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Population density: New Zealand vs Philippines compared

Updated on by Georank team

New Zealand has a population density of 52.8 people per square mile compared to 1,023 people in the Philippines. New Zealand has 545,618 sq ft of land per person vs 31,912 sq ft in the Philippines. New Zealand and the Philippines rank 169th and 23rd by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. New Zealand has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.18% of all countries' land area, compared to 1.43% of the population and 0.2% of the land area for the Philippines, making the population density in New Zealand 94.8% lower than in the Philippines.

Population density by year

New Zealand
Philippines

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
New Zealand Philippines
2026 52.8 1,023
2025 52.4 1,014
2024 52 1,006
2023 51.1 998
2022 50 990
2021 50 982
2020 49.9 974
2019 48.9 962
2018 48.2 951
2017 47.3 939
2016 46.4 927
2015 45.3 915
2014 44.4 901
2013 43.7 887
2012 43.4 870
2011 43.1 853
2010 42.8 837
2009 42.3 820
2008 41.9 805
2007 41.5 791
2006 41.2 778
2005 40.7 765
2004 40.2 750
2003 39.6 736
2002 38.8 722
2001 38.2 707
2000 37.9 692
1999 37.7 675
1998 37.5 658
1997 37.2 642
1996 36.7 627
1995 36.1 613
1994 35.6 600
1993 35.1 587
1992 34.7 573
1991 34.4 559
1990 32.8 546
1989 32.5 532
1988 32.3 519
1987 32.2 505
1986 31.9 492
1985 31.9 480
1984 31.7 467
1983 31.5 453
1982 31 440
1981 30.7 428
1980 30.6 417
1979 30.6 407
1978 30.7 396
1977 30.7 385
1976 30.6 375
1975 30.3 366
1974 29.7 358
1973 29.1 350
1972 28.6 342
1971 28.1 334
1970 27.6 327
1969 27.3 318
1968 27 309
1967 26.8 301
1966 26.3 291.9
1965 25.9 283.3
1964 25.4 274.8
1963 24.9 266.4
1962 24.4 258.1
1961 23.8 250

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/philippines | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in New Zealand increased by 28.2%, compared to a 31.5% growth in the Philippines.

In 2006, New Zealand ranked 166th by population density and is 169th now. The Philippines was 28th in 2006 and ranks 23rd out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

New Zealand
Philippines
1x
Year Urban population
New Zealand Philippines
2024 83.9% 55.5%
2023 83.9% 55.1%
2022 83.9% 54.8%
2021 83.8% 54.5%
2020 83.8% 54.1%
2019 83.8% 53.7%
2018 83.8% 53.2%
2017 84.2% 52.6%
2016 84.7% 51.9%
2015 85.2% 51.2%
2014 85.5% 50.2%
2013 85.7% 49.1%
2012 85.8% 47.9%
2011 85.8% 46.7%
2010 85.9% 45.5%
2009 85.9% 44.3%
2008 85.9% 43.2%
2007 85.9% 42.3%
2006 85.9% 41.8%
2005 85.9% 41.3%
2004 85.9% 40.9%
2003 85.9% 40.4%
2002 85.8% 40%
2001 85.8% 39.5%
2000 85.7% 39.1%
1999 85.7% 38.8%
1998 85.6% 38.4%
1997 85.5% 38%
1996 85.5% 37.7%
1995 85.4% 37.4%
1994 85.3% 37.1%
1993 85.2% 36.8%
1992 85.1% 36.5%
1991 85% 36.3%
1990 84.8% 36%
1989 84.6% 35.8%
1988 84.3% 35.5%
1987 84.1% 35.3%
1986 83.9% 35.1%
1985 83.8% 34.9%
1984 83.7% 34.6%
1983 83.6% 34.4%
1982 83.6% 34.2%
1981 83.5% 34%
1980 83.4% 33.8%
1979 83.3% 33.7%
1978 83.2% 33.5%
1977 83.1% 33.3%
1976 82.9% 33.1%
1975 82.7% 32.9%
1974 82.5% 32.7%
1973 82.3% 32.5%
1972 81.9% 32.3%
1971 81.5% 32.1%
1970 80.4% 31.9%
1969 77.9% 31.7%
1968 74.6% 31.5%
1967 71.3% 31.3%
1966 68.8% 31.1%
1965 67.4% 31%
1964 66.5% 30.8%
1963 65.7% 30.7%
1962 64.9% 30.5%
1961 63.9% 30.3%
1960 62.4% 30%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 85.9% to 83.9% in New Zealand and from 40.9% to 55.5% in the Philippines.

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
Philippines
City Population
Quezon 3.08M
Manila 1.9M
Davao 1.85M
Caloocan 1.71M
Taguig 1.31M
Zamboanga 1.02M
Palawan 969K
Cebu 965K
Antipolo 914K
Pasig 853K

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/new-zealand/philippines | 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 (2016–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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