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Population density: New Zealand vs Thailand compared

Updated on by Georank team

New Zealand has a population density of 52.8 people per square mile compared to 363 people in Thailand. New Zealand has 545,618 sq ft of land per person vs 77,066 sq ft in Thailand. New Zealand and Thailand rank 169th and 70th 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 0.88% of the population and 0.34% of the land area for Thailand, making the population density in New Zealand 85.5% lower than in Thailand.

Population density by year

New Zealand
Thailand

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
New Zealand Thailand
2026 52.8 363
2025 52.4 363
2024 52 363
2023 51.1 363
2022 50 364
2021 50 364
2020 49.9 363
2019 48.9 363
2018 48.2 362
2017 47.3 361
2016 46.4 359
2015 45.3 358
2014 44.4 356
2013 43.7 354
2012 43.4 352
2011 43.1 350
2010 42.8 348
2009 42.3 345
2008 41.9 343
2007 41.5 340
2006 41.2 337
2005 40.7 335
2004 40.2 332
2003 39.6 329
2002 38.8 326
2001 38.2 323
2000 37.9 319
1999 37.7 316
1998 37.5 312
1997 37.2 308
1996 36.7 304
1995 36.1 299.6
1994 35.6 295.4
1993 35.1 291
1992 34.7 286.6
1991 34.4 282.1
1990 32.8 277.5
1989 32.5 273
1988 32.3 268.5
1987 32.2 264
1986 31.9 259.4
1985 31.9 254.9
1984 31.7 250.2
1983 31.5 245.5
1982 31 240.8
1981 30.7 236.1
1980 30.6 231.4
1979 30.6 226.7
1978 30.7 222
1977 30.7 217.2
1976 30.6 212.4
1975 30.3 207.5
1974 29.7 202.5
1973 29.1 197.4
1972 28.6 192.3
1971 28.1 187.3
1970 27.6 182.3
1969 27.3 177.3
1968 27 172.4
1967 26.8 167.5
1966 26.3 162.7
1965 25.9 157.9
1964 25.4 153.3
1963 24.9 148.8
1962 24.4 144.4
1961 23.8 140.2

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in New Zealand increased by 28.2%, compared to a 7.52% growth in Thailand.

In 2006, New Zealand ranked 166th by population density and is 169th now. Thailand was 61st in 2006 and ranks 70th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

New Zealand
Thailand
1x
Year Urban population
New Zealand Thailand
2024 83.9% 61.9%
2023 83.9% 60.9%
2022 83.9% 59.7%
2021 83.8% 58.5%
2020 83.8% 57.2%
2019 83.8% 55.9%
2018 83.8% 54.6%
2017 84.2% 49.2%
2016 84.7% 47.9%
2015 85.2% 47%
2014 85.5% 46.3%
2013 85.7% 45.8%
2012 85.8% 45.4%
2011 85.8% 44.8%
2010 85.9% 44%
2009 85.9% 43%
2008 85.9% 41.9%
2007 85.9% 40.7%
2006 85.9% 39.4%
2005 85.9% 38.1%
2004 85.9% 36.8%
2003 85.9% 35.4%
2002 85.8% 34.1%
2001 85.8% 32.7%
2000 85.7% 31.5%
1999 85.7% 30.2%
1998 85.6% 28.7%
1997 85.5% 27.2%
1996 85.5% 25.6%
1995 85.4% 24.1%
1994 85.3% 22.7%
1993 85.2% 21.3%
1992 85.1% 20.2%
1991 85% 19.4%
1990 84.8% 18.8%
1989 84.6% 18.5%
1988 84.3% 18.3%
1987 84.1% 18.1%
1986 83.9% 17.9%
1985 83.8% 17.8%
1984 83.7% 17.7%
1983 83.6% 17.6%
1982 83.6% 17.4%
1981 83.5% 17.3%
1980 83.4% 17.1%
1979 83.3% 16.8%
1978 83.2% 16.5%
1977 83.1% 16.1%
1976 82.9% 15.7%
1975 82.7% 15.2%
1974 82.5% 14.8%
1973 82.3% 14.3%
1972 81.9% 13.9%
1971 81.5% 13.6%
1970 80.4% 13.3%
1969 77.9% 13.1%
1968 74.6% 12.9%
1967 71.3% 12.7%
1966 68.8% 12.6%
1965 67.4% 12.5%
1964 66.5% 12.3%
1963 65.7% 12.2%
1962 64.9% 12.1%
1961 63.9% 12%
1960 62.4% 11.8%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 85.9% to 83.9% in New Zealand and from 36.8% to 61.9% in Thailand.

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
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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 (2014–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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