New Zealand
Oceania · Australia and New Zealand
Relaxed lifestyle and big wilderness; remote, expensive to reach, welcoming immigration.
Expat
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈New Zealand's Human Development Index
0.939
Very High human development#15 of 191 countries worldwide, #2 of 15 in Oceania.
Higher than 93% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
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.
- First country to give women the right to vote — in 1893.
- More sheep per person than almost any country, yet tourism now earns more than wool.
- Has no native land mammals other than bats — all others arrived with humans.
Quick Facts
Capital
Wellington
Languages
English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Currency
$ NZD
Area
263,310 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
202Mbps
Mobile
117Mbps
GDP / Capita
$50K
PPP / Capita
$57K
Inflation
2.8%
Unemployment
5.1%
Innovation (GII)
45.5
GNI / Capita
$47K
Tax Revenue
29.5%
FDI Inflows
1.4%
Education Spend
5.2%
Cost of Living
60.3
Price Level Index
9th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.812 → 0.939 (+0.127)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about New Zealand for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →New Zealand head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is New Zealand's Human Development Index?
New Zealand's Human Development Index is 0.939 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #15 of 191 countries.
Is New Zealand safe?
New Zealand scores 1.34 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #2 of 160 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.