Australia vs New Zealand: Age of liberal democracy
Australia
108 years
in 2025
New Zealand
113 years
in 2025
Australia rank
3rd
New Zealand rank
2nd
Age of liberal democracy over time
- Australia
- New Zealand
How they compare
New Zealand currently reports 113 years against 108 years in Australia, a difference of 5 years.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 111 shared years of data; in 1913 it was Australia ahead.
Australia ranks 3rd and New Zealand ranks 2nd of 47 countries.
Across the 12 decades both report, Australia averaged higher in 1 and New Zealand in 11.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | New Zealand | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 34.8 years | 3.8 years | 31 years | Australia |
| 1920s | 7.5 years | 12.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 1930s | 17.5 years | 22.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 1940s | 27.5 years | 32.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 1950s | 37.5 years | 42.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 1960s | 47.5 years | 52.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 1970s | 57.5 years | 62.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 1980s | 67.5 years | 72.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 1990s | 77.5 years | 82.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 2000s | 87.5 years | 92.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 2010s | 97.5 years | 102.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
| 2020s | 105.5 years | 110.5 years | 5 years | New Zealand |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of liberal democracy, Australia or New Zealand?
- New Zealand, at 113 years against 108 years in Australia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of liberal democracy between Australia and New Zealand?
- 5 years, with New Zealand ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and New Zealand?
- 111 years are reported by both, from 1913 to 2025.
- How do Australia and New Zealand rank globally for age of liberal democracy?
- Australia ranks 3rd and New Zealand ranks 2nd of 47 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of liberal 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.