Why Does the United States Have Fewer Cities Than New Zealand: An Analysis

Often, discussions on the urban landscape of the United States and New Zealand reveal intriguing comparisons, such as the number of cities each country possesses. It is a common claim that the United States has one-tenth as many cities as New Zealand. However, this statement is based on specific definitions and criteria and can be misleading when used without context.

Urban Definitions and Criteria

The difference in the number of cities can be understood through a detailed examination of how each country defines and classifies its urban areas. In the United States, a city is typically defined as an incorporated community with governmental powers, whereas in New Zealand, a city can be a larger urban center, often with a population exceeding 20,000.

The U.S. Perspective

In the United States, the term "city" is often associated with population size along with governmental powers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an urban area includes a town or city with a population of at least 2,500.

As of 2018, the U.S. had a total of 19,495 incorporated cities, towns, and villages. Among these, 14,768 had populations below 5,000. Only 10 cities had populations above 1 million, with none reaching populations over 10 million. Furthermore, 310 cities were classified as medium cities, with populations between 100,000 and 299,999.

The New Zealand Perspective

New Zealand's definition of a city is broader, often encompassing areas with more than 20,000 residents. Officially, the New Zealand government categorizes areas with populations exceeding 20,000 as city groups. As a result, New Zealand has only 29 city groups in total. Notably, the Auckland Region, which includes Auckland city, has a population of over one million and is considered the only city group with a population over one million.

Misconceptions and Clarifications

The claim that the United States has one-tenth as many cities as New Zealand can be misleading. It is based on the broader definition of "city" used in New Zealand, which includes more populous urban centers. When comparing cities in terms of governmental powers and population, the United States has 310 cities of over 100,000 with governmental powers, significantly more than New Zealand's 29 city groups.

Contextual Comparisons

To gain a more comprehensive understanding, it’s also useful to consider other factors. For instance, Texas alone has 155 cities with populations over 20,000, which represents a diverse and dense urban landscape. Despite New Zealand's more relaxed criteria for city classification, it still has a notably lower number of cities when compared to the U.S.

Conclusion

The comparison between the number of cities in the United States and New Zealand should be made using consistent and clear definitions. When considering the urban landscape through a governmental and population perspective, the U.S. actually has a higher number of cities. The disparity is due to the different criteria used to define urban areas in each country.

Given that the U.S. has a broader and more sophisticated urban classification system, it is unsurprising to see a higher number of incorporated and medium-sized cities. Conversely, New Zealand’s more lenient criteria for classifying a city can lead to a lower count of officially recognized urban areas.

In conclusion, the claim that the United States has one-tenth as many cities as New Zealand is inaccurate and lacks the context needed to make a fair comparison.