Happiness vs. life satisfaction in New Zealand
New Zealand: Happiness vs. life satisfaction was 7 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Happiness vs. life satisfaction in New Zealand, 2011–2025
Source: Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for happiness vs. life satisfaction in New Zealand is 7, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, happiness vs. life satisfaction in New Zealand peaked at 7.37 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 6.95, in 2024.
New Zealand ranks 11th of 157 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Happiness vs. life satisfaction in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 7.37 | — |
| 2012 | 7.22 | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 7.29 | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 7.33 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 7.31 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 7.32 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 7.31 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 7.3 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 7.28 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 7.2 | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 7.12 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 7.03 | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 6.95 | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 7 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.63, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 7 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.06, 1.2× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7.31 | 7.22 | 7.37 | 8 |
| 2020s | 7.1 | 6.95 | 7.28 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More social development data for New Zealand
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,148 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 58 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 58 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is happiness vs. life satisfaction in New Zealand?
- Happiness vs. life satisfaction in New Zealand was 7 in 2025, according to Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest happiness vs. life satisfaction recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 7.37 in 2011.
- What is the lowest happiness vs. life satisfaction recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.95 in 2024.
- How does New Zealand rank for happiness vs. life satisfaction?
- New Zealand ranks 11th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is happiness vs. life satisfaction rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Happiness vs. life satisfaction. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average of survey responses. The survey question asks respondents their current position on a hypothetical ladder, where the best possible life for them is a 10, and the worst possible life is a 0.