Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 13 of 18 · Country Index 2026
New Zealand: Food & Agriculture
What does a country grow, and what does it take to grow it?
New Zealand is placed 60th of 184 countries on food & agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) 3.83 (2024); Cereal Yield 8,489 (2023).
Share
Food & Agriculture
60th
of 184 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 3.83Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), 2024Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
- 8,489Cereal Yield, 2023Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
- 3,262Dietary Energy Supply, 2024Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
- 0.04Agriculture Orientation Index, 2024Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place New Zealand on food & agriculture — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
3.83
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators
Higher is better
New Zealand: 3.83. Across the 186 countries in this edition, values run from 1.67 (Tuvalu) to 4.57 (Italy); the world median is 3.14.
- World median
- 3.14
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 3.83 New Zealand
Key 2 of 4
Cereal Yield
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 4.0
8,489
Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 8,489. Across the 179 countries in this edition, values run from 23 (Cabo Verde) to 29,147 (Oman); the world median is 3,072.
- World median
- 3,072
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 8,489 New Zealand
Key 3 of 4
Dietary Energy Supply
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
3,262
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 3,262. Across the 155 countries in this edition, values run from 1,757 (Somalia) to 3,962 (United States); the world median is 2,982.
- World median
- 2,982
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 3,540 Australia
Key 4 of 4
Agriculture Orientation Index
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
0.04
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 0.04. Across the 132 countries in this edition, values run from 0.03 (Ghana) to 5.38 (Singapore); the world median is 0.305.
- World median
- 0.305
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 0.33 Australia
02Over time
Which way New Zealand is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)
Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand was at 3.83 in both 2015 and 2024; the world median went from 3.14 to 3.14.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2024 4 3.1 2023 4 3.1 2022 4 3.2 2021 4 3.1 2020 4 3.1 2019 4 3.1 2018 4 3.2 2017 4 3.1 2016 4 3.1 2015 4 3.1 Cereal Yield
Cereal yield (kg per hectare) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 6,317 in 2000 to 8,489 in 2023; the world median went from 2,170 to 3,072.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2023 8,489 3,072 2022 8,382 3,217 2021 8,809 3,003 2020 9,039 3,260 2019 8,192 3,106 2018 8,064 2,883 2017 8,464 2,984 2016 8,384 3,043 2015 8,027 3,000 2014 8,034 3,001 2013 8,106 2,970 2012 8,012 2,782 2011 6,953 2,754 2010 7,387 2,647 2009 6,910 2,653 2008 7,380 2,664 2007 7,916 2,553 2006 7,029 2,514 2005 7,566 2,512 2004 6,462 2,428 2003 7,060 2,331 2002 6,276 2,378 2001 6,535 2,199 2000 6,317 2,170 Dietary Energy Supply
Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 3,138 in 2001 to 3,262 in 2024; the world median went from 2,628 to 2,982.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2024 3,262 2,982.0 2023 3,172 2,969.0 2022 3,136 2,962.5 2021 3,144 2,967.0 2020 3,138 2,934.0 2019 3,139 2,912.5 2018 3,132 2,893.0 2017 3,145 2,886.0 2016 3,158 2,863.0 2015 3,193 2,835.0 2014 3,241 2,844.0 2013 3,254 2,856.0 2012 3,262 2,838.0 2011 3,210 2,827.5 2010 3,182 2,808.0 2009 3,164 2,818.0 2008 3,179 2,811.0 2007 3,181 2,810.5 2006 3,173 2,772.0 2005 3,164 2,740.5 2004 3,155 2,712.5 2003 3,134 2,685.0 2002 3,120 2,667.0 2001 3,138 2,628.0 Agriculture Orientation Index
Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand fell from 0.26 in 2002 to 0.04 in 2024; the world median went from 0.34 to 0.305.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2024 0.04 0.305 2023 0.05 0.305 2022 0.05 0.290 2021 0.05 0.260 2020 0.06 0.255 2019 0.07 0.265 2018 0.17 0.270 2017 0.13 0.260 2016 0.14 0.285 2015 0.11 0.305 2014 0.14 0.300 2013 0.10 0.285 2012 0.12 0.330 2011 0.11 0.290 2010 0.10 0.320 2009 0.12 0.370 2008 0.14 0.390 2007 0.29 0.410 2006 0.36 0.355 2005 0.31 0.325 2004 0.26 0.320 2003 0.25 0.320 2002 0.26 0.340 2001 — 0.360
03In context
New Zealand beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 184 countries on food & agriculture, never a place within the region.
New Zealand and Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 184; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy)Current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators | Cereal YieldCereal yield (kg per hectare) | Dietary Energy SupplyDietary energy supply (kcal per person per day) | Agriculture Orientation IndexAgriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australiacompare | 54th | 3.5 | 2,691 | 3,540 | 0.33 |
| New Zealand | 60th | 3.83 | 8,489 | 3,262 | 0.04 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Australia and New Zealand
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 184.
- Australia54th
- New Zealand60th
Placed either side on food & agriculture
The countries immediately above and below New Zealand in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where New Zealand is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under food & agriculture, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which New Zealand does better than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
New Zealand: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413341▼ Worsened since 2012
New Zealand: 33 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83107.9484.83▲ Improved since 2013
New Zealand: 107.94 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69137.9102.69No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 137.9 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Per Capita Food Supply VariabilityFAO · 2024 · world median 292229▲ Improved since 2014
New Zealand: 22 · world median 29 · Year-to-year variability of the food supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4 to 227; lower is better.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23108.2106.23▲ Improved since 2012
New Zealand: 108.2 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 80th of 195 · derived.
