Agricultural land in New Zealand
New Zealand: Agricultural land was 97,110 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Agricultural land in New Zealand, 1961–2023
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agricultural land in New Zealand is 97,110 sq. km, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land in New Zealand peaked at 151,875 sq. km in 1981 and was at its lowest, 97,110 sq. km, in 2023.
That places New Zealand 72nd out of 209 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Agricultural land in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 131,630 sq. km | — |
| 1962 | 132,480 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 132,880 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 133,160 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 132,520 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 132,330 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 132,470 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 1968 | 132,480 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 130,910 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 130,880 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1971 | 130,860 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 134,858 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 134,816 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1974 | 134,775 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 139,435 sq. km | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 143,535 sq. km | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 142,762 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 144,979 sq. km | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 144,430 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 145,910 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 151,875 sq. km | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 146,200 sq. km | -3.7% |
| 1983 | 145,915 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 144,730 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 143,930 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 143,890 sq. km | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 142,740 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 141,900 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 141,005 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 139,170 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 137,586 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 136,013 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 134,435 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 132,858 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 131,281 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 129,703 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 128,127 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 126,550 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 124,973 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 123,397 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 121,821 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 120,244 sq. km | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 118,580 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 118,900 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 117,120 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 113,750 sq. km | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 114,870 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 113,740 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 114,900 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 114,080 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 113,710 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 112,094 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 111,060 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 111,160 sq. km | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 107,120 sq. km | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 106,140 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 106,440 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 104,980 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 103,450 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 101,540 sq. km | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 101,750 sq. km | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 97,470 sq. km | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 97,110 sq. km | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 132,318 sq. km | 130,910 sq. km | 133,160 sq. km | 9 |
| 1970s | 138,133 sq. km | 130,860 sq. km | 144,979 sq. km | 10 |
| 1980s | 144,810 sq. km | 141,005 sq. km | 151,875 sq. km | 10 |
| 1990s | 132,070 sq. km | 124,973 sq. km | 139,170 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 117,732 sq. km | 113,740 sq. km | 123,397 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 109,023 sq. km | 103,450 sq. km | 114,080 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 99,468 sq. km | 97,110 sq. km | 101,750 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More agriculture & rural data for New Zealand
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -10.07 % change on previous year (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0401 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,976 current US$ per person (2023)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.275 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.16 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 4.0% (2023)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 4.0% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 9.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural land in New Zealand?
- Agricultural land in New Zealand was 97,110 sq. km in 2023, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest agricultural land recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 151,875 sq. km in 1981.
- What is the lowest agricultural land recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 97,110 sq. km in 2023.
- How does New Zealand rank for agricultural land?
- New Zealand ranks 72nd out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is agricultural land rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Agricultural land (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Agricultural land refers to the land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded. Land under permanent crops is land cultivated with crops that occupy the land for long periods and need not be replanted after each harvest, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This category includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber. Permanent pasture is land used for five or more years for forage, including natural and cultivated crops.