New Zealand - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in New Zealand was 86.70 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 86.70 in 2020, while its lowest value was 76.00 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 76.00
1961 76.53
1962 77.13
1963 77.73
1964 78.32
1965 78.89
1966 79.42
1967 79.85
1968 80.28
1969 80.70
1970 81.11
1971 81.49
1972 81.82
1973 82.14
1974 82.46
1975 82.77
1976 83.03
1977 83.13
1978 83.23
1979 83.33
1980 83.43
1981 83.51
1982 83.55
1983 83.59
1984 83.63
1985 83.67
1986 83.78
1987 84.03
1988 84.27
1989 84.51
1990 84.74
1991 84.95
1992 85.10
1993 85.25
1994 85.40
1995 85.55
1996 85.70
1997 85.78
1998 85.86
1999 85.94
2000 86.02
2001 86.10
2002 86.16
2003 86.22
2004 86.28
2005 86.34
2006 86.40
2007 86.34
2008 86.28
2009 86.22
2010 86.16
2011 86.10
2012 86.16
2013 86.22
2014 86.28
2015 86.34
2016 86.40
2017 86.47
2018 86.54
2019 86.62
2020 86.70

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. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. 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: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization