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New Zealand: Rural population (% of total population)

In , New Zealand's Rural population (% of total population) was 16.06.

That's down 0.3% from 2023, the highest value since .

The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 37.13 . New Zealand ranks #170 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #29 of 37.

Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2024

Trend (2005–2024)

New Zealand Rural population (% of total population) trend 2020: COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic

Highlights

Peak
16.20
Trough
14.06
1-year change
-0.3%
5-year change
-0.8%
-0.2% / yr
10-year change
+10.8%
+1.0% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year Rural population (% of total population)
16.0629
16.1101
16.1453
16.1701
16.1861
16.1950
16.1982
15.8299
15.3086
14.8481

About Rural population (% of total population)

Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.

Indicator code: SP.RUR.TOTL.ZSCategory: Health & Population

Frequently asked questions

What was New Zealand's Rural population (% of total population) in 2024?
In 2024, New Zealand's Rural population (% of total population) was 16.06, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is New Zealand's Rural population (% of total population) rising or falling?
New Zealand's Rural population (% of total population) fell 0.3% from 2023 to 2024.
How does New Zealand rank globally on Rural population (% of total population)?
In 2024, New Zealand ranked #170 out of 217 countries reporting Rural population (% of total population).
How does New Zealand's Rural population (% of total population) compare to the world average?
The global average for Rural population (% of total population) in 2024 was 37.13, so New Zealand is below the world average. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #29 of 37.
What is Rural population (% of total population) and how is it measured?
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.
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Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.