Urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand

New Zealand: Urban population, annual growth rate was 0.7288 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
0.7288 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 59.2%
World rank
140th
of 218 countries
All-time high
5.55 % change on previous year
in 1968
All-time low
-0.2519 % change on previous year
in 1979
Years of data
65
1961–2025

Urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand, 1961–2025

0246196119932025

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.

Analysis

The most recent figure for urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand is 0.7288 % change on previous year, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 59.2% on the previous year and down 55.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand peaked at 5.55 % change on previous year in 1968 and was at its lowest, -0.2519 % change on previous year, in 1979.

New Zealand ranks 140th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand, 1961 to 2025.
Year % change on previous year Change
1961 4.47 % change on previous year
1962 4.16 % change on previous year -6.8%
1963 3.28 % change on previous year -21.1%
1964 3.37 % change on previous year +2.5%
1965 3.14 % change on previous year -6.6%
1966 3.91 % change on previous year +24.5%
1967 5.45 % change on previous year +39.4%
1968 5.55 % change on previous year +1.9%
1969 5.37 % change on previous year -3.2%
1970 4.66 % change on previous year -13.2%
1971 2.86 % change on previous year -38.6%
1972 2.3 % change on previous year -19.7%
1973 2.39 % change on previous year +4.0%
1974 2.42 % change on previous year +1.4%
1975 2.21 % change on previous year -8.6%
1976 1.1 % change on previous year -50.1%
1977 0.5022 % change on previous year -54.5%
1978 0.1937 % change on previous year -61.4%
1979 -0.2519 % change on previous year -230.0%
1980 0.2483 % change on previous year -198.6%
1981 0.4949 % change on previous year +99.3%
1982 1.09 % change on previous year +119.7%
1983 1.44 % change on previous year +32.5%
1984 0.9411 % change on previous year -34.7%
1985 0.7091 % change on previous year -24.7%
1986 0.1048 % change on previous year -85.2%
1987 1.08 % change on previous year +934.7%
1988 0.5646 % change on previous year -47.9%
1989 0.7884 % change on previous year +39.6%
1990 1.2 % change on previous year +52.5%
1991 5.17 % change on previous year +330.0%
1992 1.2 % change on previous year -76.8%
1993 1.29 % change on previous year +7.0%
1994 1.46 % change on previous year +13.6%
1995 1.58 % change on previous year +8.3%
1996 1.69 % change on previous year +6.6%
1997 1.4 % change on previous year -16.9%
1998 0.9631 % change on previous year -31.3%
1999 0.5913 % change on previous year -38.6%
2000 0.6487 % change on previous year +9.7%
2001 0.6479 % change on previous year -0.1%
2002 1.81 % change on previous year +180.0%
2003 2.05 % change on previous year +13.3%
2004 1.55 % change on previous year -24.6%
2005 1.17 % change on previous year -24.6%
2006 1.23 % change on previous year +5.5%
2007 0.9294 % change on previous year -24.6%
2008 0.8348 % change on previous year -10.2%
2009 0.9782 % change on previous year +17.2%
2010 1.08 % change on previous year +10.6%
2011 0.7206 % change on previous year -33.4%
2012 0.4965 % change on previous year -31.1%
2013 0.6895 % change on previous year +38.9%
2014 1.44 % change on previous year +108.4%
2015 1.63 % change on previous year +13.6%
2016 1.72 % change on previous year +5.3%
2017 1.48 % change on previous year -13.8%
2018 1.36 % change on previous year -8.1%
2019 1.43 % change on previous year +4.7%
2020 2.07 % change on previous year +44.8%
2021 0.2597 % change on previous year -87.4%
2022 -0.0274 % change on previous year -110.6%
2023 2.37 % change on previous year -8737.4%
2024 1.79 % change on previous year -24.6%
2025 0.7288 % change on previous year -59.2%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2023 +8737.4% -0.0274 % change on previous year 2.37 % change on previous year
1987 +934.7% 0.1048 % change on previous year 1.08 % change on previous year
1991 +330.0% 1.2 % change on previous year 5.17 % change on previous year
1979 -230.0% 0.1937 % change on previous year -0.2519 % change on previous year

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 4.3 % change on previous year 3.14 % change on previous year 5.55 % change on previous year 9
1970s 1.84 % change on previous year -0.2519 % change on previous year 4.66 % change on previous year 10
1980s 0.7464 % change on previous year 0.1048 % change on previous year 1.44 % change on previous year 10
1990s 1.66 % change on previous year 0.5913 % change on previous year 5.17 % change on previous year 10
2000s 1.19 % change on previous year 0.6479 % change on previous year 2.05 % change on previous year 10
2010s 1.2 % change on previous year 0.4965 % change on previous year 1.72 % change on previous year 10
2020s 1.2 % change on previous year -0.0274 % change on previous year 2.37 % change on previous year 6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 137 Belgium 0.771 % change on previous year compare
  2. 138 Jamaica 0.7656 % change on previous year compare
  3. 139 Bahrain 0.7365 % change on previous year compare
  4. 141 Denmark 0.7081 % change on previous year compare
  5. 142 Brazil 0.7052 % change on previous year compare
  6. 143 Austria 0.689 % change on previous year compare

See the full ranking of 266 places →

More climate change data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand?
Urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand was 0.7288 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest urban population, annual growth rate recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 5.55 % change on previous year in 1968.
What is the lowest urban population, annual growth rate recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was -0.2519 % change on previous year in 1979.
How does New Zealand rank for urban population, annual growth rate?
New Zealand ranks 140th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
Is urban population, annual growth rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 55.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Urban population, annual growth rate in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/urban-population-annual-growth-rate/new-zealand/

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How this figure is calculated

The year-on-year percentage change in Urban population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Urban population, annual growth rate
Unit
% change on previous year
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
266 places, 17,260 data points, 1961–2025
Last refreshed

The year-on-year percentage change in Urban population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.