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Population density: India vs New Zealand compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 52.8 people in New Zealand. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 545,618 sq ft in New Zealand. India and New Zealand rank 19th and 169th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. India has 17.9% of the world's population and 2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.07% of the population and 0.18% of the land area for New Zealand, making the population density in India 2,338% higher than in New Zealand.

Population density by year

India
New Zealand

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India New Zealand
2026 1,287 52.8
2025 1,275 52.4
2024 1,264 52
2023 1,253 51.1
2022 1,242 50
2021 1,232 50
2020 1,222 49.9
2019 1,210 48.9
2018 1,197 48.2
2017 1,184 47.3
2016 1,171 46.4
2015 1,157 45.3
2014 1,143 44.4
2013 1,129 43.7
2012 1,114 43.4
2011 1,099 43.1
2010 1,083 42.8
2009 1,068 42.3
2008 1,052 41.9
2007 1,037 41.5
2006 1,022 41.2
2005 1,006 40.7
2004 990 40.2
2003 973 39.6
2002 956 38.8
2001 939 38.2
2000 922 37.9
1999 904 37.7
1998 887 37.5
1997 870 37.2
1996 853 36.7
1995 837 36.1
1994 820 35.6
1993 803 35.1
1992 787 34.7
1991 770 34.4
1990 753 32.8
1989 737 32.5
1988 721 32.3
1987 705 32.2
1986 689 31.9
1985 673 31.9
1984 658 31.7
1983 642 31.5
1982 627 31
1981 613 30.7
1980 599 30.6
1979 585 30.6
1978 571 30.7
1977 558 30.7
1976 545 30.6
1975 533 30.3
1974 520 29.7
1973 508 29.1
1972 497 28.6
1971 486 28.1
1970 476 27.6
1969 465 27.3
1968 455 27
1967 446 26.8
1966 436 26.3
1965 427 25.9
1964 417 25.4
1963 408 24.9
1962 398 24.4
1961 389 23.8

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 28.2% growth in New Zealand.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. New Zealand was 166th in 2006 and ranks 169th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
New Zealand
1x
Year Urban population
India New Zealand
2024 35.4% 83.9%
2023 35.1% 83.9%
2022 34.8% 83.9%
2021 34.4% 83.8%
2020 34.1% 83.8%
2019 33.8% 83.8%
2018 33.5% 83.8%
2017 33.2% 84.2%
2016 32.9% 84.7%
2015 32.5% 85.2%
2014 32.2% 85.5%
2013 31.9% 85.7%
2012 31.6% 85.8%
2011 31.3% 85.8%
2010 30.9% 85.9%
2009 30.5% 85.9%
2008 30.1% 85.9%
2007 29.8% 85.9%
2006 29.4% 85.9%
2005 29.1% 85.9%
2004 28.8% 85.9%
2003 28.5% 85.9%
2002 28.2% 85.8%
2001 27.9% 85.8%
2000 27.6% 85.7%
1999 27.4% 85.7%
1998 27.2% 85.6%
1997 27% 85.5%
1996 26.8% 85.5%
1995 26.6% 85.4%
1994 26.4% 85.3%
1993 26.2% 85.2%
1992 26% 85.1%
1991 25.8% 85%
1990 25.6% 84.8%
1989 25.4% 84.6%
1988 25.2% 84.3%
1987 25% 84.1%
1986 24.8% 83.9%
1985 24.7% 83.8%
1984 24.5% 83.7%
1983 24.3% 83.6%
1982 24% 83.6%
1981 23.8% 83.5%
1980 23.5% 83.4%
1979 23.2% 83.3%
1978 22.8% 83.2%
1977 22.4% 83.1%
1976 21.9% 82.9%
1975 21.5% 82.7%
1974 21% 82.5%
1973 20.6% 82.3%
1972 20.3% 81.9%
1971 20% 81.5%
1970 19.7% 80.4%
1969 19.5% 77.9%
1968 19.2% 74.6%
1967 19% 71.3%
1966 18.8% 68.8%
1965 18.6% 67.4%
1964 18.4% 66.5%
1963 18.3% 65.7%
1962 18.1% 64.9%
1961 18% 63.9%
1960 17.9% 62.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 85.9% to 83.9% in New Zealand.

Densely populated cities

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/new-zealand | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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