Agricultural land use per person in New Zealand
New Zealand: Agricultural land use per person was 1.85 hectares per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.85 hectares per person
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
21st
of 202 countries
All-time high
6.23 hectares per person
in 1900
All-time low
0 hectares per person
in 1200
Years of data
106
1200–2025
Agricultural land use per person in New Zealand, 1200–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares per person.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 1.85 hectares per person for agricultural land use per person in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural land use per person in New Zealand peaked at 6.23 hectares per person in 1900 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares per person, in 1200.
That places New Zealand 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agricultural land use per person in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 | 0 hectares per person | — |
| 1300 | 0 hectares per person | — |
| 1400 | 0 hectares per person | — |
| 1500 | 0.0022 hectares per person | — |
| 1600 | 0.0028 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 0.0035 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1710 | 0.0044 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1720 | 0.0055 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1730 | 0.0068 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1740 | 0.0085 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1750 | 0.0107 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1760 | 0.0133 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1770 | 0.0167 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1780 | 0.0208 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1790 | 0.026 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1800 | 0.0326 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1810 | 0.0407 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1820 | 0.0509 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1830 | 0.0636 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1840 | 0.0795 hectares per person | +25.0% |
| 1850 | 5.56 hectares per person | +6901.9% |
| 1860 | 5.58 hectares per person | +0.3% |
| 1870 | 5.69 hectares per person | +1.9% |
| 1880 | 5.79 hectares per person | +1.9% |
| 1890 | 5.9 hectares per person | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 6.23 hectares per person | +5.5% |
| 1910 | 6.11 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1920 | 6 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1930 | 5.89 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1940 | 5.77 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1950 | 5.66 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 1951 | 5.65 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1952 | 5.64 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1953 | 5.63 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1954 | 5.62 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1955 | 5.6 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1956 | 5.59 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1957 | 5.58 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1958 | 5.57 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 5.56 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 5.55 hectares per person | -0.2% |
| 1961 | 5.43 hectares per person | -2.1% |
| 1962 | 5.35 hectares per person | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 5.25 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1964 | 5.16 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 5.05 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 4.96 hectares per person | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 4.9 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1968 | 4.84 hectares per person | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 4.72 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 4.64 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 4.56 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 4.61 hectares per person | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 4.53 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 4.45 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 4.52 hectares per person | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 4.64 hectares per person | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 4.59 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 4.64 hectares per person | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 4.61 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 4.64 hectares per person | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 4.79 hectares per person | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 4.57 hectares per person | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 4.53 hectares per person | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 4.46 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 4.4 hectares per person | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 4.37 hectares per person | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 4.3 hectares per person | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 4.24 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 4.18 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 4.1 hectares per person | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 3.98 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 3.88 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 3.77 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 3.67 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 3.57 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 3.49 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 3.42 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 3.34 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 3.27 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 3.2 hectares per person | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 3.11 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 3.03 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 2.95 hectares per person | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 2.92 hectares per person | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 2.83 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 2.72 hectares per person | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 2.72 hectares per person | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 2.66 hectares per person | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 2.66 hectares per person | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 2.61 hectares per person | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 2.57 hectares per person | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 2.51 hectares per person | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 2.46 hectares per person | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 2.44 hectares per person | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 2.32 hectares per person | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 2.28 hectares per person | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 2.26 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 2.21 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 2.15 hectares per person | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 2.09 hectares per person | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 2.08 hectares per person | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.97 hectares per person | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 1.94 hectares per person | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 1.89 hectares per person | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 1.85 hectares per person | -2.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 1.85 hectares per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.2631 hectares per person, 7.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 1.85 hectares per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2284 hectares per person, 8.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agricultural land use per person 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | +6901.9% | 0.0795 hectares per person | 5.56 hectares per person |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 0.0022 hectares per person | 0.0028 hectares per person |
| 1710 | +25.0% | 0.0035 hectares per person | 0.0044 hectares per person |
| 1720 | +25.0% | 0.0044 hectares per person | 0.0055 hectares per person |
| 1730 | +25.0% | 0.0055 hectares per person | 0.0068 hectares per person |
| 1740 | +25.0% | 0.0068 hectares per person | 0.0085 hectares per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200s | 0 hectares per person | 0 hectares per person | 0 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1300s | 0 hectares per person | 0 hectares per person | 0 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1400s | 0 hectares per person | 0 hectares per person | 0 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0022 hectares per person | 0.0022 hectares per person | 0.0022 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0028 hectares per person | 0.0028 hectares per person | 0.0028 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.0035 hectares per person | 0.0035 hectares per person | 0.0035 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.0044 hectares per person | 0.0044 hectares per person | 0.0044 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.0055 hectares per person | 0.0055 hectares per person | 0.0055 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.0068 hectares per person | 0.0068 hectares per person | 0.0068 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.0085 hectares per person | 0.0085 hectares per person | 0.0085 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.0107 hectares per person | 0.0107 hectares per person | 0.0107 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.0133 hectares per person | 0.0133 hectares per person | 0.0133 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.0167 hectares per person | 0.0167 hectares per person | 0.0167 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.0208 hectares per person | 0.0208 hectares per person | 0.0208 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.026 hectares per person | 0.026 hectares per person | 0.026 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.0326 hectares per person | 0.0326 hectares per person | 0.0326 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.0407 hectares per person | 0.0407 hectares per person | 0.0407 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.0509 hectares per person | 0.0509 hectares per person | 0.0509 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.0636 hectares per person | 0.0636 hectares per person | 0.0636 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.0795 hectares per person | 0.0795 hectares per person | 0.0795 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1850s | 5.56 hectares per person | 5.56 hectares per person | 5.56 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1860s | 5.58 hectares per person | 5.58 hectares per person | 5.58 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1870s | 5.69 hectares per person | 5.69 hectares per person | 5.69 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1880s | 5.79 hectares per person | 5.79 hectares per person | 5.79 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1890s | 5.9 hectares per person | 5.9 hectares per person | 5.9 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1900s | 6.23 hectares per person | 6.23 hectares per person | 6.23 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1910s | 6.11 hectares per person | 6.11 hectares per person | 6.11 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1920s | 6 hectares per person | 6 hectares per person | 6 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1930s | 5.89 hectares per person | 5.89 hectares per person | 5.89 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1940s | 5.77 hectares per person | 5.77 hectares per person | 5.77 hectares per person | 1 |
| 1950s | 5.61 hectares per person | 5.56 hectares per person | 5.66 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.12 hectares per person | 4.72 hectares per person | 5.55 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.58 hectares per person | 4.45 hectares per person | 4.64 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.45 hectares per person | 4.18 hectares per person | 4.79 hectares per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.65 hectares per person | 3.27 hectares per person | 4.1 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.88 hectares per person | 2.66 hectares per person | 3.2 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.38 hectares per person | 2.15 hectares per person | 2.61 hectares per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.97 hectares per person | 1.85 hectares per person | 2.09 hectares per person | 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 agricultural land use per person in New Zealand?
- Agricultural land use per person in New Zealand was 1.85 hectares per person in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agricultural land use per person recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 6.23 hectares per person in 1900.
- What is the lowest agricultural land use per person recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares per person in 1200.
- How does New Zealand rank for agricultural land use per person?
- New Zealand ranks 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is agricultural land use per person rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. 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 land use per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 106 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total agricultural land per person for each separate country over time.