Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

New Zealand

NZ / NZLoceania

CapitalWellington

Population5,324,700

GDP$264.1bn

Area268,021 km²

RegionEast Asia & Pacific

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:11 am

Country facts

CapitalWellington

Area268,021 km²

CurrencyNew Zealand dollar (NZD)

Official language(s)Māori, New Zealand Sign Language, English

Calling code+64

RegionEast Asia & Pacific

Income levelHigh income

Form of governmentparliamentary monarchy

Time zoneUTC+13:00, UTC+12:00

Overview

Population5,324,7002025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate5,287,4792026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$264,057,413,7402025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$49,5912025 · Verified

GDP growth0.5%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices2.8%2025 · Verified

Unemployment5.1%2025 · Verified

Background

Polynesians settled New Zealand between the late 1200s and the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. By the 1500s, competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori tribes as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but left after an encounter with local Maori. British sea captain James COOK arrived in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although the position had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori tribes from the North Island declared independence. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, the majority of Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British in 1840. Land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still being actively negotiated in New Zealand.
The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and granted limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars between Europeans and various Maori tribes from the 1840s to the 1870s. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947 and signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951.
Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986, but bilateral relations and military ties have been revitalized since the 2010s with new security agreements. A key challenge for Auckland that has emerged over the past decade is balancing concerns over China’s growing influence in the Pacific region with its role as New Zealand's largest export destination. New Zealand has close ties with Australia based to a large extent on the two nations’ common origins as British colonies and their shared military history.

Reference: 1986, 1984, 1951, 1947

Geography

Latitude-41.2865°current · Verified

Longitude174.7760°current · Verified

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 268,838 sq km
land: 264,537 sq km
water: 4,301 sq km
note: note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands

Area - comparative

almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

15,134 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain

predominately mountainous with large coastal plains

Elevation

highest point: Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 388 m

Reference: 1991

Natural resources

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use

agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 34.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 38.6% (2023 est.)
other: 24.5% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

7,000 sq km (2014)

Reference: 2014

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km

Population distribution

over three quarters of New Zealanders, including the Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

Natural hazards

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m) has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Geography - note

note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th-largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th-largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism
note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes
note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

Population & Society

Population5,324,7002025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate5,287,4792026 · Estimated

Fertility rate1.62024 · Verified

Urban population84.0%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups

European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.)
note: note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group

Reference: 2018

Languages

English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)
note: note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census

Reference: 2018

Religions

Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)
note: note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion

Reference: 2018

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 503,120/female 475,490)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 1,674,407/female 1,638,276)
65 years and over: 16.9% (2024 est.) (male 407,080/female 462,838)

Reference: 2024

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 55.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 29.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 26.3 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 37.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 37.2 years
female: 38.6 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

0.95% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Population distribution

over three quarters of New Zealanders, including the Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

Major urban areas - population

1.673 million Auckland, 422,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2023)

Reference: 2023

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.8 years

Maternal mortality ratio

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

0.9 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

3.61 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Sanitation facility access

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

30.8% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 10% (2025 est.)
male: 11.2% (2025 est.)
female: 8.9% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.6% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 19 years (2023 est.)
male: 19 years (2023 est.)
female: 20 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)1,467,9892024 · Verified

International migrant stock28.2%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock679,7722024 · Estimated

Net migration17,4032025 · Verified

Refugees hosted2,1482025 · Verified

Asylum seekers hosted4,5842025 · Verified

Refugees from this country582025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country432025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 5,622 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 26 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 29 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentparliamentary monarchycurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of government	Christopher Luxon	—	2023-11-27	Current	Reported
Head of state	Charles III	—	2022-09-08	Current	Reported

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
former: Nieuw Zeeland
abbreviation: NZ
etymology: the name is an anglicized form of the Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland, or "New Sea Land," which was first used in 1643 in honor of the Dutch province of Zeeland

Capital

name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
time zone note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)
etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur WELLESLEY, the first Duke of Wellington, who was famous for his victory at Waterloo in 1815 and was a benefactor of the New Zealand Company that settled North Island

Administrative divisions

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Dependent areas

Tokelau (1)

Legal system

common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

Constitution

history: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions
amendment process: proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum

Reference: 1987, 1986

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Christopher LUXON (since 27 November 2023)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by the governor-general

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Legislative branch

legislature name: House of Representatives
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 120 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 3 years
most recent election date: 10/14/2023
parties elected and seats per party: National Party (49); Labour Party (34); Green Party (15); ACT New Zealand (11); New Zealand First (8); Other (6)
percentage of women in chamber: 45.1%
expected date of next election: September 2026

Reference: 2026, 2023

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals

Political parties

ACT New Zealand
Green Party
New Zealand First Party or NZ First
New Zealand Labor Party
New Zealand National Party
Te Pāti Māori

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 17 June 2024)
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5277
email address and website: wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires David GEHRENBECK (since January 2025); note - also accredited to Samoa
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
mailing address: 4370 Auckland Place, Washington DC 20521-4370
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
email address and website: AucklandACS@state.gov
https://nz.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Auckland

International organization participation

ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

26 September 1907 (from the UK)

Reference: 1907

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840); Anzac Day, 25 April (1915)
note: note: the Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand, and the second holiday commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in Gallipoli, Turkey, during World War I

Reference: 1915

Flag

description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant, with four five-pointed red stars edged in white centered in the right half of the flag
meaning: the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

National symbol(s)

Southern Cross constellation (four five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern

National color(s)

black, white, red (ochre)

National coat of arms

the first quarter of the shield shows four stars that represent the Southern Cross constellation and three ships that symbolize New Zealand's sea trade; in the second quarter, a fleece represents the sheep farming industry; the wheat sheaf in the third quarter represents the agricultural industry; the crossed hammers in the fourth quarter represent mining; the Māori chieftain holds a taiaha (a Māori war weapon) and a European woman holds the New Zealand flag; St. Edward's crown, shown above the shield, symbolizes the British monarch

National anthem(s)

title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: royal anthem and one of two official national anthems; usually played only when a member of the royal family or a representative is present or when allegiance to the crown is demonstrated
note: note: New Zealand is one of only two countries that has two national anthems of equal status (Denmark is the other)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n); Tongariro National Park (m); New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
New Zealand official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
New Zealand Parliament	—	120	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$264,057,413,7402025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$49,5912025 · Verified

GDP growth0.5%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices2.8%2025 · Verified

Unemployment5.1%2025 · Verified

Income levelHigh incomecurrent · Verified

Economic overview

high-income, globally integrated Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; recovery trajectory following deep post-pandemic recession; challenges of fiscal deficits, below-average productivity, cost of living, and drop in net migration

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $257.117 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $257.443 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $253.903 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $48,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $49,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $49,600 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.6% (2022 est.)
industry: 19.6% (2022 est.)
services: 67.4% (2022 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2022

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 57.5% (2022 est.)
government consumption: 20.9% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 25.4% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.9% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services: 24% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services: -29.4% (2022 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2022

Agricultural products

milk, beef, kiwifruit, apples, grapes, lamb/mutton, potatoes, wheat, barley, chicken (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism

Industrial production growth rate

-1% (2023 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2023

Labor force

3.124 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 14.3% (2024 est.)
male: 14.6% (2024 est.)
female: 14% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Average household expenditures

on food: 12.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 4.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Budget

revenues: $83.167 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $91.782 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2022

Public debt

Public debt 2022: 54% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Reference: 2022

Taxes and other revenues

29.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2022

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: -$15.978 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$17.065 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$21.627 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Exports 2024: $61.799 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $59.029 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $57.485 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

China 28%, USA 12%, Australia 12%, Japan 6%, S. Korea 3% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

milk, wood, beef, butter, sheep and goat meat (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2024: $67.998 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $68.412 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $71.35 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

China 20%, Australia 11%, USA 9%, S. Korea 7%, Japan 7% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, trucks (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $22.065 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $15.487 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $14.4 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exchange rates

Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 1.652 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 1.542 (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services24.7%2024 · Verified

