years, the latest year in this series.
+13 years since 1948
Passed 70 years in 1953.
Passed 80 years in 2005.
Long-run series: before 1950, historical estimates (Riley, Clio Infra, Human Mortality Database), only for years they cover.
◎ Chapter 3 · GDP per person (PPP)
How much is produced per person?
1820
In 1820, New Zealand produced about Int$826 per person, in 2011 prices.
1900
Int$6,850.
8.3× the 1820 level
Reached twice the 1820 level in 1850 (no data between 1820 and 1850, so it may have happened earlier).
Reached 5 times the 1820 level in 1870 (no data between 1860 and 1870, so it may have happened earlier).
1950
Int$13,500.
2× the 1900 level
Reached 10 times the 1820 level in 1907.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 18% between 1925 and 1932 (Int$8,440 → Int$6,900).
2022
Int$38,300, the latest year in this series.
2.8× the 1950 level
Reached 20 times the 1820 level in 1964.
Long-run series (Maddison Project) in 2011 international dollars: adjusted for inflation, so not the same unit as today’s PPP figure. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates. Dashed stretches are years without data.
❦ Chapter 4 · CO₂ per person
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
1878
In 1878, fossil fuels and industry in New Zealand emitted about 0.8 t of CO₂ per person.
1900
3 t.
3.9× the 1878 level
Reached twice the 1878 level in 1883.
1950
4.5 t.
1.5× the 1900 level
Reached 5 times the 1878 level in 1904.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 39% between 1914 and 1921 (4.6 t → 2.8 t).
2024
6.2 t, the latest year in this series.
1.4× the 1950 level
Reached 10 times the 1878 level in 1988.
Long-run series: fossil CO₂ emitted within each country’s borders (Global Carbon Budget); early estimates are less certain. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
☕ Chapter 5 · Years of schooling
How long do people go to school?
1870
In 1870, people aged 15–64 in New Zealand had spent 3.6 years in school, on average.
1900
4.5 years.
+0.92 years since 1870
Passed 4 years in 1890.
1950
9.3 years.
+4.8 years since 1900
Passed 6 years in 1925.
Passed 8 years in 1945.
2015
10.9 years, the latest year in this series.
+1.6 years since 1950
Passed 10 years in 1960.
Passed 12 years in 1975.
Long-run series (Lee & Lee, Barro & Lee) for people aged 15–64, every 5 years until 2015: a different age group than today’s figure (25 and older).