Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in New Zealand
New Zealand: Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre was 1.44 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
1.44 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
185th
of 206 countries
All-time high
1.52 units per square kilometre
in 1970
All-time low
1.19 units per square kilometre
in 1989
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in New Zealand, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in New Zealand stood at 1.44 units per square kilometre.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in New Zealand peaked at 1.52 units per square kilometre in 1970 and was at its lowest, 1.19 units per square kilometre, in 1989.
That places New Zealand 185th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.52 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1971 | 1.51 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 1.5 units per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 1.49 units per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 1974 | 1.48 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 1.49 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 1.5 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 1.5 units per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 1.49 units per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 1.48 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 1.45 units per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.4 units per square kilometre | -3.5% |
| 1982 | 1.36 units per square kilometre | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 1.32 units per square kilometre | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 1.28 units per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 1.25 units per square kilometre | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 1.22 units per square kilometre | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 1.21 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 1.19 units per square kilometre | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 1.19 units per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 1.21 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 1.2 units per square kilometre | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 1.2 units per square kilometre | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 1.23 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 1.26 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 1.31 units per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 1.32 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 1.36 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 1.38 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.37 units per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 1.37 units per square kilometre | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 1.35 units per square kilometre | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 1.35 units per square kilometre | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 1.35 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 1.34 units per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 1.34 units per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 1.33 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 1.33 units per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 1.32 units per square kilometre | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 1.32 units per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 1.32 units per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 1.32 units per square kilometre | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 1.32 units per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.34 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 1.37 units per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 1.4 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 1.43 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 1.46 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 1.47 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.47 units per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 1.47 units per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 1.46 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.43 units per square kilometre | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 1.44 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 1.44 units per square kilometre is below the median for high income countries, which is 8 units per square kilometre, 18% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 1.44 units per square kilometre is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.59 units per square kilometre, 11% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.49 units per square kilometre | 1.48 units per square kilometre | 1.52 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.29 units per square kilometre | 1.19 units per square kilometre | 1.45 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.28 units per square kilometre | 1.2 units per square kilometre | 1.38 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.34 units per square kilometre | 1.32 units per square kilometre | 1.37 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.39 units per square kilometre | 1.32 units per square kilometre | 1.47 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.45 units per square kilometre | 1.43 units per square kilometre | 1.47 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 182 Argentina 1.67 units per square kilometre compare
- 183 Uruguay 1.64 units per square kilometre compare
- 184 Saudi Arabia 1.54 units per square kilometre compare
- 186 Turkmenistan 1.35 units per square kilometre compare
- 187 Central African Republic 1.31 units per square kilometre compare
- 188 Bolivia 1.28 units per square kilometre compare
More education data for New Zealand
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 97.48 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 97.38 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in New Zealand?
- Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre in New Zealand was 1.44 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils, per square kilometre recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 1.52 units per square kilometre in 1970.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils, per square kilometre recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.19 units per square kilometre in 1989.
- How does New Zealand rank for primary education, pupils, per square kilometre?
- New Zealand ranks 185th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils, per square kilometre rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Primary education, pupils divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Primary education, pupils ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Primary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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
Primary education, pupils divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.