Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in New Zealand
New Zealand: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 45.8% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in New Zealand, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in New Zealand is 45.8%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in New Zealand peaked at 45.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 1950.
That places New Zealand 77th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.2% | — |
| 1955 | 12.8% | +4.9% |
| 1960 | 13.1% | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 13.7% | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 16.4% | +19.3% |
| 1975 | 17.3% | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 18.1% | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 19.9% | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 20.8% | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 27.3% | +31.4% |
| 2000 | 29.8% | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 35.1% | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 35.8% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 41.3% | +15.3% |
| 2020 | 45.8% | +10.9% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 45.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 32.0%, 1.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 45.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 30.7%, 1.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.5% | 12.2% | 12.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 13.4% | 13.1% | 13.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 16.8% | 16.4% | 17.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 19.0% | 18.1% | 19.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 24.0% | 20.8% | 27.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.5% | 29.8% | 35.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 38.5% | 35.8% | 41.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 45.8% | 45.8% | 45.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in New Zealand?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in New Zealand was 45.8% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 45.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 1950.
- How does New Zealand rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- New Zealand ranks 77th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.