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Australia and Oceania
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
Polynesians settled New Zealand between the late 1200s and the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. By the 1500s, competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori tribes as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but left after an encounter with local Maori. British sea captain James COOK arrived in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although the position had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori tribes from the North Island declared independence. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, the majority of Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British in 1840. Land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still being actively negotiated in New Zealand.
The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and granted limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars between Europeans and various Maori tribes from the 1840s to the 1870s. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947 and signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951.
Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986, but bilateral relations and military ties have been revitalized since the 2010s with new security agreements. A key challenge for Auckland that has emerged over the past decade is balancing concerns over China’s growing influence in the Pacific region with its role as New Zealand's largest export destination. New Zealand has close ties with Australia based to a large extent on the two nations’ common origins as British colonies and their shared military history.
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
41 00 S, 174 00 E
Oceania
Total : 268,838 km²
Land: 264,537 km²
Water: 4,301 km²
Note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado
Area comparison map:
Total: 0 km
15,134 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Predominately mountainous with large coastal plains
Highest point: Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 388 m
Natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Agricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)
Forest: 31.4% (2018 est.)
Other: 25.4% (2018 est.)
7,000 km² (2014)
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 km²
Over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m), which last erupted in 2007, has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism
Note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire
Note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world
Total: 5,161,211
Male: 2,584,607
Female: 2,576,604 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 125; male 125; total 125
Noun: New Zealander(s)
Adjective: New Zealand
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.)
Note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic group
English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)
Note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census
Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)
Note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion
0-14 years: 19% (male 503,120/female 475,490)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 1,674,407/female 1,638,276)
65 years and over: 16.9% (2024 est.) (male 407,080/female 462,838)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 53.4
Youth dependency ratio: 29
Elderly dependency ratio: 24.4
Potential support ratio: 4.1 (2021 est.)
Total: 37.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 37.2 years
Female: 38.6 years
0.95% (2024 est.)
12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Urban population: 87% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
1.673 million Auckland, 422,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2023)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
27.8 years
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 82.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 81.2 years
Female: 84.8 years
1.85 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.9 (2024 est.)
79.9% (2014/15)
Note: percent of women aged 16-49
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
10% of GDP (2020)
3.62 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2020)
30.8% (2016)
Total: 9.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 13.7% (2020 est.)
Male: 15% (2020 est.)
Female: 12.3% (2020 est.)
NA
57.6% (2023 est.)
6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Total: 20 years
Male: 20 years
Female: 21 years (2020)
Water quality and availability; rapid urbanization; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Agricultural land: 43.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)
Forest: 31.4% (2018 est.)
Other: 25.4% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 87% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.61 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 34.38 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 34.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.405 million tons (2016 est.)
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 km²
Municipal: 500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 1.18 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 3.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
327 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: New Zealand
Abbreviation: NZ
Etymology: Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to reach New Zealand in 1642; he named it Staten Landt, but Dutch cartographers renamed it Nova Zeelandia in 1645 after the Dutch province of Zeeland; British explorer Captain James COOK subsequently anglicized the name to New Zealand when he mapped the islands in 1769
Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Name: Wellington
Geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E
Time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Time zone note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)
Etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur WELLESLEY, the first Duke of Wellington and victorious general at the Battle of Waterloo
16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Tokelau (1)
26 September 1907 (from the UK)
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
History: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions
Amendments: proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2020
Common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
18 years of age; universal
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
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor-general
Note: according to Prime Minister LUXON, the Winston PETERS of the New Zealand First Party would be the deputy prime minister in the first half of the term while Act party leader, David SEYMOUR, would take the role for the second half of the term
Description: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (121 seats for 2023-26 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 49 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)
Elections: last held on 14 October 2023 (next scheduled for October 2026)
Election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 38.1%, Labor Party 26.9%, Green Party 11.6%, ACT Party 8.6%, New Zealand First 6.1%; Maori Party 3.1%; seats by party - National Party 48, Labor Party 34, Green Party 15, ACT Party 11, New Zealand First 8, Maori Party 6; composition - 67 men, 56 women; percentage of women 45.5%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court in 2004 replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) as the final appeals court
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals
ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR]
Green Party [Marama DAVIDSON and James SHAW]
New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]
New Zealand Labor Party [Chris HIPKINS]
New Zealand National Party [Christopher LUXON]
Te Pāti Māori [Debbie NGAREWA-PACKER and Rawiri WAITITI]
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)
New Zealand coat of arms:
Name: "God Defend New Zealand"
Lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS
Note: adopted 1940 as national song, adopted 1977 as co-national anthem; New Zealand has two national anthems with equal status; as a commonwealth realm, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the King" serves as a royal anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the King" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n); Tongariro National Park (m); New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)
High-income, globally integrated Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; slow recovery from post-COVID recession and inflation; challenges of fiscal deficits, below-average productivity, and curbing greenhouse gas emissions
$254.77 billion (2023 est.)
$253.17 billion (2022 est.)
$246.334 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
0.63% (2023 est.)
2.77% (2022 est.)
4.55% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$48,800 (2023 est.)
$49,500 (2022 est.)
$48,200 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$253.466 billion (2023 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
5.73% (2023 est.)
7.17% (2022 est.)
3.94% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: AA (2011)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 5.7% (2017 est.)
Industry: 21.5% (2017 est.)
Services: 72.8% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 59; industry 136; agriculture 123
Household consumption: 57.2% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 27% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -26.1% (2017 est.)
