New Zealand Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
New Zealand's urban population was 83.96% in 2025, ranked 47th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's urban population stood at 83.96% in 2025, a rise of +0.02% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 83.96% by 2025. New Zealand ranked 47th globally.
New Zealand’s urban population share rose steadily from 62.38 percent in 1960 to a post‑war high of 85.94 percent in 2006, reflecting the country’s long‑term shift from agrarian settlement patterns to a service‑oriented economy centered on its main cities. By 2025 the proportion reached 83.96 percent, ranking 47th globally, and remains slightly above the United Kingdom’s 83.33 percent and Norway’s 83.42 percent while trailing Peru’s 85.61 percent and Saudi Arabia’s 84.62 percent. The 66‑year coverage shows only a modest decline from the 2006 peak, suggesting that the pace of urbanisation has slowed as the majority of the population already resides in urban areas and further growth is constrained by geographic limits and housing affordability. Continued investment in regional infrastructure and policies that address housing supply could moderate the gradual decline and sustain a high urban share in the coming decades.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 84.02% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 83.99% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 83.96% | - | - |
| 2025 | 83.96% | +0.02% | #47 |
| 2024 | 83.94% | +0.05% | #170 |
| 2023 | 83.89% | +0.04% | #170 |
| 2022 | 83.85% | +0.02% | #170 |
| 2021 | 83.83% | +0.02% | #170 |
| 2020 | 83.81% | +0.01% | #173 |
| 2019 | 83.80% | +0.00% | #173 |
| 2018 | 83.80% | −0.37% | #173 |
| 2017 | 84.17% | −0.52% | #173 |
| 2016 | 84.69% | −0.46% | #174 |
| 2015 | 85.15% | −0.36% | #174 |
| 2014 | 85.51% | −0.20% | #177 |
| 2013 | 85.71% | −0.07% | #178 |
| 2012 | 85.78% | −0.05% | #181 |
| 2011 | 85.82% | −0.04% | #180 |
Analysis
New Zealand's urban population was 83.96% in 2025, a rise of +0.02% from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 83.96% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's urban population was 83.96% in 2025. Ranked 47th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from the previous year.
New Zealand's urban population peaked at 85.94% in 2006.
The lowest urban population in New Zealand was 62.38% in 1960.
New Zealand ranks 47th globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's urban population is projected to reach 83.96% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of New Zealand in 2025 was 83.96%. This ranks 47th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_urban-population,
title = {New Zealand Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}