Urban area over the long-term in New Zealand
New Zealand: Urban area over the long-term was 2,471 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,471 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
51st
of 202 countries
All-time high
2,471 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in New Zealand, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 2,471 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in New Zealand peaked at 2,471 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
New Zealand ranks 51st of 202 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1200 | 0.001 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1300 | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0113 km² per grid cell | +198.7% |
| 1500 | 0.1276 km² per grid cell | +1024.3% |
| 1600 | 0.4711 km² per grid cell | +269.3% |
| 1700 | 1.15 km² per grid cell | +144.7% |
| 1710 | 3.28 km² per grid cell | +184.3% |
| 1720 | 5.25 km² per grid cell | +60.2% |
| 1730 | 7.05 km² per grid cell | +34.4% |
| 1740 | 8.73 km² per grid cell | +23.8% |
| 1750 | 10.32 km² per grid cell | +18.2% |
| 1760 | 11.85 km² per grid cell | +14.8% |
| 1770 | 13.35 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1780 | 14.86 km² per grid cell | +11.3% |
| 1790 | 16.4 km² per grid cell | +10.4% |
| 1800 | 17.97 km² per grid cell | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 19.52 km² per grid cell | +8.7% |
| 1820 | 24.83 km² per grid cell | +27.2% |
| 1830 | 31.42 km² per grid cell | +26.5% |
| 1840 | 39.57 km² per grid cell | +25.9% |
| 1850 | 49.64 km² per grid cell | +25.5% |
| 1860 | 62.08 km² per grid cell | +25.1% |
| 1870 | 77.42 km² per grid cell | +24.7% |
| 1880 | 96.31 km² per grid cell | +24.4% |
| 1890 | 144.67 km² per grid cell | +50.2% |
| 1900 | 201.67 km² per grid cell | +39.4% |
| 1910 | 267.64 km² per grid cell | +32.7% |
| 1920 | 360.69 km² per grid cell | +34.8% |
| 1930 | 466.73 km² per grid cell | +29.4% |
| 1940 | 586.25 km² per grid cell | +25.6% |
| 1950 | 719.76 km² per grid cell | +22.8% |
| 1951 | 737.95 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 758.18 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 779.54 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 801.34 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 823.16 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 845.54 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 870.75 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1958 | 896.21 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 922.32 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 949.48 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1961 | 978.16 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 1,009 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 1,040 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 1,070 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 1,099 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 1,125 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 1,147 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 1,170 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 1,193 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 1,220 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 1,250 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 1,282 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 1,315 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 1,345 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 1,370 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 1,387 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 1,397 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 1,403 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 1,409 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 1,418 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 1,430 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 1,445 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 1,460 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 1,476 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 1,489 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 1,502 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 1,515 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 1,529 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 1,546 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 1,569 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 1,598 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 1,631 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 1,666 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 1,701 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 1,731 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 1,756 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 1,776 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 1,795 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 1,814 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 1,836 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 1,865 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 1,894 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 1,924 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 1,953 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 1,983 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 2,001 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 2,019 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 2,037 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 2,055 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 2,064 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 2,096 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 2,118 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 2,206 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 2,231 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 2,254 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 2,277 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 2,299 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 2,322 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 2,346 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 2,369 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 2,389 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 2,409 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 2,430 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 2,450 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 2,471 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2,471 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 2.5× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2,471 km² per grid cell is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 954.94 km² per grid cell, 2.6× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | +1024.3% | 0.0113 km² per grid cell | 0.1276 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +275.0% | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +269.3% | 0.1276 km² per grid cell | 0.4711 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +198.7% | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.0113 km² per grid cell |
| 1710 | +184.3% | 1.15 km² per grid cell | 3.28 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +144.7% | 0.4711 km² per grid cell | 1.15 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 0.001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 0.0038 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0113 km² per grid cell | 0.0113 km² per grid cell | 0.0113 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1276 km² per grid cell | 0.1276 km² per grid cell | 0.1276 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.4711 km² per grid cell | 0.4711 km² per grid cell | 0.4711 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.15 km² per grid cell | 1.15 km² per grid cell | 1.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.28 km² per grid cell | 3.28 km² per grid cell | 3.28 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 5.25 km² per grid cell | 5.25 km² per grid cell | 5.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 7.05 km² per grid cell | 7.05 km² per grid cell | 7.05 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 8.73 km² per grid cell | 8.73 km² per grid cell | 8.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 10.32 km² per grid cell | 10.32 km² per grid cell | 10.32 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 11.85 km² per grid cell | 11.85 km² per grid cell | 11.85 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 13.35 km² per grid cell | 13.35 km² per grid cell | 13.35 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 14.86 km² per grid cell | 14.86 km² per grid cell | 14.86 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 16.4 km² per grid cell | 16.4 km² per grid cell | 16.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 17.97 km² per grid cell | 17.97 km² per grid cell | 17.97 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 19.52 km² per grid cell | 19.52 km² per grid cell | 19.52 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 24.83 km² per grid cell | 24.83 km² per grid cell | 24.83 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 31.42 km² per grid cell | 31.42 km² per grid cell | 31.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 39.57 km² per grid cell | 39.57 km² per grid cell | 39.57 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 49.64 km² per grid cell | 49.64 km² per grid cell | 49.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 62.08 km² per grid cell | 62.08 km² per grid cell | 62.08 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 77.42 km² per grid cell | 77.42 km² per grid cell | 77.42 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 96.31 km² per grid cell | 96.31 km² per grid cell | 96.31 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 144.67 km² per grid cell | 144.67 km² per grid cell | 144.67 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 201.67 km² per grid cell | 201.67 km² per grid cell | 201.67 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 267.64 km² per grid cell | 267.64 km² per grid cell | 267.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 360.69 km² per grid cell | 360.69 km² per grid cell | 360.69 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 466.73 km² per grid cell | 466.73 km² per grid cell | 466.73 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 586.25 km² per grid cell | 586.25 km² per grid cell | 586.25 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 815.47 km² per grid cell | 719.76 km² per grid cell | 922.32 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,078 km² per grid cell | 949.48 km² per grid cell | 1,193 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,338 km² per grid cell | 1,220 km² per grid cell | 1,409 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,481 km² per grid cell | 1,418 km² per grid cell | 1,546 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,704 km² per grid cell | 1,569 km² per grid cell | 1,814 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,957 km² per grid cell | 1,836 km² per grid cell | 2,055 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,221 km² per grid cell | 2,064 km² per grid cell | 2,346 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,420 km² per grid cell | 2,369 km² per grid cell | 2,471 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in New Zealand?
- Urban area over the long-term in New Zealand was 2,471 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 2,471 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does New Zealand rank for urban area over the long-term?
- New Zealand ranks 51st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.