Milk, beef, kiwifruit, apples, grapes, lamb/mutton, potatoes, wheat, barley, onions (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism
-2.56% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
3.068 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
3.74% (2023 est.)
3.3% (2022 est.)
3.78% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 11.4% (2021 est.)
Male: 12.2%
Female: 10.6%
36.2 (1997)
On food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 5.2% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
0.24% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.23% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.26% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $76.694 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $88.593 billion (2020 est.)
1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
54.57% of GDP (2022 est.)
51.37% of GDP (2021 est.)
46.12% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP
29.93% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
-$16.982 billion (2023 est.)
-$21.627 billion (2022 est.)
-$14.804 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$59.043 billion (2023 est.)
$57.485 billion (2022 est.)
$54.923 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
China 28%, Australia 11%, US 11%, Japan 6%, South Korea 4% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Milk, beef, wood, sheep and goat meat, butter (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$68.429 billion (2023 est.)
$71.35 billion (2022 est.)
$62.984 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
China 21%, Australia 14%, US 8%, South Korea 7%, Singapore 6% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, garments, trucks (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$15.487 billion (2023 est.)
$14.4 billion (2022 est.)
$16.114 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$190.621 billion (2019 est.)
$192.327 billion (2018 est.)
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
1.628 (2023 est.)
1.577 (2022 est.)
1.414 (2021 est.)
1.542 (2020 est.)
1.518 (2019 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 10.412 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 41.466 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.712 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 133; consumption 58; installed generating capacity 66
Fossil fuels: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Wind: 6.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 58.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Geothermal: 17.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Biomass and waste: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Production: 3.036 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 2.441 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 1.278 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 727,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 7.575 billion metric tons (2022 est.)
Total petroleum production: 12,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 154,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 40.993 million barrels (2021 est.)
Production: 3.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Consumption: 3.819 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 31.149 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
31.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 3.687 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 21.018 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.293 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
120.219 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 757,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 5.947 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
General assessment:
The growth areas in in New Zealand’s telecom market have been in mobile broadband and fiber; New Zealand’s mobile market continues to undergo significant developments; the coverage of LTE networks has been supported by the Rural Broadband Initiative rollout, which added a significant number of mobile sites to new or underserved areas; the market is undergoing additional consolidation; offering fixed and mobile services
(2023)
Domestic: fixed-line roughly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 114 per 100 persons (2021)
International: country code - 64; landing points for the Southern Cross NEXT, Aqualink, Nelson-Levin, SCCN and Hawaiki submarine cable system providing links to Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Kiribati, Samo, Tokelau, US and around New Zealand; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other) (2019)
State-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks and state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial television and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available, as are a range of streaming services (2019)
.nz
Total: 4.896 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 96% (2021 est.)
Total: 1,764,984 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 15 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 199
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,249,049 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,349,300,000 (2018) mt-km
ZK
202 (2024)
62 (2024)
331 km condensate, 2,500 km gas, 172 km liquid petroleum gas, 288 km oil, 198 km refined products (2018)
Total: 4,128 km (2018)
Narrow gauge: 4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)
Total: 94,000 km
Paved: 61,600 km (includes 199 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 32,400 km (2017)
Total: 117 (2023)
By type: container ship 2, general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 100
Total ports: 22 (2024)
Large: 2
Medium: 1
Small: 10
Very small: 9
Ports with oil terminals: 14
Key ports: Auckland, Bluff Harbor, Gisborne, Manukau Harbor, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Otago Harbor, Picton, Tauranga, Timaru, Wellington, Whangarei
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2024)
Note: the New Zealand Police, under the Minister of Police, are responsible for internal security
1.3% of GDP (2023)
1.3% of GDP (2022)
1.3% of GDP (2021)
1.5% of GDP (2020)
1.4% of GDP (2019)
Approximately 12,200 active-duty troops including active reservists (6,600 Army; 2,800 Navy; 2,800 Air Force) (2023)
The NZDF is equipped mostly with Western-supplied weapons and equipment with the US as the leading provider (2023)
17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2023)
Note 1: New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; in 2022, women accounted for about 20% of armed forces personnel
Note 2: as of 2022, the NZDF’s program for recruiting foreign volunteers had been suspended
Small numbers of NZ military personnel are deployed on a variety of international missions in Africa, Antarctica, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East (2024)
The NZDF is a small military with considerable overseas experience; it supports the country’s national security objectives by protecting New Zealand’s sovereignty, promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, and conducting peacekeeping, humanitarian, and other international missions
New Zealand is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily
New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after New Zealand implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s; New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2024)
New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA; established 2016 under the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment); Center for Space Science and Technology (CSST; established 2017) (2024)
Mahia Peninsula Launch Complex (Hawke's Bay) (2024)
The New Zealand space sector model is mostly based on commercial space; NZSA and CSST primarily focus on developing space policy and strategy, bringing commercial space talent to New Zealand, and encouraging the commercial development of space technologies, particularly satellites and satellite/space launch vehicles (SLV); manufactures and launches satellites; builds and launches commercial SLVs; researches and develops a range of other space-related technologies, including propulsion systems; has a national space strategy; participates in international space programs and partners with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Australia, Canada, the EU and its member states, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member states, South Africa, and the US; has a small, but growing commercial space sector (2024)
Note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Stateless persons: 5 (2022)
Significant consumer of amphetamines