The table compares past and projected population figures (in millions) for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States between 1990 and 2050.
Overall, all four countries show a steady increase in population over the period. The United States has by far the largest population throughout, while New Zealand remains the least populous. Although growth occurs in every country, the scale of increase varies considerably.
In 1990, the population of the United States stood at 249.9 million, significantly higher than the other nations. This figure is projected to rise continuously, reaching 320.6 million in 2020 and approximately 349 million by 2050. Canada also experiences substantial growth, increasing from 26.6 million in 1990 to 36.9 million in 2020, with a further rise to 39 million expected in 2050.
Australia’s population grows more moderately, from 17.1 million in 1990 to 22.7 million in 2020, and is forecast to reach 26 million by 2050. New Zealand records the smallest increase, rising gradually from 3.4 million to 4.7 million over the same period.
In summary, while population growth is a common trend, the United States and Canada experience much larger absolute increases than Australia and New Zealand.