New Zealand vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Age of democracy

New Zealand
142 years
in 2018
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
139 years
in 2018
New Zealand rank
3rd
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
4th

Age of democracy over time

  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
050100150185719372018

How they compare

New Zealand currently reports 142 years against 139 years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 3 years.

Across all 139 years both countries report, New Zealand has been ahead every year.

New Zealand ranks 3rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th of 110 countries.

New Zealand has averaged higher in every one of the 14 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade New Zealand United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1880s 8.5 years 5.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1890s 18.5 years 15.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1900s 28.5 years 25.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1910s 38.5 years 35.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1920s 48.5 years 45.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1930s 58.5 years 55.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1940s 68.5 years 65.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1950s 78.5 years 75.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1960s 88.5 years 85.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1970s 98.5 years 95.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1980s 108.5 years 105.5 years 3 years New Zealand
1990s 118.5 years 115.5 years 3 years New Zealand
2000s 128.5 years 125.5 years 3 years New Zealand
2010s 138 years 135 years 3 years New Zealand

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher age of democracy, New Zealand or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
New Zealand, at 142 years against 139 years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2018.
What is the difference in age of democracy between New Zealand and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
3 years, with New Zealand ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
139 years are reported by both, from 1880 to 2018.
How do New Zealand and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for age of democracy?
New Zealand ranks 3rd and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Age of democracy. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/age-of-democracy-polity/new-zealand/united-kingdom/

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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.