Which has higher age of democracy, Australia or New Zealand?

New Zealand, at 142 years against 118 years in Australia as of 2018.

What is the difference in age of democracy between Australia and New Zealand?

24 years, with New Zealand ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and New Zealand?

118 years are reported by both, from 1901 to 2018.

Where does this data come from?

Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Australia vs New Zealand: Age of democracy

Australia

118 years

in 2018

New Zealand

142 years

in 2018

Australia rank

6th

New Zealand rank

3rd

Age of democracy over time

Australia
New Zealand

How they compare

New Zealand currently reports 142 years against 118 years in Australia, a difference of 24 years.

That makes New Zealand's figure about 1.2 times Australia's.

Across all 118 years both countries report, New Zealand has been ahead every year.

Australia ranks 6th and New Zealand ranks 3rd of 110 countries.

New Zealand has averaged higher in every one of the 12 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Australia	New Zealand	Difference	Ahead
1900s	5 years	29 years	24 years	New Zealand
1910s	14.5 years	38.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1920s	24.5 years	48.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1930s	34.5 years	58.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1940s	44.5 years	68.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1950s	54.5 years	78.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1960s	64.5 years	88.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1970s	74.5 years	98.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1980s	84.5 years	108.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
1990s	94.5 years	118.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
2000s	104.5 years	128.5 years	24 years	New Zealand
2010s	114 years	138 years	24 years	New Zealand

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher age of democracy, Australia or New Zealand?: New Zealand, at 142 years against 118 years in Australia as of 2018.
What is the difference in age of democracy between Australia and New Zealand?: 24 years, with New Zealand ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and New Zealand?: 118 years are reported by both, from 1901 to 2018.
How do Australia and New Zealand rank globally for age of democracy?: Australia ranks 6th and New Zealand ranks 3rd of 110 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs New Zealand: Age of democracy. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/age-of-democracy-polity/australia/new-zealand/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/age-of-democracy-polity/australia/new-zealand/">Australia vs New Zealand: Age of democracy</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Age of democracy
Unit: years
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 110 places, 4,915 data points, 1801–2019
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Number of consecutive years in a democracy.