{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

Polynesian settlers may have arrived in New Zealand in the late 1200s, with widespread settlement in 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. Competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori iwi (tribes) by the 1500s as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but after an encounter with local Maori, he sailed away. British captain James COOK was the next European to arrive in New Zealand 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 he had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori iwi from the North Island declared independence as the United Tribes of New Zealand. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, they asked the British for protection. In 1840, the British negotiated their protection in the Treaty of Waitangi, which was eventually signed by more than 500 different Maori chiefs, although many chiefs did not or were not asked to sign. In the English-language version of the treaty, the British thought the Maori ceded their land to the UK, but translations of the treaty appeared to give the British less authority, and land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still present and being actively negotiated in New Zealand.

The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and gave it limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars from the 1840s to the 1870s fought between Europeans and various Maori iwi. 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, signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty, and militarily supported the US in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. 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.

In recent years, New Zealand has explored reducing some of its ties to the UK. There in an active, minority movement about changing New Zealand to a republic, and in 2015-16, a referendum on changing the New Zealand flag to remove the Union Jack failed 57% to 43%.

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "41 00 S, 174 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Oceania" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "268,838 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "264,537 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "4,301 sq km" }, "note": "note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands" }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "15,134 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate with sharp regional contrasts" }, "Terrain": { "text": "predominately mountainous with large coastal plains" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "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": { "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "388 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "43.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "31.4% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "25.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "7,000 sq km (2014)" }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "Lake Taupo - 610 sq km" } }, "Population distribution": { "text": "over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "

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\"

" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "

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

" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "5,109,702 (2023 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "New Zealander(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "New Zealand" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "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": "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" }, "Languages": { "text": "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": "note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census" }, "Religions": { "text": "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": "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" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "19.15% (male 503,190/female 475,527)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "64.36% (male 1,661,312/female 1,627,304)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "16.49% (2023 est.) (male 394,339/female 448,030)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "53.4" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "29" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "24.4" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "4.1 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "37.2 years" }, "male": { "text": "36.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "37.9 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "1.06% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "12.69 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "over three-quarters of New Zealanders, including the indigenous Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "87% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "1.673 million Auckland, 422,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "1.02 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.88 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "27.8 years" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "3.39 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "3.58 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "3.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "82.74 years" }, "male": { "text": "80.98 years" }, "female": { "text": "84.58 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.86 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.9 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "79.9% (2014/15)", "note": "note: percent of women aged 16-49" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "10% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "3.62 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "30.8% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "9.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "13.7% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "15% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "12.3% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "NA" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "57.6% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "6% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "total population": { "text": "NA" }, "male": { "text": "NA" }, "female": { "text": "NA" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "20 years" }, "male": { "text": "20 years" }, "female": { "text": "21 years (2020)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "11.4%" }, "male": { "text": "12.2%" }, "female": { "text": "10.6% (2021 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "water quality and availability; rapid urbanization; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "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": { "text": "Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate with sharp regional contrasts" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "43.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 41.1% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "31.4% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "25.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "87% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0.5% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "5.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "34.38 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "34.3 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "3.405 million tons (2016 est.)" } }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "Lake Taupo - 610 sq km" } }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "1.18 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "3.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "327 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "none" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "New Zealand" }, "abbreviation": { "text": "NZ" }, "etymology": { "text": "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" } }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Wellington" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "41 18 S, 174 47 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "daylight saving time": { "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April" }, "time zone note": { "text": "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": { "text": "named in 1840 after Arthur WELLESLEY, the first Duke of Wellington and victorious general at the Battle of Waterloo" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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" }, "Dependent areas": { "text": "Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau" }, "Independence": { "text": "26 September 1907 (from the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "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)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "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": { "text": "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" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "3 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Chris HIPKINS (since 25 January 2023); Deputy Prime Minister Carmel SEPULONI (since 25 January 2023)
note - on 19 January 2023, Prime Minister Jacinda ARDERN announced her resignation as prime minister effective not later than 7 February 2023; Chris HIPKINS elected unanimously by Labor Party caucus as party leader on 22 January 2023, sworn in on 25 January 2023" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats for 2020-23 term); 72 members directly elected in 65 single-seat constituencies and 7 Maori constituencies by simple majority vote and 48 directly elected by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 17 October 2020 (next scheduled for 14 October 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - Labor Party 49.1%, National Party 26.8%, ACT Party 8%, Green Party 6.3%, Maori Party 1%; seats by party - Labor Party 64, National Party 35, Green Party 10, ACT Party 10, Maori Party 1; composition - men 61, women 59, percent of women 49.2%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "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": { "text": "justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "ACT New Zealand [David SEYMOUR]
Green Party [Marama DAVIDSON and James SHAW]
Mana Movement [Hone HARAWIRA] (formerly Mana Party)
Maori Party [Debbie NGAREWA-PACKER and Rawiri WAITITI]
New Zealand First Party or NZ First [Winston PETERS]
New Zealand Labor Party [Chris HIPKINS]
New Zealand National Party [Christopher LUXON]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Bede Gilbert CORRY (since 16 September 2022)" }, "chancery": { "text": "37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 328-4800" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 667-5277" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz

