What is free and fair elections index in New Zealand?

Free and fair elections index in New Zealand was 0.954 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in New Zealand?

The highest recorded value was 0.969 in 2010.

What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in New Zealand?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1841.

How does New Zealand rank for free and fair elections index?

New Zealand ranks 9th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in New Zealand?

Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this New Zealand data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and Fair Elections Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Free and Fair Elections Index in New Zealand

Name: Free and Fair Elections Index in New Zealand
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

New Zealand: Free and Fair Elections Index was 0.954 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.954

Change on year

down 0.5%

World rank

9th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.969

in 2010

All-time low

in 1841

Years of data

185

1841–2025

Free and Fair Elections Index in New Zealand, 1841–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for free and fair elections index in New Zealand is 0.954, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, free and fair elections index in New Zealand peaked at 0.969 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1841.

That places New Zealand 9th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 185 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1840s	0	0	0	9
1850s	0.5042	0	0.784	10
1860s	0.7992	0.778	0.804	10
1870s	0.8573	0.801	0.865	10
1880s	0.8632	0.857	0.867	10
1890s	0.8634	0.857	0.876	10
1900s	0.8766	0.874	0.881	10
1910s	0.8958	0.879	0.901	10
1920s	0.9033	0.9	0.908	10
1930s	0.9075	0.904	0.912	10
1940s	0.912	0.912	0.912	10
1950s	0.9042	0.886	0.917	10
1960s	0.92	0.917	0.921	10
1970s	0.9194	0.911	0.921	10
1980s	0.9181	0.911	0.92	10
1990s	0.9373	0.925	0.947	10
2000s	0.9478	0.942	0.965	10
2010s	0.9675	0.966	0.969	10
2020s	0.9615	0.954	0.966	6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

6 Germany 0.957 compare
7 Chile 0.956 compare
7 Spain 0.956 compare
9 Netherlands 0.954 compare
11 Estonia 0.952 compare
12 Uruguay 0.947 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

Summer temperature anomalies 1.76 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.0464 °C (2026)
Spring temperature anomalies 0.2008 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Consumer price index 144.86 2010 = 100 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5251 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.5536 °C (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Elected parliament 1 (2025)

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is free and fair elections index in New Zealand?: Free and fair elections index in New Zealand was 0.954 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in New Zealand?: The highest recorded value was 0.969 in 2010.
What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in New Zealand?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1841.
How does New Zealand rank for free and fair elections index?: New Zealand ranks 9th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in New Zealand?: Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and Fair Elections Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 185 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Free and Fair Elections Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,402 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which registration fraud, systematic irregularities, government intimidation of the opposition, vote buying, and election violence are absent, and the election management body is autonomous and has enough staff and resources.