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Centralization of Political Power Index in New Zealand

New Zealand: Centralization of Political Power Index was 0.02 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
0.02
Change on year
up 11.1%
World rank
173rd
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.214
in 1841
All-time low
0.018
in 2024
Years of data
185
1841–2025

Centralization of Political Power Index in New Zealand, 1841–2025

00.050.10.150.2184119332025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for centralization of political power index in New Zealand is 0.02, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 11.1% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, centralization of political power index in New Zealand peaked at 0.214 in 1841 and was at its lowest, 0.018, in 2024.

That places New Zealand 173rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Centralization of Political Power Index in New Zealand, year by year

Year Value Change
1841 0.214 —
1842 0.214 +0.0%
1843 0.214 +0.0%
1844 0.214 +0.0%
1845 0.214 +0.0%
1846 0.214 +0.0%
1847 0.214 +0.0%
1848 0.214 +0.0%
1849 0.214 +0.0%
1850 0.214 +0.0%
1851 0.214 +0.0%
1852 0.214 +0.0%
1853 0.085 -60.3%
1854 0.085 +0.0%
1855 0.085 +0.0%
1856 0.085 +0.0%
1857 0.085 +0.0%
1858 0.085 +0.0%
1859 0.085 +0.0%
1860 0.085 +0.0%
1861 0.085 +0.0%
1862 0.085 +0.0%
1863 0.085 +0.0%
1864 0.085 +0.0%
1865 0.085 +0.0%
1866 0.085 +0.0%
1867 0.085 +0.0%
1868 0.085 +0.0%
1869 0.085 +0.0%
1870 0.085 +0.0%
1871 0.085 +0.0%
1872 0.085 +0.0%
1873 0.085 +0.0%
1874 0.085 +0.0%
1875 0.085 +0.0%
1876 0.085 +0.0%
1877 0.085 +0.0%
1878 0.085 +0.0%
1879 0.085 +0.0%
1880 0.085 +0.0%
1881 0.085 +0.0%
1882 0.085 +0.0%
1883 0.085 +0.0%
1884 0.085 +0.0%
1885 0.085 +0.0%
1886 0.085 +0.0%
1887 0.085 +0.0%
1888 0.085 +0.0%
1889 0.084 -1.2%
1890 0.084 +0.0%
1891 0.084 +0.0%
1892 0.084 +0.0%
1893 0.084 +0.0%
1894 0.084 +0.0%
1895 0.084 +0.0%
1896 0.084 +0.0%
1897 0.084 +0.0%
1898 0.084 +0.0%
1899 0.084 +0.0%
1900 0.083 -1.2%
1901 0.083 +0.0%
1902 0.083 +0.0%
1903 0.083 +0.0%
1904 0.083 +0.0%
1905 0.083 +0.0%
1906 0.083 +0.0%
1907 0.083 +0.0%
1908 0.083 +0.0%
1909 0.083 +0.0%
1910 0.083 +0.0%
1911 0.083 +0.0%
1912 0.083 +0.0%
1913 0.083 +0.0%
1914 0.083 +0.0%
1915 0.083 +0.0%
1916 0.083 +0.0%
1917 0.083 +0.0%
1918 0.083 +0.0%
1919 0.083 +0.0%
1920 0.083 +0.0%
1921 0.083 +0.0%
1922 0.083 +0.0%
1923 0.083 +0.0%
1924 0.083 +0.0%
1925 0.083 +0.0%
1926 0.083 +0.0%
1927 0.083 +0.0%
1928 0.083 +0.0%
1929 0.083 +0.0%
1930 0.083 +0.0%
1931 0.083 +0.0%
1932 0.083 +0.0%
1933 0.083 +0.0%
1934 0.083 +0.0%
1935 0.077 -7.2%
1936 0.077 +0.0%
1937 0.077 +0.0%
1938 0.077 +0.0%
1939 0.077 +0.0%
1940 0.077 +0.0%
1941 0.077 +0.0%
1942 0.077 +0.0%
1943 0.077 +0.0%
1944 0.077 +0.0%
1945 0.077 +0.0%
1946 0.077 +0.0%
1947 0.077 +0.0%
1948 0.077 +0.0%
1949 0.077 +0.0%
1950 0.077 +0.0%
1951 0.077 +0.0%
1952 0.077 +0.0%
1953 0.077 +0.0%
1954 0.077 +0.0%
1955 0.077 +0.0%
1956 0.077 +0.0%
1957 0.077 +0.0%
1958 0.077 +0.0%
1959 0.077 +0.0%
1960 0.07 -9.1%
1961 0.07 +0.0%
1962 0.063 -10.0%
1963 0.063 +0.0%
1964 0.063 +0.0%
1965 0.063 +0.0%
1966 0.063 +0.0%
1967 0.063 +0.0%
1968 0.063 +0.0%
1969 0.063 +0.0%
1970 0.063 +0.0%
1971 0.063 +0.0%
1972 0.063 +0.0%
1973 0.063 +0.0%
1974 0.063 +0.0%
1975 0.063 +0.0%
1976 0.058 -7.9%
1977 0.058 +0.0%
1978 0.058 +0.0%
1979 0.058 +0.0%
1980 0.058 +0.0%
1981 0.058 +0.0%
1982 0.058 +0.0%
1983 0.058 +0.0%
1984 0.058 +0.0%
1985 0.048 -17.2%
1986 0.025 -47.9%
1987 0.025 +0.0%
1988 0.025 +0.0%
1989 0.025 +0.0%
1990 0.025 +0.0%
1991 0.025 +0.0%
1992 0.025 +0.0%
1993 0.025 +0.0%
1994 0.025 +0.0%
1995 0.025 +0.0%
1996 0.022 -12.0%
1997 0.021 -4.5%
1998 0.021 +0.0%
1999 0.021 +0.0%
2000 0.021 +0.0%
2001 0.021 +0.0%
2002 0.021 +0.0%
2003 0.021 +0.0%
2004 0.021 +0.0%
2005 0.021 +0.0%
2006 0.021 +0.0%
2007 0.021 +0.0%
2008 0.021 +0.0%
2009 0.021 +0.0%
2010 0.02 -4.8%
2011 0.02 +0.0%
2012 0.02 +0.0%
2013 0.02 +0.0%
2014 0.02 +0.0%
2015 0.02 +0.0%
2016 0.02 +0.0%
2017 0.022 +10.0%
2018 0.019 -13.6%
2019 0.019 +0.0%
2020 0.019 +0.0%
2021 0.019 +0.0%
2022 0.022 +15.8%
2023 0.019 -13.6%
2024 0.018 -5.3%
2025 0.02 +11.1%

