Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in New Zealand
New Zealand: Employment in agriculture vs. urban population was 5.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in New Zealand, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in New Zealand stood at 5.6%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in agriculture vs. urban population in New Zealand peaked at 10.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2023.
New Zealand ranks 132nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.8% | — |
| 1992 | 10.8% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 10.6% | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 10.4% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 9.7% | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 9.4% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 8.6% | -8.2% |
| 1998 | 8.5% | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 9.4% | +10.3% |
| 2000 | 8.7% | -7.6% |
| 2001 | 9.1% | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 7.6% | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 7.2% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 6.9% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 6.3% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | -6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.8% | 8.5% | 10.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 6.6% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 5.8% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More work & labour data for New Zealand
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0748 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0721 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0776 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4877 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,200 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 511.04 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,819 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,994 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,812 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in agriculture vs. urban population in New Zealand?
- Employment in agriculture vs. urban population in New Zealand was 5.6% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 10.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest employment in agriculture vs. urban population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2023.
- How does New Zealand rank for employment in agriculture vs. urban population?
- New Zealand ranks 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is employment in agriculture vs. urban population rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment in agriculture vs. urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.