New Zealand - Urban population

The value for Urban population in New Zealand was 4,408,037 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 4,408,037 in 2020 and a minimum value of 1,802,521 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 1,802,521
1961 1,851,675
1962 1,914,441
1963 1,967,968
1964 2,024,808
1965 2,073,571
1966 2,125,227
1967 2,175,248
1968 2,206,092
1969 2,237,511
1970 2,279,646
1971 2,324,938
1972 2,375,942
1973 2,432,441
1974 2,493,343
1975 2,552,005
1976 2,582,586
1977 2,593,760
1978 2,597,744
1979 2,590,668
1980 2,597,030
1981 2,609,635
1982 2,636,985
1983 2,674,359
1984 2,698,921
1985 2,716,946
1986 2,719,750
1987 2,751,315
1988 2,766,856
1989 2,788,022
1990 2,821,739
1991 2,969,087
1992 3,005,583
1993 3,045,443
1994 3,091,625
1995 3,142,704
1996 3,198,324
1997 3,243,637
1998 3,275,597
1999 3,295,923
2000 3,318,432
2001 3,341,111
2002 3,402,067
2003 3,472,292
2004 3,526,736
2005 3,569,251
2006 3,615,494
2007 3,646,829
2008 3,675,355
2009 3,709,702
2010 3,748,563
2011 3,774,624
2012 3,798,063
2013 3,830,023
2014 3,896,881
2015 3,979,802
2016 4,072,982
2017 4,162,127
2018 4,240,881
2019 4,312,821
2020 4,408,037

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization