Polity · 1948 CE – present
New Zealand
Aotearoa
Also recorded as Aotearoa
- Peak recorded area
- 296,363 km²
- 1948 CE
- Rulers on record
- 52
- from 1893 CE
- Data series
- 365
- 1948 CE–2025 CE
Overview
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and over 600 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions.
Lead section from Wikipedia, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article.
Territory
2 dated territorial extents on record from Cliopatria. Areas are measured off the recorded polygons; the line steps because each extent holds until the next one is recorded — nothing is interpolated. CShapes 2.0 holds 2 further extents, measured on a different basis and deliberately not merged into this series.
The record
The best-attested series in each category; where several projects publish the same quantity, the one with the most observations is shown. Each row is the most recent value the record holds at or before the last complete year, shown with the year that value belongs to. Some statistical series also publish forward projections — the year column is the honest guide. Nothing on this page is interpolated or estimated by us.
People
6 of 50 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Population305 obs · 1000 CE–2025 CE | 5.3Mpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy165 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 82.39years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Net Migration141 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 17.4Kpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Female140 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 84years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Male140 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 80.77years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Population Growth140 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 0.698% annual2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
Economy
6 of 122 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| GDP per capita PPP220 obs · 1800 CE–2019 CE | 36.7Kint'l $ (inflation adj.)2019 CE · Gapminder |
| GDP per capita156 obs · 1820 CE–2022 CE | 38.3K2011 int'l $2022 CE · Maddison Project Database 2023 |
| GDP Current Usd112 obs · 1960 CE–2025 CE | 264.1Bcurrent US$2025 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Real Wage75 obs · 1873 CE–1991 CE | 105.53index (1500=1)1991 CE · Clio-Infra |
| Inflation66 obs · 1960 CE–2025 CE | 2.84% annual2025 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Fao Barley Area Harvested64 obs · 1961 CE–2024 CE | 46.2Kha2024 CE · FAOSTAT |
Military
6 of 44 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Military Expenditure % GDP134 obs · 1956 CE–2024 CE | 1.19% of GDP2024 CE · SIPRI Military Expenditure Database |
| Military Expenditure Constant Usd69 obs · 1956 CE–2024 CE | 2,958.92millions_usd_20232024 CE · SIPRI Military Expenditure Database |
| Military Expenditure Usd65 obs · 1960 CE–2024 CE | 3Bcurrent US$2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Arms Imports Tiv Million64 obs · 1950 CE–2024 CE | 200tiv_million2024 CE · SIPRI Arms Transfers TIV |
| Mil Equip Aircraft Transport45 obs · 1970 CE–2014 CE | 12count2014 CE · rDMC Military Capabilities v1.0 |
| Mil Equip Principal Surface Combatants Frigates45 obs · 1970 CE–2014 CE | 2count2014 CE · rDMC Military Capabilities v1.0 |
Territory & resources
6 of 66 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Arable Land %126 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 1.97% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Coal Production125 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 17.61TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Gas Production117 obs · 1900 CE–2016 CE | 53.48TWh2016 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Oil Production117 obs · 1900 CE–2016 CE | 22.91TWh2016 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Forest Area %68 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 37.79% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Agricultural Land %63 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 36.88%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Governance
6 of 25 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Rule Of Law Index184 obs · 1841 CE–2024 CE | 0.991index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Electoral Democracy Index172 obs · 1853 CE–2024 CE | 0.863index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Liberal Democracy Index172 obs · 1853 CE–2024 CE | 0.809index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Participatory Democracy Index172 obs · 1853 CE–2024 CE | 0.614index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Polity2156 obs · 1857 CE–2012 CE | 10index (-10 to 10)2012 CE · Clio-Infra |
| Regime Type125 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 3RoW index (0-3)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
Development
6 of 58 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Freedom Of Expression Index172 obs · 1853 CE–2024 CE | 0.953index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Tech Merchant Shipping Tonnage136 obs · 1857 CE–1992 CE | 249gross tons1992 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Mail Items135 obs · 1853 CE–1992 CE | 1,235items1992 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Telegraph135 obs · 1850 CE–1984 CE | 2.01count1984 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Railway Line Km129 obs · 1865 CE–1995 CE | 3,973km1995 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
| Tech Telephones97 obs · 1890 CE–1987 CE | 2.4Mcount1987 CE · CHAT (Comin-Hobijn) |
Rulers
52 on record with dated reigns. Reign years follow the house convention: BCE years are negative.
