Rural population as a share of total population fell 0.814% to 12.9% in New Zealand in 2024, according to the National Statistical Office.
Historically, rural population as a share of total population in New Zealand reached an all time high of 24.0% in 1960 and an all time low of 12.9% in 2024. When compared to New Zealand's main peers, rural population as a share of total population in Australia amounted to 13.3%, 40.8% in Indonesia, 20.8% in Malaysia and 51.4% in Philippines in 2024.
New Zealand has been ranked 149th within the group of 171 countries we follow in terms of rural population as a share of total population, 4 places above the position seen 10 years ago.
| Rural Population (As % of Total) | Unit | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Australia | % | 14.0% | 13.9% | 13.8% | 13.6% | 13.5% | ||||||||||||||||
| Cambodia | % | 76.6% | 76.2% | 75.8% | 75.3% | 74.9% | ||||||||||||||||
| China | % | 40.8% | 39.7% | 38.6% | 37.5% | 36.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| Indonesia | % | 44.7% | 44.0% | 43.4% | 42.7% | 42.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Malaysia | % | 24.0% | 23.4% | 22.8% | 22.3% | 21.8% | ||||||||||||||||
| New Zealand | % | 13.5% | 13.4% | 13.3% | 13.2% | 13.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Papua New Guinea | % | 86.8% | 86.8% | 86.7% | 86.5% | 86.4% | ||||||||||||||||
| Philippines | % | 53.1% | 52.9% | 52.6% | 52.3% | 52.0% | ||||||||||||||||
| Singapore | % | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Taiwan | % | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Thailand | % | 50.1% | 49.3% | 48.6% | 47.8% | 47.1% | ||||||||||||||||
| Vietnam | % | 64.1% | 63.4% | 62.7% | 61.9% | 61.2% |
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