Land under cereal production in New Zealand
New Zealand: Land under cereal production was 121,170 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Land under cereal production in New Zealand, 1961–2024
Source: FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, land under cereal production in New Zealand stood at 121,170 hectares.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land under cereal production in New Zealand peaked at 266,842 hectares in 1986 and was at its lowest, 110,699 hectares, in 2017.
New Zealand ranks 132nd of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Land under cereal production in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 124,375 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 125,583 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 140,382 hectares | +11.8% |
| 1964 | 137,402 hectares | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 131,282 hectares | -4.5% |
| 1966 | 135,954 hectares | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 145,195 hectares | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 211,306 hectares | +45.5% |
| 1969 | 218,508 hectares | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 195,634 hectares | -10.5% |
| 1971 | 215,028 hectares | +9.9% |
| 1972 | 236,039 hectares | +9.8% |
| 1973 | 211,887 hectares | -10.2% |
| 1974 | 191,024 hectares | -9.8% |
| 1975 | 204,243 hectares | +6.9% |
| 1976 | 229,801 hectares | +12.5% |
| 1977 | 218,485 hectares | -4.9% |
| 1978 | 205,402 hectares | -6.0% |
| 1979 | 207,913 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 191,767 hectares | -7.8% |
| 1981 | 180,679 hectares | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 194,344 hectares | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 192,447 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 232,785 hectares | +21.0% |
| 1985 | 256,625 hectares | +10.2% |
| 1986 | 266,842 hectares | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 224,637 hectares | -15.8% |
| 1988 | 166,845 hectares | -25.7% |
| 1989 | 157,032 hectares | -5.9% |
| 1990 | 172,807 hectares | +10.0% |
| 1991 | 157,272 hectares | -9.0% |
| 1992 | 138,902 hectares | -11.7% |
| 1993 | 152,163 hectares | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 150,717 hectares | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 133,687 hectares | -11.3% |
| 1996 | 156,560 hectares | +17.1% |
| 1997 | 166,339 hectares | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 138,107 hectares | -17.0% |
| 1999 | 141,472 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 135,440 hectares | -4.3% |
| 2001 | 143,907 hectares | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 149,670 hectares | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 133,780 hectares | -10.6% |
| 2004 | 118,079 hectares | -11.7% |
| 2005 | 115,175 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 112,204 hectares | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 117,089 hectares | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 135,409 hectares | +15.6% |
| 2009 | 162,706 hectares | +20.2% |
| 2010 | 135,547 hectares | -16.7% |
| 2011 | 143,731 hectares | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 145,843 hectares | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 136,106 hectares | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 136,664 hectares | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 138,865 hectares | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 130,787 hectares | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 110,699 hectares | -15.4% |
| 2018 | 121,248 hectares | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 124,670 hectares | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 113,044 hectares | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 113,157 hectares | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 115,522 hectares | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 116,285 hectares | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 121,170 hectares | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 152,221 hectares | 124,375 hectares | 218,508 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 211,546 hectares | 191,024 hectares | 236,039 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 206,400 hectares | 157,032 hectares | 266,842 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 150,803 hectares | 133,687 hectares | 172,807 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 132,346 hectares | 112,204 hectares | 162,706 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 132,416 hectares | 110,699 hectares | 145,843 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 115,836 hectares | 113,044 hectares | 121,170 hectares | 5 |
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 land under cereal production in New Zealand?
- Land under cereal production in New Zealand was 121,170 hectares in 2024, according to FAO electronic files and web site, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest land under cereal production recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 266,842 hectares in 1986.
- What is the lowest land under cereal production recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 110,699 hectares in 2017.
- How does New Zealand rank for land under cereal production?
- New Zealand ranks 132nd out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
- Is land under cereal production rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. 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), published as part of Land under cereal production (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Land under cereal production refers to harvested area, although some countries report only sown or cultivated area. Cereals include wheat, rice, maize, barley, oats, rye, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, and mixed grains. Production data on cereals relate to crops harvested for dry grain only. Cereal crops harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.