What is democracy in New Zealand?

Democracy in New Zealand was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest democracy recorded in New Zealand?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1857.

What is the lowest democracy recorded in New Zealand?

The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1876.

How does New Zealand rank for democracy?

New Zealand ranks 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.

Is democracy 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 Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Democracy in New Zealand

Name: Democracy in New Zealand
Creator: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

New Zealand: Democracy was 2 in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 167 countries

All-time high

in 1857

All-time low

in 1876

Years of data

162

1857–2018

Democracy in New Zealand, 1857–2018

Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2018, democracy in New Zealand stood at 2. That is the highest value across all 162 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy in New Zealand peaked at 2 in 1857 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1876.

That places New Zealand 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1850s	2	2	2	3
1860s	2	2	2	10
1870s	1.9	1	2	10
1880s	2	2	2	10
1890s	2	2	2	10
1900s	2	2	2	10
1910s	2	2	2	10
1920s	2	2	2	10
1930s	2	2	2	10
1940s	2	2	2	10
1950s	2	2	2	10
1960s	2	2	2	10
1970s	2	2	2	10
1980s	2	2	2	10
1990s	2	2	2	10
2000s	2	2	2	10
2010s	2	2	2	9

Countries ranked near New Zealand

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 45.99 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 12,595 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied to 402.67 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 406.57 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Crop Residues 66.23 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop re 0.7851 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural Soil 12,188 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy in New Zealand?: Democracy in New Zealand was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest democracy recorded in New Zealand?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1857.
What is the lowest democracy recorded in New Zealand?: The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1876.
How does New Zealand rank for democracy?: New Zealand ranks 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
Is democracy 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 Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 162 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Democracy
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 18,392 data points, 1776–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Identifies the political regime of a country using the Polity 5 data by the Center for Systemic Peace. It distinguishes between autocracies (score 0), anocracies (score 1), and democracies (score 2).