New Zealand compared with similar countries

  • New Zealand's 0.02 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.09, 22% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
  • New Zealand's 0.02 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.267, 7% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1840s 0.214 0.214 0.214 9
1850s 0.1237 0.085 0.214 10
1860s 0.085 0.085 0.085 10
1870s 0.085 0.085 0.085 10
1880s 0.0849 0.084 0.085 10
1890s 0.084 0.084 0.084 10
1900s 0.083 0.083 0.083 10
1910s 0.083 0.083 0.083 10
1920s 0.083 0.083 0.083 10
1930s 0.08 0.077 0.083 10
1940s 0.077 0.077 0.077 10
1950s 0.077 0.077 0.077 10
1960s 0.0644 0.063 0.07 10
1970s 0.061 0.058 0.063 10
1980s 0.0438 0.025 0.058 10
1990s 0.0235 0.021 0.025 10
2000s 0.021 0.021 0.021 10
2010s 0.02 0.019 0.022 10
2020s 0.0195 0.018 0.022 6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 170 Estonia 0.026 compare
  2. 171 Finland 0.024 compare
  3. 172 Sweden 0.023 compare
  4. 174 Switzerland 0.019 compare
  5. 175 Denmark 0.012 compare
  6. 176 Australia 0.01 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is centralization of political power index in New Zealand?
Centralization of political power index in New Zealand was 0.02 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest centralization of political power index recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 0.214 in 1841.
What is the lowest centralization of political power index recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 0.018 in 2024.
How does New Zealand rank for centralization of political power index?
New Zealand ranks 173rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is centralization of political power index rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 Centralization of Political Power Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Centralization of Political Power Index in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/political-centralization-index/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Centralization of Political Power Index
Source
V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
176 places, 29,802 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed

Central estimate of the extent to which the executive is unconstrained by the legislature, judiciary, electoral management body, and other oversight.