New Zealand has a population density of 52.8 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. New Zealand has 545,618 sq ft of land per person and ranks 169th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
New Zealand has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.18% of the total land area of all countries.
New Zealand population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 52.8 | 169 |
| 2025 | 52.4 | 169 |
| 2024 | 52 | 168 |
| 2023 | 51.1 | 168 |
| 2022 | 50 | 169 |
| 2021 | 50 | 169 |
| 2020 | 49.9 | 168 |
| 2019 | 48.9 | 168 |
| 2018 | 48.2 | 168 |
| 2017 | 47.3 | 168 |
| 2016 | 46.4 | 169 |
| 2015 | 45.3 | 170 |
| 2014 | 44.4 | 170 |
| 2013 | 43.7 | 170 |
| 2012 | 43.4 | 170 |
| 2011 | 43.1 | 168 |
| 2010 | 42.8 | 167 |
| 2009 | 42.3 | 167 |
| 2008 | 41.9 | 166 |
| 2007 | 41.5 | 166 |
| 2006 | 41.2 | 166 |
| 2005 | 40.7 | 163 |
| 2004 | 40.2 | 162 |
| 2003 | 39.6 | 162 |
| 2002 | 38.8 | 162 |
| 2001 | 38.2 | 161 |
| 2000 | 37.9 | 161 |
| 1999 | 37.7 | 159 |
| 1998 | 37.5 | 158 |
| 1997 | 37.2 | 157 |
| 1996 | 36.7 | 156 |
| 1995 | 36.1 | 156 |
| 1994 | 35.6 | 157 |
| 1993 | 35.1 | 156 |
| 1992 | 34.7 | 152 |
| 1991 | 34.4 | 136 |
| 1990 | 32.8 | 134 |
| 1989 | 32.5 | 134 |
| 1988 | 32.3 | 134 |
| 1987 | 32.2 | 134 |
| 1986 | 31.9 | 134 |
| 1985 | 31.9 | 134 |
| 1984 | 31.7 | 134 |
| 1983 | 31.5 | 134 |
| 1982 | 31 | 133 |
| 1981 | 30.7 | 133 |
| 1980 | 30.6 | 132 |
| 1979 | 30.6 | 132 |
| 1978 | 30.7 | 131 |
| 1977 | 30.7 | 130 |
| 1976 | 30.6 | 130 |
| 1975 | 30.3 | 130 |
| 1974 | 29.7 | 130 |
| 1973 | 29.1 | 130 |
| 1972 | 28.6 | 131 |
| 1971 | 28.1 | 129 |
| 1970 | 27.6 | 128 |
| 1969 | 27.3 | 129 |
| 1968 | 27 | 129 |
| 1967 | 26.8 | 129 |
| 1966 | 26.3 | 129 |
| 1965 | 25.9 | 129 |
| 1964 | 25.4 | 127 |
| 1963 | 24.9 | 127 |
| 1962 | 24.4 | 127 |
| 1961 | 23.8 | 127 |
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/new-zealand | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in New Zealand has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 28.2%. New Zealand ranked 166th by population density 20 years ago and ranks 169th today.
Density metrics
New Zealand
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 52.8 ppl/mi² | 169/197 |
| Population |
5374272
|
123/197 |
| Land area | 101,665 sq mi | 74/197 |
| Land area per capita | 536,027 sq ft | 30/197 |
| Rural population | 16.1% | 160/195 |
| Urban population | 83.9% | 36/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 27.4% | 23/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 83.9% | 36 |
| 2023 | 83.9% | 36 |
| 2022 | 83.9% | 36 |
| 2021 | 83.8% | 36 |
| 2020 | 83.8% | 33 |
| 2019 | 83.8% | 33 |
| 2018 | 83.8% | 33 |
| 2017 | 84.2% | 33 |
| 2016 | 84.7% | 32 |
| 2015 | 85.2% | 32 |
| 2014 | 85.5% | 29 |
| 2013 | 85.7% | 29 |
| 2012 | 85.8% | 26 |
| 2011 | 85.8% | 26 |
| 2010 | 85.9% | 26 |
| 2009 | 85.9% | 25 |
| 2008 | 85.9% | 24 |
| 2007 | 85.9% | 23 |
| 2006 | 85.9% | 23 |
| 2005 | 85.9% | 23 |
| 2004 | 85.9% | 21 |
| 2003 | 85.9% | 20 |
| 2002 | 85.8% | 20 |
| 2001 | 85.8% | 20 |
| 2000 | 85.7% | 20 |
| 1999 | 85.7% | 20 |
| 1998 | 85.6% | 20 |
| 1997 | 85.5% | 18 |
| 1996 | 85.5% | 17 |
| 1995 | 85.4% | 17 |
| 1994 | 85.3% | 18 |
| 1993 | 85.2% | 18 |
| 1992 | 85.1% | 17 |
| 1991 | 85% | 16 |
| 1990 | 84.8% | 17 |
| 1989 | 84.6% | 17 |
| 1988 | 84.3% | 17 |
| 1987 | 84.1% | 17 |
| 1986 | 83.9% | 17 |
| 1985 | 83.8% | 17 |
| 1984 | 83.7% | 17 |
| 1983 | 83.6% | 17 |
| 1982 | 83.6% | 17 |
| 1981 | 83.5% | 16 |
| 1980 | 83.4% | 14 |
| 1979 | 83.3% | 14 |
| 1978 | 83.2% | 14 |
| 1977 | 83.1% | 14 |
| 1976 | 82.9% | 14 |
| 1975 | 82.7% | 14 |
| 1974 | 82.5% | 14 |
| 1973 | 82.3% | 15 |
| 1972 | 81.9% | 14 |
| 1971 | 81.5% | 14 |
| 1970 | 80.4% | 14 |
| 1969 | 77.9% | 18 |
| 1968 | 74.6% | 21 |
| 1967 | 71.3% | 25 |
| 1966 | 68.8% | 25 |
| 1965 | 67.4% | 27 |
| 1964 | 66.5% | 26 |
| 1963 | 65.7% | 26 |
| 1962 | 64.9% | 26 |
| 1961 | 63.9% | 26 |
| 1960 | 62.4% | 26 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/new-zealand | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in New Zealand from 1960 to 2024: 62.4% lived in urban areas in 1960, 85.7% in 2000, and 83.9% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
|
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
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/new-zealand | CC BY
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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) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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