- Richard SeddonPrime Minister of New Zealand1893 CE – 1906 CE
- Joseph WardPrime Minister of New Zealand1906 CE – 1912 CE
- William Hall-JonesPrime Minister of New Zealand1906 CE
- Thomas MackenziePrime Minister of New Zealand1912 CE
- William MasseyPrime Minister of New Zealand1912 CE – 1925 CE
- Francis BellPrime Minister of New Zealand1925 CE
- Gordon CoatesPrime Minister of New Zealand1925 CE – 1928 CE
- George ForbesPrime Minister of New Zealand1930 CE – 1935 CE
- Michael Joseph SavagePrime Minister of New Zealand1935 CE – 1940 CE
- Edward VIIImonarch of New Zealand1936 CE
- Peter FraserPrime Minister of New Zealand1940 CE – 1949 CE
- George VImonarch of New Zealand1947 CE – 1952 CE
- Sidney HollandPrime Minister of New Zealand1949 CE – 1957 CE
- Elizabeth IIHead of State1952 CE – 2022 CE
- Keith HolyoakeDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1954 CE – 1957 CE
- Jack MarshallDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1957 CE
- Jerry SkinnerDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1957 CE – 1960 CE
- Keith HolyoakePrime Minister of New Zealand1957 CE
- Walter NashPrime Minister of New Zealand1957 CE – 1960 CE
- Hugh WattDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1972 CE – 1974 CE
- Jack MarshallPrime Minister of New Zealand1972 CE
- Norman KirkPrime Minister of New Zealand1972 CE – 1974 CE
- Robert MuldoonDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1972 CE
- Bill RowlingPrime Minister of New Zealand1974 CE – 1975 CE
- Bob TizardDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1974 CE – 1975 CE
- Hugh WattPrime Minister of New Zealand1974 CE
- Brian TalboysDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1975 CE – 1981 CE
- Robert MuldoonPrime Minister of New Zealand1975 CE – 1984 CE
- Duncan MacIntyreDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1981 CE – 1984 CE
- David LangePrime Minister of New Zealand1984 CE – 1989 CE
- Geoffrey PalmerDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1984 CE – 1989 CE
- Jim McLayDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1984 CE
- Geoffrey PalmerPrime Minister of New Zealand1989 CE – 1990 CE
- Helen ClarkDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1989 CE – 1990 CE
- Don McKinnonDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1990 CE – 1996 CE
- Jim BolgerPrime Minister of New Zealand1990 CE – 1997 CE
- Mike MoorePrime Minister of New Zealand1990 CE
- Winston PetersDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1996 CE – 1998 CE
- Jenny ShipleyPrime Minister of New Zealand1997 CE – 1999 CE
- Wyatt CreechDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1998 CE – 1999 CE
- Helen ClarkPrime Minister of New Zealand1999 CE – 2008 CE
- Jim AndertonDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand1999 CE – 2002 CE
- Michael CullenDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand2002 CE – 2008 CE
- Bill EnglishDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand2008 CE – 2016 CE
- John KeyPrime Minister of New Zealand2008 CE – 2016 CE
- Bill EnglishPrime Minister of New Zealand2016 CE – 2017 CE
- Paula BennettDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand2016 CE – 2017 CE
- Jacinda ArdernPrime Minister of New Zealand2017 CE – 2023 CE
- Grant RobertsonDeputy Prime Minister of New Zealand2020 CE – 2023 CE
- Charles IIIHead of State2022 CE –
- Chris HipkinsPrime Minister of New Zealand2023 CE
- Christopher LuxonHead of Government2023 CE –
Country profile
From the CIA World Factbook 2024. Long entries are trimmed at a sentence boundary.
- Location
- Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- 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;
- 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.)
- Natural resources
- natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
- Economy
- 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
Language & currency
- Currency
- New Zealand dollars (NZD)
Memberships
- League of NationsLoNInternational organisation · founding member1920 CE – 1946 CE
- Commonwealth of NationsCWInternational organisation · founding member1931 CE –
- Australia–New Zealand Defense Pact (1944)Military alliance · member1944 CE – 1951 CE
- United NationsUNInternational organisation · founding member1945 CE –
- ANZUSANZUSMilitary alliance · founding member1951 CE –
- United States of America–Australia–New Zealand Defense Pact (1951)Military alliance · member1951 CE – 1986 CE
- SEATOSEATOMilitary alliance · founding member1954 CE – 1977 CE
- 8-member Entente (1954)Historical alliance · member1954 CE – 1977 CE
- Five EyesFVEYMilitary alliance · member1956 CE –
Sources
Every figure above comes from one of these. Nothing on this page is estimated, interpolated or model-generated.
CHAT (Comin-Hobijn)2009 (FinalCHAT_72909)
Comin, D. & Hobijn, B. (2009). The CHAT Dataset. NBER Working Paper 15319.
NBER research data, freely downloadable
CIA World Factbook 2024
Clio-Infra2017 datasets
Clio-Infra project (2017). Reconstructions of global inequality and well-being. International Institute of Social History.
Academic use, attribution
Seshat Global History Databank. Cliopatria: a historical basemap of polity borders (cliopatria.geojson).
FAOSTAT2024 release
FAO (2024). FAOSTAT Statistical Database. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
CC BY 4.0
Gapminderv14 / systema globalis
Gapminder Foundation. Gapminder systema globalis dataset.
CC BY 4.0
Maddison Project Database 20232023
Bolt, J. & van Zanden, J.L. (2024). Maddison Project Database 2023. University of Groningen GGDC.
CC BY 4.0
Our World in Data (2024). Energy dataset. Based on Energy Institute & Ember.
CC BY 4.0
rDMC Military Capabilities v1.0v1.0
Reconstructed Data on Military Capabilities (rDMC), v1.0. Harvard Dataverse.
Academic use, attribution
SIPRI (2024). Arms Transfers Database (Trend-Indicator Values).
Free for non-commercial use, attribution
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database2024
SIPRI (2024). Military Expenditure Database.
Free for non-commercial use, attribution
UN World Population Prospects 20242024
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
CC BY 3.0 IGO
V-Dem v15v15
Coppedge, M. et al. (2025). V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v15. Varieties of Democracy Project.
Free academic/non-commercial use, attribution
Wikipedia contributors. Article lead sections, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
World Bank World Development Indicators2024 release
World Bank (2024). World Development Indicators. Washington, DC.
CC BY 4.0
New Zealand is one of the polities with a sourced record deep enough to publish.