New Zealand vs United States: Age of electoral democracy (V-Dem)
New Zealand
139 years
in 2025
United States
106 years
in 2025
New Zealand rank
3rd
United States rank
6th
Age of electoral democracy (V-Dem) over time
- New Zealand
- United States
How they compare
New Zealand currently reports 139 years against 106 years in United States, a difference of 33 years.
That makes New Zealand's figure about 1.3 times United States's.
Across all 106 years both countries report, New Zealand has been ahead every year.
New Zealand ranks 3rd and United States ranks 6th of 111 countries.
New Zealand has averaged higher in every one of the 11 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 38.5 years | 5.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 1930s | 48.5 years | 15.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 1940s | 58.5 years | 25.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 1950s | 68.5 years | 35.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 1960s | 78.5 years | 45.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 1970s | 88.5 years | 55.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 1980s | 98.5 years | 65.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 1990s | 108.5 years | 75.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 2000s | 118.5 years | 85.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 2010s | 128.5 years | 95.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
| 2020s | 136.5 years | 103.5 years | 33 years | New Zealand |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of electoral democracy, New Zealand or United States?
- New Zealand, at 139 years against 106 years in United States as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of electoral democracy between New Zealand and United States?
- 33 years, with New Zealand ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and United States?
- 106 years are reported by both, from 1920 to 2025.
- How do New Zealand and United States rank globally for age of electoral democracy?
- New Zealand ranks 3rd and United States ranks 6th 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.