https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Thomas Stewart UDALL (since 1 December 2021) note - also accredited to Samoa" }, "embassy": { "text": "29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011" }, "mailing address": { "text": "4370 Auckland Place, Washington DC  20521-4370" }, "telephone": { "text": "[64] (4) 462-6000" }, "FAX": { "text": "[64] (4) 499-0490" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
AucklandACS@state.gov

https://nz.usembassy.gov/" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Auckland" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "Southern Cross constellation (four, five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern; national colors: black, white, red (ochre)" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"God Defend New Zealand\"" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS" }, "note": "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" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n); Tongariro National Park (m); New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "high-income Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and energy sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; sustained growth; low unemployment; high living standards; sharp growth post COVID-19 lockdown" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$219.839 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$211.966 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$214.655 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "3.71% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "-1.25% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "2.19% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$42,900 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$41,600 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$43,100 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$205.202 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "3.94% (2021 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": { "text": "1.71% (2020 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "1.62% (2019 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "AA (2011)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Aaa (2002)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "AA (2011)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "5.7% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "21.5% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "72.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "57.2% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "18.2% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "23.4% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.3% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "27% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-26.1% (2017 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "milk, beef, kiwi fruit, apples, potatoes, mutton, grapes, wheat, barley, green onions/shallots" }, "Industries": { "text": "agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-2.09% (2020 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "2.911 million (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "6.6%" }, "industry": { "text": "20.7%" }, "services": { "text": "72.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "4.12% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "4.59% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "4.11% (2019 est.)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "11.4%" }, "male": { "text": "12.2%" }, "female": { "text": "10.6% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1997": { "text": "36.2 (1997)" } }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "13.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "4.8% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "NA" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "NA" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$76.694 billion (2020 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$88.593 billion (2020 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2020": { "text": "46.33% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Public debt 2019": { "text": "32.7% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "Public debt 2018": { "text": "36.61% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "27.5% (of GDP) (2020 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "1 April - 31 March", "note": "note: this is the fiscal year for tax purposes" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$14.827 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "-$2.014 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$5.945 billion (2019 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2021": { "text": "$54.777 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$50.544 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2019": { "text": "$57.875 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 28%, Australia 14%, US 9%, Japan 6% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "milk cream powders, lumber, beef, butter, mutton (2021)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2021": { "text": "$62.862 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$48.104 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2019": { "text": "$57.682 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 18%, Australia 15%, US 9%, Japan 6%, Germany 5% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, gas turbines (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": { "text": "$16.114 billion (31 December 2021 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": { "text": "$13.733 billion (31 December 2020 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$17.814 billion (31 December 2019 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2019": { "text": "$190.621 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Debt - external 2018": { "text": "$192.327 billion (2018 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "1.414 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "1.542 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "1.518 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "1.445 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "1.407 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "9.615 million kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "41,169,838,000 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "2,256,332,000 kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "19.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "5.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "54.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "18.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "3.226 million metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "3.001 million metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "1.14 million metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "1.09 million metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "7.575 billion metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "13,400 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "184,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "21,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "99,900 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "41 million barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "115,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "1,782 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "56,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "4,771,126,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "4,946,237,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "31.148 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "40.344 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "5.139 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "25.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "9.445 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "186.804 million Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "651,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "13 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "5.846 million (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "114 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "

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": { "text": "fixed-line roughly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 114 per 100 persons (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "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)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".nz" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "4.896 million (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "96% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "1,764,984 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "37 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "15 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "199" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "17,249,049 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "1,349,300,000 (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "ZK" }, "Airports": { "text": "123 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "text": "39", "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "text": "84", "note": "note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "331 km condensate, 2,500 km gas, 172 km liquid petroleum gas, 288 km oil, 198 km refined products (2018)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "4,128 km (2018)" }, "narrow gauge": { "text": "4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "94,000 km (2017)" }, "paved": { "text": "61,600 km (2017) (includes 199 km of expressways)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "32,400 km (2017)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "116" }, "by type": { "text": "container ship 1, general cargo 12, oil tanker 5, other 98 (2022)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2023)", "note": "note: the New Zealand Police, under the minister of police, are responsible for internal security" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1.3% of GDP (2021)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2020)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.4% of GDP (2019)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "1.2% of GDP (2018)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 12,200 active-duty troops including active reservists (6,600 Army; 2,800 Navy; 2,800 Air Force) (2023)

 ", "note": " " }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the NZDF is equipped mostly with Western-supplied weapons and equipment with the US as the leading provider (2023)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "17 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2023)", "note": "note 1: New Zealand opened up all military occupations to women in 2000; women currently account for about 15% of regular armed forces personnel

note 2: as of 2022, the NZDF’s program for recruiting foreign volunteers had been suspended" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "up to 220 Antarctica (summer season only) (2022)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the NZDF is a small and professional 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; the Army’s primary combat units are an infantry brigade and a special forces regiment; the Navy has a small force of frigates and patrol vessels, while the Air Force has squadrons of maritime patrol, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare aircraft 

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 (2023)" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)", "note": "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 Appendix-T" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

New Zealand-Antarctica: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)

" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { "text": "5 (2022)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "significant consumer of amphetamines" } } }