GeoRealityMatch
Black and white photo of New Zealand coastline with mountains and calm sea.Stunning aerial view of Wellington Harbor and cityscape at sunset, New Zealand.

New Zealand

Oceania · Australia and New Zealand

Very high safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high.

ExpatCombines very high development and very high safety.
vs Canadavs United Kingdomvs Australia
Safety

2nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.343lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#2 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.5per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
51.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$46,630national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
26.2New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.0years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 86% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 16% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$30K$60K$57,350 PPP$49,591Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $26,655 a person, $27,732 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2007, $32,480 a person, $29,331 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2008, $31,325 a person, $29,896 at PPP, inflation 4%2009, $28,277 a person, $30,746 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2010, $33,762 a person, $31,305 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2011, $38,426 a person, $32,734 at PPP, inflation 4%2012, $40,042 a person, $33,045 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2013, $42,985 a person, $36,250 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2014, $44,600 a person, $37,316 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2015, $38,649 a person, $37,497 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2016, $40,088 a person, $39,964 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $42,912 a person, $42,206 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $43,204 a person, $42,475 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2019, $42,872 a person, $45,296 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2020, $42,055 a person, $45,575 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2021, $49,902 a person, $48,202 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2022, $49,142 a person, $54,080 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2023, $49,302 a person, $54,950 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2024, $49,432 a person, $55,794 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $49,591 a person, $57,350 at PPP, inflation 2.8%$0$30K$60KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $26,655 a person, $27,732 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2007, $32,480 a person, $29,331 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2008, $31,325 a person, $29,896 at PPP, inflation 4%2009, $28,277 a person, $30,746 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2010, $33,762 a person, $31,305 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2011, $38,426 a person, $32,734 at PPP, inflation 4%2012, $40,042 a person, $33,045 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2013, $42,985 a person, $36,250 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2014, $44,600 a person, $37,316 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2015, $38,649 a person, $37,497 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2016, $40,088 a person, $39,964 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $42,912 a person, $42,206 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $43,204 a person, $42,475 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2019, $42,872 a person, $45,296 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2020, $42,055 a person, $45,575 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2021, $49,902 a person, $48,202 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2022, $49,142 a person, $54,080 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2023, $49,302 a person, $54,950 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2024, $49,432 a person, $55,794 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $49,591 a person, $57,350 at PPP, inflation 2.8%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
82.0years, at birthVery high
#31 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
89WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
5.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
5.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
202 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
Native EnglishEF English Proficiency Index scoreNativeEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet202 MbpsVery fast
Mobile117 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial view of Wellington Harbor and cityscape at sunset, New Zealand.
How it changed

New Zealand's Human Development Index

0.938Very high human development

17th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 2nd of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #16Canada0.939
  2. #17Liechtenstein0.938
  3. #17New Zealand0.938
  4. #17United States0.938
  5. #20South Korea0.937
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.811 in 1990 to 0.938 in 2023.

0.750.881.000.93819902000201020231990: 0.8111991: 0.8131992: 0.8221993: 0.8381994: 0.8521995: 0.8581996: 0.8621997: 0.8711998: 0.8811999: 0.8862000: 0.8962001: 0.9022002: 0.9052003: 0.9102004: 0.9122005: 0.9172006: 0.9182007: 0.9212008: 0.9202009: 0.9232010: 0.9262011: 0.9272012: 0.9292013: 0.9332014: 0.9322015: 0.9342016: 0.9382017: 0.9362018: 0.9382019: 0.9382020: 0.9402021: 0.9392022: 0.9332023: 0.9380.750.881.0019902000201020231990: 0.8111991: 0.8131992: 0.8221993: 0.8381994: 0.8521995: 0.8581996: 0.8621997: 0.8711998: 0.8811999: 0.8862000: 0.8962001: 0.9022002: 0.9052003: 0.9102004: 0.9122005: 0.9172006: 0.9182007: 0.9212008: 0.9202009: 0.9232010: 0.9262011: 0.9272012: 0.9292013: 0.9332014: 0.9322015: 0.9342016: 0.9382017: 0.9362018: 0.9382019: 0.9382020: 0.9402021: 0.9392022: 0.9332023: 0.938

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
82 years2024at birthUp 2.2 years from 79.8 years in 2005
Internet users
94%2024of people onlineUp 25 points from 69% in 2006
Urban population
84%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 2 points from 86% in 2006
Births per woman
1.572024births per womanDown 0.40 from 1.97 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
29%2021of energy usedUp 1 point from 28% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
42024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 6 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.7 t from 8.8 t in 2005
Forest area
38%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Relaxed lifestyle and big wilderness; remote, expensive to reach, welcoming immigration. The case for living here is peace, high incomes and long lives.

About New Zealand

New Zealand is a South Pacific country of extraordinary natural beauty, from the fiords of the South Island and the thermal landscapes of Rotorua to the golden beaches of the north, all within a society that is relaxed, welcoming, and deeply shaped by its Māori heritage. The outdoor culture is central to daily life, and the country consistently delivers on adventure, wildlife, and scenery. The distances from most of the world are significant, but those who make the journey rarely regret it.

Practical facts

  • CapitalWellington
  • LanguagesEnglish, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
  • CurrencyNew Zealand dollar (NZD)
  • Area263,310 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is New Zealand's Human Development Index?

New Zealand's Human Development Index is 0.938 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #17 of 193 by UNDP.

Is New Zealand safe?

New Zealand scores 1.34 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #2 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is New Zealand?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts New Zealand at 60.3 (New York = 100); that is #118 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in New Zealand?

Life expectancy at birth in New Zealand is 82.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #31 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in New Zealand?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores New Zealand at 188.5, ranked #14 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.