Number of people employed in agriculture in New Zealand
New Zealand: Number of people employed in agriculture was 156,029 people in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
156,029 people
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
126th
of 186 countries
All-time high
172,137 people
in 2022
All-time low
143,631 people
in 2009
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Number of people employed in agriculture in New Zealand, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people employed in agriculture in New Zealand is 156,029 people, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in agriculture in New Zealand peaked at 172,137 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 143,631 people, in 2009.
New Zealand ranks 126th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Number of people employed in agriculture in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 163,222 people | — |
| 1992 | 165,587 people | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 164,854 people | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 168,489 people | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 164,493 people | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 165,010 people | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 152,182 people | -7.8% |
| 1998 | 149,430 people | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 167,520 people | +12.1% |
| 2000 | 157,674 people | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 169,941 people | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 169,297 people | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 160,791 people | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 154,020 people | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 150,068 people | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 154,300 people | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 156,408 people | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 153,129 people | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 143,631 people | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 149,174 people | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 152,778 people | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 150,323 people | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 144,575 people | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 145,236 people | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 146,243 people | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 164,835 people | +12.7% |
| 2017 | 164,257 people | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 157,050 people | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 158,073 people | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 164,494 people | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 170,312 people | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 172,137 people | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 163,056 people | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 158,763 people | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 156,029 people | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 162,310 people | 149,430 people | 168,489 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 156,926 people | 143,631 people | 169,941 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 153,254 people | 144,575 people | 164,835 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 164,132 people | 156,029 people | 172,137 people | 6 |
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 number of people employed in agriculture in New Zealand?
- Number of people employed in agriculture in New Zealand was 156,029 people in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 172,137 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 143,631 people in 2009.
- How does New Zealand rank for number of people employed in agriculture?
- New Zealand ranks 126th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people employed in agriculture rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people employed in agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people working in agriculture, including hunting, forestry and fishing.