Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 16.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
16.0%
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
171st
of 218 countries
All-time high
37.6%
in 1960
All-time low
14.1%
in 2006
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in New Zealand, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in New Zealand is 16.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in New Zealand peaked at 37.6% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 14.1%, in 2006.
New Zealand ranks 171st of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 37.6% | — |
| 1961 | 36.1% | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 35.1% | -2.7% |
| 1963 | 34.3% | -2.3% |
| 1964 | 33.5% | -2.3% |
| 1965 | 32.6% | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 31.2% | -4.3% |
| 1967 | 28.7% | -7.9% |
| 1968 | 25.4% | -11.5% |
| 1969 | 22.1% | -13.0% |
| 1970 | 19.6% | -11.5% |
| 1971 | 18.5% | -5.5% |
| 1972 | 18.1% | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 17.7% | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 17.5% | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 17.3% | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 17.1% | -1.0% |
| 1977 | 16.9% | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 16.8% | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 16.7% | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 16.6% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 16.5% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 16.4% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 16.4% | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 16.3% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 16.2% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 16.1% | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 15.9% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 15.7% | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 15.4% | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 15.2% | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 15.0% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 14.9% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 14.8% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 14.6% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 14.5% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 14.5% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 14.4% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 14.3% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 14.3% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 14.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 14.1% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 14.1% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 14.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 14.1% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 14.1% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 14.1% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 14.1% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 14.1% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 14.2% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 14.2% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 14.3% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 14.5% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 14.8% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 15.3% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 15.8% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 16.2% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 16.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 16.2% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 16.1% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 16.0% | -0.4% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 16.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.7%, 86% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 16.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.6%, 46% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 31.7% | 22.1% | 37.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.6% | 16.7% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.2% | 15.4% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.7% | 14.3% | 15.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.1% | 14.1% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.0% | 14.1% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.1% | 16.0% | 16.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 168 Canada 17.1% compare
- 169 United Kingdom 16.7% compare
- 170 Norway 16.4% compare
- 172 Saudi Arabia 15.4% compare
- 173 Peru 14.4% compare
- 174 Switzerland 14.3% compare
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 rural population in New Zealand?
- Rural population in New Zealand was 16.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 37.6% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.1% in 2006.
- How does New Zealand rank for rural population?
- New Zealand ranks 171st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.