New Zealand vs Switzerland: Age of democracy

New Zealand
142 years
in 2018
Switzerland
171 years
in 2018
New Zealand rank
3rd
Switzerland rank
1st

Age of democracy over time

  • New Zealand
  • Switzerland
050100150184819332018

How they compare

Switzerland currently reports 171 years against 142 years in New Zealand, a difference of 29 years.

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

Across all 161 years both countries report, Switzerland has been ahead every year.

New Zealand ranks 3rd and Switzerland ranks 1st of 110 countries.

Switzerland has averaged higher in every one of the 17 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade New Zealand Switzerland Difference Ahead
1850s 2 years 11 years 9 years Switzerland
1860s 8.5 years 17.5 years 9 years Switzerland
1870s 11.67 years 27.33 years 15.67 years Switzerland
1880s 8.5 years 37.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1890s 18.5 years 47.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1900s 28.5 years 57.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1910s 38.5 years 67.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1920s 48.5 years 77.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1930s 58.5 years 87.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1940s 68.5 years 97.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1950s 78.5 years 107.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1960s 88.5 years 117.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1970s 98.5 years 127.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1980s 108.5 years 137.5 years 29 years Switzerland
1990s 118.5 years 147.5 years 29 years Switzerland
2000s 128.5 years 157.5 years 29 years Switzerland
2010s 138 years 167 years 29 years Switzerland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher age of democracy, New Zealand or Switzerland?
Switzerland, at 171 years against 142 years in New Zealand as of 2018.
What is the difference in age of democracy between New Zealand and Switzerland?
29 years, with Switzerland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and Switzerland?
161 years are reported by both, from 1857 to 2018.
How do New Zealand and Switzerland rank globally for age of democracy?
New Zealand ranks 3rd and Switzerland ranks 1st 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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New Zealand vs Switzerland: Age of democracy. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/age-of-democracy-polity/new-zealand/switzerland/

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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

Number of consecutive years in a democracy.