New Zealand vs United Kingdom: Age of liberal democracy
New Zealand
113 years
in 2025
United Kingdom
105 years
in 2023
New Zealand rank
2nd
United Kingdom rank
4th
Age of liberal democracy over time
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
How they compare
New Zealand currently reports 113 years against 105 years in United Kingdom, a difference of 8 years.
That makes New Zealand's figure about 1.1 times United Kingdom's.
Across all 105 years both countries report, New Zealand has been ahead every year.
New Zealand ranks 2nd and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 47 countries.
New Zealand has averaged higher in every one of the 12 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 7 years | 1 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1920s | 12.5 years | 6.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1930s | 22.5 years | 16.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1940s | 32.5 years | 26.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1950s | 42.5 years | 36.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1960s | 52.5 years | 46.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1970s | 62.5 years | 56.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1980s | 72.5 years | 66.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 1990s | 82.5 years | 76.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 2000s | 92.5 years | 86.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 2010s | 102.5 years | 96.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
| 2020s | 109.5 years | 103.5 years | 6 years | New Zealand |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of liberal democracy, New Zealand or United Kingdom?
- New Zealand, at 113 years against 105 years in United Kingdom as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of liberal democracy between New Zealand and United Kingdom?
- 8 years, with New Zealand ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and United Kingdom?
- 105 years are reported by both, from 1919 to 2023.
- How do New Zealand and United Kingdom rank globally for age of liberal democracy?
- New Zealand ranks 2nd and United Kingdom ranks 4th 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.