Share of population living in rural areas in New Zealand
New Zealand: Share of population living in rural areas was 23.7% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in 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 rural areas in New Zealand is 23.7%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in New Zealand peaked at 37.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 23.7%, in 2020.
That places New Zealand 136th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 37.0% | — |
| 1955 | 35.3% | -4.5% |
| 1960 | 33.7% | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 32.2% | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 31.5% | -2.3% |
| 1975 | 30.2% | -4.0% |
| 1980 | 29.8% | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 29.6% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 29.2% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 27.7% | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 27.0% | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 25.9% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 25.6% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 23.7% | -7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 36.1% | 35.3% | 37.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 33.0% | 32.2% | 33.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 30.9% | 30.2% | 31.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 29.7% | 29.6% | 29.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 28.4% | 27.7% | 29.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.6% | 26.2% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.8% | 25.6% | 25.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 23.7% | 23.7% | 23.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 133 Switzerland 24.0% compare
- 134 El Salvador 23.9% compare
- 135 Canada 23.8% compare
- 137 Turkmenistan 23.5% compare
- 138 Turks and Caicos Islands 23.4% compare
- 139 Kazakhstan 23.3% 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 share of population living in rural areas in New Zealand?
- Share of population living in rural areas in New Zealand was 23.7% 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 rural areas recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 37.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.7% in 2020.
- How does New Zealand rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- New Zealand ranks 136th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.