Share of population living in the capital city in New Zealand
New Zealand: Share of population living in the capital city was 2.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in New Zealand, 1970–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in New Zealand stood at 2.9%. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in New Zealand peaked at 2.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1970.
New Zealand ranks 157th of 170 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Share of population living in the capital city in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.2% | — |
| 1975 | 2.5% | +15.6% |
| 1980 | 2.6% | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 2.5% | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 2.4% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +17.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.0%, 16% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 22.8%, 13% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 154 Papua New Guinea 4.0% compare
- 155 Italy 4.0% compare
- 156 South Sudan 3.2% compare
- 158 South Africa 2.8% compare
- 159 Lao People's Democratic Republic 2.5% compare
- 160 Switzerland 2.3% 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 the capital city in New Zealand?
- Share of population living in the capital city in New Zealand was 2.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1970.
- How does New Zealand rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- New Zealand ranks 157th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. 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 minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.