What percentage of internet users directly type in a supposed domain
name, rather than searching for it using a search engine. Exmaple: I
want info on New Zealand so I just type www.newzealand.com into the
address bar of my browser, rather than searching for "New Zealand"
using a search engine.

This depends on how they found the web site.  If someone hands you a
business card with an URL, you will not have to search for it, you
would simply type it into the address bar.  However, if you could not
remember or did not know the URL, you may search using a search engine
and then simply click on the link.  I doubt seriously, if many people
copy-and-paste the URL from the search engine or other link to their
address bar.

Now, some browsers are set up so that the user can type a search term
into the address bar.  However, that is not your question.  Also, I
doubt many people just start typing random URLs such as
newzeealand.com.  a better question is why do you want to know?

I infer that you want to know, if a "good" domain name will get more
hits by people trying it rather than a highly ranked URL does from
search engine hits.  I doubt it.  However, it is always good to have a
short, easy to remember and descriptive domain name preferably within
the dot com domain.

Thanks for the response drtandem1, but I think you might not
understand what I'm asking. Perhaps I worded my question too vaguely.
Put another way, what percentage of users guess at a topics by simply
adding .com to that word?

Example: I want to buy a new pair of gloves, so I type into my address
bar www.gloves.com thinking it is somewhat likely that whatever site
is there will offer gloves for sale, given the name.

Example: I want tips on motorcycle maintenance, so I type into my
address bar www.motorcyclemaintenance.com, thinking it is reasonably
possible that whatever site is there will have info on motorcycle
maintenance, having those two words as the domain name.

>I infer that you want to know, if a "good" domain name will get more
>hits by people trying it rather than a highly ranked URL does from
>search engine hits.

Not exactly. I'm not trying to compare domain name choice with SEO;
I'm just wondering if anyone has ever looked at this type of online
behavior.