Australia vs New Zealand: Age of electoral democracy
Australia
168 years
in 2025
New Zealand
139 years
in 2025
Australia rank
2nd
New Zealand rank
3rd
Age of electoral democracy over time
- Australia
- New Zealand
How they compare
Australia currently reports 168 years against 139 years in New Zealand, a difference of 29 years.
That makes Australia's figure about 1.2 times New Zealand's.
Across all 139 years both countries report, Australia has been ahead every year.
Australia ranks 2nd and New Zealand ranks 3rd of 111 countries.
Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 15 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | New Zealand | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 31 years | 2 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1890s | 37.5 years | 8.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1900s | 47.5 years | 18.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1910s | 57.5 years | 28.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1920s | 67.5 years | 38.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1930s | 77.5 years | 48.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1940s | 87.5 years | 58.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1950s | 97.5 years | 68.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1960s | 107.5 years | 78.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1970s | 117.5 years | 88.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1980s | 127.5 years | 98.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 1990s | 137.5 years | 108.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 2000s | 147.5 years | 118.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 2010s | 157.5 years | 128.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
| 2020s | 165.5 years | 136.5 years | 29 years | Australia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of electoral democracy, Australia or New Zealand?
- Australia, at 168 years against 139 years in New Zealand as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of electoral democracy between Australia and New Zealand?
- 29 years, with Australia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and New Zealand?
- 139 years are reported by both, from 1887 to 2025.
- How do Australia and New Zealand rank globally for age of electoral democracy?
- Australia ranks 2nd and New Zealand ranks 3rd of 111 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of electoral democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Number of consecutive years in electoral democracy.