Statizoid

Age of democracy polity in New Zealand

New Zealand: Age of democracy polity was 142 in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
142
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
3rd
of 110 countries
All-time high
142
in 2018
All-time low
1
in 1857
Years of data
161
1857–2018

Age of democracy polity in New Zealand, 1857–2018

050100150185719372018

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for age of democracy polity in New Zealand is 142, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 161 years on record.

The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, age of democracy polity in New Zealand peaked at 142 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1857.

That places New Zealand 3rd out of 110 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Age of democracy polity in New Zealand, year by year

Year Value Change
1857 1 —
1858 2 +100.0%
1859 3 +50.0%
1860 4 +33.3%
1861 5 +25.0%
1862 6 +20.0%
1863 7 +16.7%
1864 8 +14.3%
1865 9 +12.5%
1866 10 +11.1%
1867 11 +10.0%
1868 12 +9.1%
1869 13 +8.3%
1870 14 +7.7%
1871 15 +7.1%
1872 16 +6.7%
1873 17 +6.2%
1874 18 +5.9%
1875 19 +5.6%
1877 1 -94.7%
1878 2 +100.0%
1879 3 +50.0%
1880 4 +33.3%
1881 5 +25.0%
1882 6 +20.0%
1883 7 +16.7%
1884 8 +14.3%
1885 9 +12.5%
1886 10 +11.1%
1887 11 +10.0%
1888 12 +9.1%
1889 13 +8.3%
1890 14 +7.7%
1891 15 +7.1%
1892 16 +6.7%
1893 17 +6.2%
1894 18 +5.9%
1895 19 +5.6%
1896 20 +5.3%
1897 21 +5.0%
1898 22 +4.8%
1899 23 +4.5%
1900 24 +4.3%
1901 25 +4.2%
1902 26 +4.0%
1903 27 +3.8%
1904 28 +3.7%
1905 29 +3.6%
1906 30 +3.4%
1907 31 +3.3%
1908 32 +3.2%
1909 33 +3.1%
1910 34 +3.0%
1911 35 +2.9%
1912 36 +2.9%
1913 37 +2.8%
1914 38 +2.7%
1915 39 +2.6%
1916 40 +2.6%
1917 41 +2.5%
1918 42 +2.4%
1919 43 +2.4%
1920 44 +2.3%
1921 45 +2.3%
1922 46 +2.2%
1923 47 +2.2%
1924 48 +2.1%
1925 49 +2.1%
1926 50 +2.0%
1927 51 +2.0%
1928 52 +2.0%
1929 53 +1.9%
1930 54 +1.9%
1931 55 +1.9%
1932 56 +1.8%
1933 57 +1.8%
1934 58 +1.8%
1935 59 +1.7%
1936 60 +1.7%
1937 61 +1.7%
1938 62 +1.6%
1939 63 +1.6%
1940 64 +1.6%
1941 65 +1.6%
1942 66 +1.5%
1943 67 +1.5%
1944 68 +1.5%
1945 69 +1.5%
1946 70 +1.4%
1947 71 +1.4%
1948 72 +1.4%
1949 73 +1.4%
1950 74 +1.4%
1951 75 +1.4%
1952 76 +1.3%
1953 77 +1.3%
1954 78 +1.3%
1955 79 +1.3%
1956 80 +1.3%
1957 81 +1.2%
1958 82 +1.2%
1959 83 +1.2%
1960 84 +1.2%
1961 85 +1.2%
1962 86 +1.2%
1963 87 +1.2%
1964 88 +1.1%
1965 89 +1.1%
1966 90 +1.1%
1967 91 +1.1%
1968 92 +1.1%
1969 93 +1.1%
1970 94 +1.1%
1971 95 +1.1%
1972 96 +1.1%
1973 97 +1.0%
1974 98 +1.0%
1975 99 +1.0%
1976 100 +1.0%
1977 101 +1.0%
1978 102 +1.0%
1979 103 +1.0%
1980 104 +1.0%
1981 105 +1.0%
1982 106 +1.0%
1983 107 +0.9%
1984 108 +0.9%
1985 109 +0.9%
1986 110 +0.9%
1987 111 +0.9%
1988 112 +0.9%
1989 113 +0.9%
1990 114 +0.9%
1991 115 +0.9%
1992 116 +0.9%
1993 117 +0.9%
1994 118 +0.9%
1995 119 +0.8%
1996 120 +0.8%
1997 121 +0.8%
1998 122 +0.8%
1999 123 +0.8%
2000 124 +0.8%
2001 125 +0.8%
2002 126 +0.8%
2003 127 +0.8%
2004 128 +0.8%
2005 129 +0.8%
2006 130 +0.8%
2007 131 +0.8%
2008 132 +0.8%
2009 133 +0.8%
2010 134 +0.8%
2011 135 +0.7%
2012 136 +0.7%
2013 137 +0.7%
2014 138 +0.7%
2015 139 +0.7%
2016 140 +0.7%
2017 141 +0.7%
2018 142 +0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1850s 2 1 3 3
1860s 8.5 4 13 10
1870s 11.67 1 19 9
1880s 8.5 4 13 10
1890s 18.5 14 23 10
1900s 28.5 24 33 10
1910s 38.5 34 43 10
1920s 48.5 44 53 10
1930s 58.5 54 63 10
1940s 68.5 64 73 10
1950s 78.5 74 83 10
1960s 88.5 84 93 10
1970s 98.5 94 103 10
1980s 108.5 104 113 10
1990s 118.5 114 123 10
2000s 128.5 124 133 10
2010s 138 134 142 9

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 1 Switzerland 171 compare
  2. 2 United States of America 155 compare
  3. 4 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 139 compare
  4. 5 Canada 131 compare
  5. 6 Australia 118 compare

See the full ranking of 110 places →

More social development data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is age of democracy polity in New Zealand?
Age of democracy polity in New Zealand was 142 in 2018, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest age of democracy polity recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 142 in 2018.
What is the lowest age of democracy polity recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1857.
How does New Zealand rank for age of democracy polity?
New Zealand ranks 3rd out of 110 countries with data for 2018.
Is age of democracy polity rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Age of democracy polity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Age of democracy polity in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/age-of-democracy-polity/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Age of democracy polity
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
110 places, 4,915 data points, 1801–2019
Last refreshed