Imports of goods and services26.0%2024 · Verified

Trade50.7%2024 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

China 28%, USA 12%, Australia 12%, Japan 6%, S. Korea 3% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

milk, wood, beef, butter, sheep and goat meat (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

China 20%, Australia 11%, USA 9%, S. Korea 7%, Japan 7% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, trucks (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption7,989 kWh/person2024 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption28.9%2021 · Verified

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 10.643 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 40.794 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.058 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 12.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 59.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 17.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

production: 3.011 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.696 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 906,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 283,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 6.75 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 12,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 154,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 40.993 million barrels (2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2021

Natural gas

production: 3.97 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.891 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 31.149 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 121.647 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions38.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions130.1 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 660,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth82.0 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure10.1%2024 · Verified

Infant mortality rate4.0 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

3.61 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

30.8% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 10% (2025 est.)
male: 11.2% (2025 est.)
female: 8.9% (2025 est.)

Education

Secondary school enrolment, gross114.2%2024 · Verified

Government education expenditure5.2%2023 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 19 years (2023 est.)
male: 19 years (2023 est.)
female: 20 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.9272025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media2.9462025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists1.7212025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government2.7842025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media1.5272025 · Estimated

Media bias1.7142025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship1.5732025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Legal since 1986; + UN decl. sign.Reported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsYes Unregistered cohabitation since 2002; Civil unions since 2005Reported

Same-sex marriageYes Legal since 2013Reported

Same-sex adoptionYes Legal since 2013Reported

Open military serviceYes Since 1993; Includes transgender peopleReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes Bans all anti-gay discriminationReported

Gender identity / expression lawYes Covered under the "sex discrimination" provision of the Human Rights Act 1993; Since July 2023, gender self-determination implemented by legislation on a birth certificate.Reported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

Judicial branch

Military & Security

Military and security forces

New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2025)
note: note: the New Zealand Police, under the Minister of Police, is the primary law enforcement body agency of New Zealand and responsible for internal security

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 8,800 active (Regular Force) New Zealand Defense Forces (4,300 Army; 2,100 Navy; 2,400 Air Force) (2025)
note: note: the total NZDF complement is about 15,300 including the Regular Force, Reserves, and civilians

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the NZDF's inventory is comprised of domestically produced and Western-supplied weapons and equipment, including from Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK (2025)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2025)
note: note: New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; as of 2024, women accounted for about 20% of Regular Force personnel

Reference: 2025, 2024, 2000

Military deployments

small numbers of NZ military personnel are deployed on a variety of international missions in Africa, Antarctica, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East (2025)

Military - note

the NZDF is responsible for protecting New Zealand’s sovereignty, promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, and conducting peacekeeping, humanitarian, and other international missions
New Zealand is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily
New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after Auckland implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s; New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)

Reference: 2025, 2016, 2012, 2010

International Relations

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
Commonwealth of Nations (Commonwealth)	member	1931-00-00
OECD (OECD)	member	—
United Nations (UN)	member	1945-10-24
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	—

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 5,622 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 26 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 29 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

206 (2025)

Heliports

62 (2025)

Railways

total: 4,128 km (2018)
narrow gauge: 4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)

Reference: 2018

Merchant marine

total: 117 (2023)
by type: container ship 2, general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 100

Reference: 2023

Ports

total ports: 22 (2024)
large: 2
medium: 1
small: 10
very small: 9
ports with oil terminals: 14
key ports: Auckland, Bluff Harbor, Gisborne, Manukau Harbor, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Otago Harbor, Picton, Tauranga, Timaru, Wellington, Whangarei

Reference: 2024

Environment

Forest area37.8%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption28.9%2021 · Verified

Environmental issues

water quality and availability; rapid urbanization; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species

International environmental agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

Reference: 2006

Climate

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 87% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions: 33.506 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.24 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 21.836 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 7.43 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

8.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Methane emissions

energy: 95.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 1,105.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 158.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 6.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.405 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 547 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 1.184 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 3.207 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

327 billion cubic meters (2022)

Reference: 2022

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet93.5%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions130.1 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions38.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers18,709 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 660,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Broadcast media

state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks; state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial TV and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available (2019)

Reference: 2019