Agricultural area over the long-term in New Zealand
New Zealand: Agricultural area over the long-term was 9.35 million hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9.35 million hectares
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
75th
of 202 countries
All-time high
15.19 million hectares
in 1981
All-time low
0 hectares
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Agricultural area 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, agricultural area over the long-term in New Zealand stood at 9.35 million hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural area over the long-term in New Zealand peaked at 15.19 million hectares in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 1000.
That places New Zealand 75th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agricultural area 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 | 1.75 million hectares | +8068.9% |
| 1860 | 2.05 million hectares | +17.0% |
| 1870 | 2.44 million hectares | +18.9% |
| 1880 | 2.90 million hectares | +18.8% |
| 1890 | 3.93 million hectares | +35.8% |
| 1900 | 5.19 million hectares | +31.9% |
| 1910 | 6.11 million hectares | +17.8% |
| 1920 | 7.36 million hectares | +20.4% |
| 1930 | 8.56 million hectares | +16.3% |
| 1940 | 9.71 million hectares | +13.4% |
| 1950 | 10.80 million hectares | +11.3% |
| 1951 | 11.01 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1952 | 11.24 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 11.48 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 11.73 million hectares | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 11.97 million hectares | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 12.21 million hectares | +2.0% |
| 1957 | 12.45 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 12.68 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1959 | 12.92 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 13.16 million hectares | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 13.16 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 13.25 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 13.29 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 13.32 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 13.25 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 13.23 million hectares | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 13.25 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 1968 | 13.25 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 13.09 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 13.09 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1971 | 13.09 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 13.49 million hectares | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 13.48 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1974 | 13.48 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 13.94 million hectares | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 14.35 million hectares | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 14.28 million hectares | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 14.50 million hectares | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 14.44 million hectares | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 14.59 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 15.19 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 14.62 million hectares | -3.7% |
| 1983 | 14.59 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 14.47 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 14.39 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 14.39 million hectares | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 14.27 million hectares | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 14.19 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 14.10 million hectares | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 13.92 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 13.76 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 13.60 million hectares | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 13.44 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 13.29 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 13.13 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 12.97 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 12.81 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 12.65 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 12.50 million hectares | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 12.34 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 12.18 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 12.02 million hectares | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 11.86 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 11.89 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 11.71 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 11.38 million hectares | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 11.49 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 11.37 million hectares | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 11.49 million hectares | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 11.41 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 11.37 million hectares | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 11.21 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 11.11 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 11.12 million hectares | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 10.71 million hectares | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 10.61 million hectares | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 10.64 million hectares | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 10.50 million hectares | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 10.35 million hectares | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 10.15 million hectares | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 10.18 million hectares | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 9.75 million hectares | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 9.68 million hectares | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 9.52 million hectares | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 9.35 million hectares | -1.8% |
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 | 1.75 million hectares | 1.75 million hectares | 1.75 million hectares | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.05 million hectares | 2.05 million hectares | 2.05 million hectares | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.44 million hectares | 2.44 million hectares | 2.44 million hectares | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 2.90 million hectares | 1 |
| 1890s | 3.93 million hectares | 3.93 million hectares | 3.93 million hectares | 1 |
| 1900s | 5.19 million hectares | 5.19 million hectares | 5.19 million hectares | 1 |
| 1910s | 6.11 million hectares | 6.11 million hectares | 6.11 million hectares | 1 |
| 1920s | 7.36 million hectares | 7.36 million hectares | 7.36 million hectares | 1 |
| 1930s | 8.56 million hectares | 8.56 million hectares | 8.56 million hectares | 1 |
| 1940s | 9.71 million hectares | 9.71 million hectares | 9.71 million hectares | 1 |
| 1950s | 11.85 million hectares | 10.80 million hectares | 12.92 million hectares | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.22 million hectares | 13.09 million hectares | 13.32 million hectares | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.81 million hectares | 13.09 million hectares | 14.50 million hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.48 million hectares | 14.10 million hectares | 15.19 million hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.21 million hectares | 12.50 million hectares | 13.92 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.77 million hectares | 11.37 million hectares | 12.34 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.90 million hectares | 10.35 million hectares | 11.41 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.77 million hectares | 9.35 million hectares | 10.18 million hectares | 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 agricultural area over the long-term in New Zealand?
- Agricultural area over the long-term in New Zealand was 9.35 million hectares in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 15.19 million hectares in 1981.
- What is the lowest agricultural area over the long-term recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 1000.
- How does New Zealand rank for agricultural area over the long-term?
- New Zealand ranks 75th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural area over the long-term rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.7%. 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 Agricultural area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total agricultural area for each separate country over time.