Air passengers in New Zealand
New Zealand: Air passengers was 15.03 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in New Zealand, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, air passengers in New Zealand stood at 15.03 million.
The figure is up 28.3% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in New Zealand peaked at 17.76 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.86 million, in 1970.
That places New Zealand 44th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.86 million | — |
| 1971 | 1.92 million | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 2.08 million | +8.3% |
| 1973 | 2.54 million | +22.1% |
| 1974 | 2.96 million | +16.4% |
| 1975 | 3.05 million | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 3.02 million | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 3.20 million | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 3.40 million | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 3.81 million | +12.0% |
| 1980 | 3.50 million | -8.1% |
| 1981 | 3.32 million | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 3.07 million | -7.3% |
| 1983 | 3.22 million | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 3.76 million | +16.8% |
| 1985 | 4.16 million | +10.5% |
| 1986 | 4.53 million | +8.9% |
| 1987 | 4.81 million | +6.3% |
| 1988 | 5.09 million | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 5.72 million | +12.4% |
| 1990 | 5.87 million | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 5.37 million | -8.4% |
| 1992 | 5.78 million | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 6.29 million | +8.8% |
| 1994 | 7.72 million | +22.7% |
| 1995 | 7.68 million | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 9.60 million | +25.0% |
| 1997 | 9.44 million | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 8.65 million | -8.3% |
| 1999 | 9.57 million | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 10.78 million | +12.7% |
| 2001 | 11.47 million | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 11.29 million | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 12.26 million | +8.6% |
| 2004 | 11.31 million | -7.8% |
| 2005 | 11.95 million | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 12.38 million | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 12.55 million | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 12.95 million | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 12.10 million | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 13.30 million | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 13.75 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 13.94 million | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 14.43 million | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 13.62 million | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 14.39 million | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 15.30 million | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 16.27 million | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 17.25 million | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 17.76 million | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 8.52 million | -52.1% |
| 2021 | 8.73 million | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 11.72 million | +34.2% |
| 2023 | 15.03 million | +28.3% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 15.03 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 1.6× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 15.03 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.05 million, 7.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -52.1% | 17.76 million | 8.52 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.79 million | 1.86 million | 3.81 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.12 million | 3.07 million | 5.72 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.60 million | 5.37 million | 9.60 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.90 million | 10.78 million | 12.95 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.00 million | 13.30 million | 17.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.00 million | 8.52 million | 15.03 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in New Zealand?
- Air passengers in New Zealand was 15.03 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 17.76 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.86 million in 1970.
- How does New Zealand rank for air passengers?
- New Zealand ranks 44th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.