Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in New Zealand
New Zealand: Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate was 0.8009 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.8009 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 5.9%
World rank
138th
of 234 countries
All-time high
6.05 % change on previous year
in 1959
All-time low
0.1194 % change on previous year
in 1979
Years of data
75
1951–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in New Zealand, 1951–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in New Zealand is 0.8009 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and down 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in New Zealand peaked at 6.05 % change on previous year in 1959 and was at its lowest, 0.1194 % change on previous year, in 1979.
New Zealand ranks 138th of 234 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 2 % change on previous year | — |
| 1952 | 2.25 % change on previous year | +12.6% |
| 1953 | 2.43 % change on previous year | +8.0% |
| 1954 | 2.28 % change on previous year | -6.2% |
| 1955 | 2.11 % change on previous year | -7.2% |
| 1956 | 2.28 % change on previous year | +7.9% |
| 1957 | 4.11 % change on previous year | +80.0% |
| 1958 | 5.71 % change on previous year | +39.0% |
| 1959 | 6.05 % change on previous year | +5.9% |
| 1960 | 5.52 % change on previous year | -8.7% |
| 1961 | 4.56 % change on previous year | -17.4% |
| 1962 | 3.83 % change on previous year | -16.0% |
| 1963 | 3.44 % change on previous year | -10.2% |
| 1964 | 3.24 % change on previous year | -5.7% |
| 1965 | 3.32 % change on previous year | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 3.85 % change on previous year | +15.8% |
| 1967 | 5.16 % change on previous year | +34.1% |
| 1968 | 5.83 % change on previous year | +12.9% |
| 1969 | 5.57 % change on previous year | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 4.65 % change on previous year | -16.5% |
| 1971 | 2.95 % change on previous year | -36.6% |
| 1972 | 2.33 % change on previous year | -21.1% |
| 1973 | 2.46 % change on previous year | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 2.4 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 1.99 % change on previous year | -17.4% |
| 1976 | 1.27 % change on previous year | -36.1% |
| 1977 | 0.6227 % change on previous year | -50.9% |
| 1978 | 0.2285 % change on previous year | -63.3% |
| 1979 | 0.1194 % change on previous year | -47.8% |
| 1980 | 0.2732 % change on previous year | +128.9% |
| 1981 | 0.5388 % change on previous year | +97.2% |
| 1982 | 0.8892 % change on previous year | +65.0% |
| 1983 | 1.14 % change on previous year | +28.7% |
| 1984 | 1.02 % change on previous year | -10.8% |
| 1985 | 0.6493 % change on previous year | -36.4% |
| 1986 | 0.5425 % change on previous year | -16.5% |
| 1987 | 0.7645 % change on previous year | +40.9% |
| 1988 | 0.7929 % change on previous year | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 0.8443 % change on previous year | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 2.17 % change on previous year | +157.2% |
| 1991 | 2.67 % change on previous year | +23.0% |
| 1992 | 1.63 % change on previous year | -39.0% |
| 1993 | 1.31 % change on previous year | -19.6% |
| 1994 | 1.45 % change on previous year | +10.6% |
| 1995 | 1.58 % change on previous year | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 1.59 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 1.36 % change on previous year | -14.5% |
| 1998 | 0.9834 % change on previous year | -27.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6988 % change on previous year | -28.9% |
| 2000 | 0.6334 % change on previous year | -9.4% |
| 2001 | 0.9434 % change on previous year | +48.9% |
| 2002 | 1.59 % change on previous year | +68.1% |
| 2003 | 1.87 % change on previous year | +17.9% |
| 2004 | 1.58 % change on previous year | -15.7% |
| 2005 | 1.28 % change on previous year | -18.5% |
| 2006 | 1.14 % change on previous year | -11.1% |
| 2007 | 0.9806 % change on previous year | -14.1% |
| 2008 | 0.8956 % change on previous year | -8.7% |
| 2009 | 0.9704 % change on previous year | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 0.974 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 0.7586 % change on previous year | -22.1% |
| 2012 | 0.6075 % change on previous year | -19.9% |
| 2013 | 0.8742 % change on previous year | +43.9% |
| 2014 | 1.31 % change on previous year | +50.4% |
| 2015 | 1.59 % change on previous year | +20.8% |
| 2016 | 1.63 % change on previous year | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 1.45 % change on previous year | -11.1% |
| 2018 | 1.38 % change on previous year | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 1.81 % change on previous year | +30.8% |
| 2020 | 1.62 % change on previous year | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 0.7648 % change on previous year | -52.9% |
| 2022 | 0.5003 % change on previous year | -34.6% |
| 2023 | 0.8433 % change on previous year | +68.6% |
| 2024 | 0.8513 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 0.8009 % change on previous year | -5.9% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 0.8009 % change on previous year is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4434 % change on previous year, 1.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 0.8009 % change on previous year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8009 % change on previous year, 1.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +157.2% | 0.8443 % change on previous year | 2.17 % change on previous year |
| 1980 | +128.9% | 0.1194 % change on previous year | 0.2732 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.25 % change on previous year | 2 % change on previous year | 6.05 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1960s | 4.43 % change on previous year | 3.24 % change on previous year | 5.83 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.9 % change on previous year | 0.1194 % change on previous year | 4.65 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.746 % change on previous year | 0.2732 % change on previous year | 1.14 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.54 % change on previous year | 0.6988 % change on previous year | 2.67 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.19 % change on previous year | 0.6334 % change on previous year | 1.87 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.24 % change on previous year | 0.6075 % change on previous year | 1.81 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8974 % change on previous year | 0.5003 % change on previous year | 1.62 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 135 Suriname 0.8918 % change on previous year compare
- 136 Anguilla 0.8905 % change on previous year compare
- 137 Switzerland 0.8217 % change on previous year compare
- 139 North Korea 0.7919 % change on previous year compare
- 140 Guam 0.7785 % change on previous year compare
- 141 Jamaica 0.7656 % change on previous year compare
More population data for New Zealand
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -14.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0739 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.628 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population density 22.07 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 256,010 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in New Zealand?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate in New Zealand was 0.8009 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 6.05 % change on previous year in 1959.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1194 % change on previous year in 1979.
- How does New Zealand rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate?
- New Zealand ranks 138th out of 234 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.