What is free and fair elections in New Zealand?

Free and fair elections in New Zealand was 1 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 1 in 1853.

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

The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1853.

How does New Zealand rank for free and fair elections?

New Zealand ranks 1st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.

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

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Free and fair elections in New Zealand

Name: Free and fair elections 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 was 1 in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 172 countries

All-time high

in 1853

All-time low

in 1853

Years of data

173

1853–2025

Free and fair elections in New Zealand, 1853–2025

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

Analysis

New Zealand recorded 1 for free and fair elections in 2025. That is the highest value across all 173 years on record.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, free and fair elections in New Zealand peaked at 1 in 1853 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1853.

New Zealand ranks 1st of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1850s	1	1	1	7
1860s	1	1	1	10
1870s	1	1	1	10
1880s	1	1	1	10
1890s	1	1	1	10
1900s	1	1	1	10
1910s	1	1	1	10
1920s	1	1	1	10
1930s	1	1	1	10
1940s	1	1	1	10
1950s	1	1	1	10
1960s	1	1	1	10
1970s	1	1	1	10
1980s	1	1	1	10
1990s	1	1	1	10
2000s	1	1	1	10
2010s	1	1	1	10
2020s	1	1	1	6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

See the full ranking of 172 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

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

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is free and fair elections in New Zealand?: Free and fair elections in New Zealand was 1 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest free and fair elections recorded in New Zealand?: The highest recorded value was 1 in 1853.
What is the lowest free and fair elections recorded in New Zealand?: The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1853.
How does New Zealand rank for free and fair elections?: New Zealand ranks 1st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
Is free and fair elections rising or falling in New Zealand?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 173 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Free and fair elections
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 172 places, 17,000 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of whether national elections were free and fair or not.