Cropland extent over the long-term in New Zealand
New Zealand: Cropland extent over the long-term was 672,000 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
672,000 hectares
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
124th
of 202 countries
All-time high
725,254 hectares
in 1920
All-time low
0 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Cropland extent over the long-term in New Zealand, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, cropland extent over the long-term in New Zealand stood at 672,000 hectares.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cropland extent over the long-term in New Zealand peaked at 725,254 hectares in 1920 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 1000.
New Zealand ranks 124th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cropland extent over the long-term in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1100 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1200 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1300 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1400 | 0 hectares | — |
| 1500 | 178.95 hectares | — |
| 1600 | 391.44 hectares | +118.7% |
| 1700 | 699.01 hectares | +78.6% |
| 1710 | 820.2 hectares | +17.3% |
| 1720 | 1,015 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1730 | 1,256 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1740 | 1,555 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1750 | 1,924 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1760 | 2,382 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1770 | 2,947 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1780 | 3,648 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1790 | 4,515 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1800 | 5,587 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1810 | 6,915 hectares | +23.8% |
| 1820 | 10,085 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1830 | 14,707 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1840 | 21,447 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1850 | 31,278 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1860 | 45,613 hectares | +45.8% |
| 1870 | 102,235 hectares | +124.1% |
| 1880 | 176,464 hectares | +72.6% |
| 1890 | 311,539 hectares | +76.5% |
| 1900 | 667,548 hectares | +114.3% |
| 1910 | 696,068 hectares | +4.3% |
| 1920 | 725,254 hectares | +4.2% |
| 1930 | 706,774 hectares | -2.5% |
| 1940 | 640,629 hectares | -9.4% |
| 1950 | 526,818 hectares | -17.8% |
| 1951 | 517,392 hectares | -1.8% |
| 1952 | 508,387 hectares | -1.7% |
| 1953 | 499,068 hectares | -1.8% |
| 1954 | 488,944 hectares | -2.0% |
| 1955 | 477,730 hectares | -2.3% |
| 1956 | 465,332 hectares | -2.6% |
| 1957 | 451,802 hectares | -2.9% |
| 1958 | 437,288 hectares | -3.2% |
| 1959 | 421,978 hectares | -3.5% |
| 1960 | 406,000 hectares | -3.8% |
| 1961 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 406,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 405,800 hectares | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 401,650 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1974 | 397,500 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 413,500 hectares | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 429,500 hectares | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 431,200 hectares | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 432,900 hectares | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 453,000 hectares | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 435,000 hectares | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 452,500 hectares | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 470,000 hectares | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 482,500 hectares | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 495,000 hectares | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 512,000 hectares | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 508,000 hectares | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 464,000 hectares | -8.7% |
| 1988 | 420,000 hectares | -9.5% |
| 1989 | 423,500 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 427,000 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 429,000 hectares | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 432,087 hectares | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 434,784 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 437,459 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 440,148 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 442,832 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 445,578 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 448,333 hectares | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 451,095 hectares | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 453,879 hectares | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 456,700 hectares | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 459,400 hectares | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 470,000 hectares | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 483,000 hectares | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 488,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 462,000 hectares | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 500,000 hectares | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 522,000 hectares | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 542,000 hectares | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 570,000 hectares | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 542,000 hectares | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 580,400 hectares | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 618,000 hectares | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 657,000 hectares | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 545,000 hectares | -17.0% |
| 2016 | 608,000 hectares | +11.6% |
| 2017 | 558,000 hectares | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 589,000 hectares | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 620,000 hectares | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 601,000 hectares | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 690,000 hectares | +14.8% |
| 2022 | 605,000 hectares | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 651,600 hectares | +7.7% |
| 2024 | 661,800 hectares | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 672,000 hectares | +1.5% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 672,000 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 666,510 hectares, 1.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 672,000 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.22 million hectares, 55% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cropland extent over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | +124.1% | 45,613 hectares | 102,235 hectares |
| 1600 | +118.7% | 178.95 hectares | 391.44 hectares |
| 1900 | +114.3% | 311,539 hectares | 667,548 hectares |
| 1700 | +78.6% | 391.44 hectares | 699.01 hectares |
| 1890 | +76.5% | 176,464 hectares | 311,539 hectares |
| 1880 | +72.6% | 102,235 hectares | 176,464 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1300s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1400s | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 0 hectares | 1 |
| 1500s | 178.95 hectares | 178.95 hectares | 178.95 hectares | 1 |
| 1600s | 391.44 hectares | 391.44 hectares | 391.44 hectares | 1 |
| 1700s | 699.01 hectares | 699.01 hectares | 699.01 hectares | 1 |
| 1710s | 820.2 hectares | 820.2 hectares | 820.2 hectares | 1 |
| 1720s | 1,015 hectares | 1,015 hectares | 1,015 hectares | 1 |
| 1730s | 1,256 hectares | 1,256 hectares | 1,256 hectares | 1 |
| 1740s | 1,555 hectares | 1,555 hectares | 1,555 hectares | 1 |
| 1750s | 1,924 hectares | 1,924 hectares | 1,924 hectares | 1 |
| 1760s | 2,382 hectares | 2,382 hectares | 2,382 hectares | 1 |
| 1770s | 2,947 hectares | 2,947 hectares | 2,947 hectares | 1 |
| 1780s | 3,648 hectares | 3,648 hectares | 3,648 hectares | 1 |
| 1790s | 4,515 hectares | 4,515 hectares | 4,515 hectares | 1 |
| 1800s | 5,587 hectares | 5,587 hectares | 5,587 hectares | 1 |
| 1810s | 6,915 hectares | 6,915 hectares | 6,915 hectares | 1 |
| 1820s | 10,085 hectares | 10,085 hectares | 10,085 hectares | 1 |
| 1830s | 14,707 hectares | 14,707 hectares | 14,707 hectares | 1 |
| 1840s | 21,447 hectares | 21,447 hectares | 21,447 hectares | 1 |
| 1850s | 31,278 hectares | 31,278 hectares | 31,278 hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 45,613 hectares | 45,613 hectares | 45,613 hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 102,235 hectares | 102,235 hectares | 102,235 hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 176,464 hectares | 176,464 hectares | 176,464 hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 311,539 hectares | 311,539 hectares | 311,539 hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 667,548 hectares | 667,548 hectares | 667,548 hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 696,068 hectares | 696,068 hectares | 696,068 hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 725,254 hectares | 725,254 hectares | 725,254 hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 706,774 hectares | 706,774 hectares | 706,774 hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 640,629 hectares | 640,629 hectares | 640,629 hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 479,474 hectares | 421,978 hectares | 526,818 hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 406,000 hectares | 406,000 hectares | 406,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 417,705 hectares | 397,500 hectares | 453,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 466,250 hectares | 420,000 hectares | 512,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 438,832 hectares | 427,000 hectares | 451,095 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 483,698 hectares | 453,879 hectares | 542,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 588,740 hectares | 542,000 hectares | 657,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 646,900 hectares | 601,000 hectares | 690,000 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More agriculture & rural data for New Zealand
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1262 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 1.76 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cropland extent over the long-term in New Zealand?
- Cropland extent over the long-term in New Zealand was 672,000 hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 725,254 hectares in 1920.
- What is the lowest cropland extent over the long-term recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 1000.
- How does New Zealand rank for cropland extent over the long-term?
- New Zealand ranks 124th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cropland extent over the long-term rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cropland extent over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total cropland area for each separate country over time.