Organic Agricultural AreaFAO · 2024 · world median 0.7250.920.725▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 0.92 · world median 0.725 · Organic share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 86.38; higher is better.
Position 70th of 150 · derived.
Behind the world median3
Statistics on which New Zealand does worse than the middle country measured.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08100.57106.08No real change since 2012
New Zealand: 100.57 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 134th of 195 · derived.
Agricultural Emissions IntensityFAO · 2023 · world median 1.5652.321.565▲ Improved since 2013
New Zealand: 2.32 · world median 1.565 · Greenhouse gases from farming per value of agricultural output (kg CO₂eq per international dollar). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 28.2; lower is better.
Position 58th of 190 · derived, 1st = worst.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.0699107.06No real change since 2012
New Zealand: 99 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 146th of 194 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 4.94.94.9▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 4.9 · world median 4.9 · Population in severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 62.9; lower is better.
Position 61st of 119 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end15
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Fertilizer Consumption per HectareFAO · 2023 · world median 87.361,29187.36No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 1,291 · world median 87.36 · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,926.
Position 3rd of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.738.871.73No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 8.87 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 32nd of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural EmissionsFAO · 2023 · world median 8,63544,9188,635Moved since 2013
New Zealand: 44,918 · world median 8,635 · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,044,508.
Position 37th of 193 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fisheries and Aquaculture ProductionFAO · 2024 · world median 52,375422,67252,375Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 422,672 · world median 52,375 · Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals caught or farmed, tonnes (live weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 70,500,841.
Livestock DensityFAO · 2023 · world median 0.5351.170.535No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 1.17 · world median 0.535 · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 43.97.
Position 40th of 188 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8379.5457.83Moved since 2013
New Zealand: 79.54 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1724.6116.17Moved since 2013
New Zealand: 24.61 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Agricultural Irrigated LandFAO · 2023 · world median 3.666.2973.66No earlier reading
New Zealand: 6.297 · world median 3.66 · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 89.04.
Position 48th of 121 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cereal Import Dependency RatioFAO · 2022 · world median 42.848.142.8Moved since 2012
New Zealand: 48.1 · world median 42.8 · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from -1,894 to 100.
Water Withdrawal by SectorFAO · 2022 · world median 62.1464.9562.14No real change since 2012
New Zealand: 64.95 · world median 62.14 · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.48.
Position 83rd of 171 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Agricultural LandFAO · 2023 · world median 37.9636.8837.96Moved since 2013
New Zealand: 36.88 · world median 37.96 · Agricultural land (% of land area). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.445 to 86.48.
Position 108th of 209 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Arable Land per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 0.1090.10.109No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 0.1 · world median 0.109 · Arable land (hectares per person). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1.459.
Position 108th of 206 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cropland Nitrogen BalanceFAO · 2023 · world median 37.6320.3137.63No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 20.31 · world median 37.63 · Nitrogen surplus (+) or deficit (−) on cropland, kg per hectare. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -555.52 to 1,199.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.385.41814.38Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 5.418 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 125th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Land Under Cereal ProductionFAO · 2023 · world median 689,278116,285689,278No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 116,285 · world median 689,278 · Land under cereal production (hectares). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 103,715,108.
Position 133rd of 179 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for New Zealand
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2023), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Global Report on Food Crises, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Food & Agriculture among New Zealand’s 15 topics
Food & Agriculture is New Zealand’s 14th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Governance & Institutions2nd of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security5th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties7th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equality9th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy11th of 1653/3 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 16th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour23rd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience26th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation29th of 1764/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade41st of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology52nd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing53rd of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge64th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture60th of 1844/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability129th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on food & agriculture
The three countries placed highest of 184, and the leaders New Zealand can most readily be measured against.
1
SerbiaSouthern Europe
1st of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
AustriaWestern Europe
2nd of 184 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
3
MaltaSouthern Europe
3rd of 184 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia54th4/4 keysThis page
New Zealand60th4/4 keys
Positions out of 184 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
New Zealand on food & agriculture: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does New Zealand rank on food & agriculture?
New Zealand is placed 60th of 184 countries on Food & Agriculture in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy), Cereal Yield, Dietary Energy Supply and Agriculture Orientation Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) figure for New Zealand?
3.83 in 2024 (current status score, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), averaged over up to seven sub-indicators), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3.14.
What is the latest Cereal Yield figure for New Zealand?
8,489 in 2023 (cereal yield (kg per hectare)), according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The world median in the same edition was 3,072.
How have New Zealand’s food & agriculture figures changed?
Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) was 3.83 in both 2015 and 2024; Cereal Yield rose from 6,317 in 2000 to 8,489 in 2023; Dietary Energy Supply rose from 3,138 in 2001 to 3,262 in 2024; Agriculture Orientation Index fell from 0.26 in 2002 to 0.04 in 2024.
Which food & agriculture statistics are missing for New Zealand?
No current reading is published for New Zealand on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Global Report on Food Crises, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This subject is about production and land use, not about whether people are fed. Hunger, undernourishment and what a population actually eats are measured under Health & Wellbeing, and the two regularly disagree — a country can grow a great deal and still leave many people short, and one that grows little can be well fed by trade. The wider environmental cost of farming — emissions, water withdrawal, forest cover — is filed under Environment & Sustainability.
How the Food & Agriculture standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The food & agriculture method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Progress Toward Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2.4.1 Proxy) — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Cereal Yield — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Dietary Energy Supply — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
- Agriculture Orientation Index — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
New Zealand’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- New Zealand (banner) — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Serbia — Lošmi derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Malta — Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). New Zealand: Food & Agriculture — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/new-zealand/food