Judicial Corruption Score in New Zealand
New Zealand: Judicial Corruption Score was 3.74 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3.74
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 176 countries
All-time high
3.74
in 1960
All-time low
2.4
in 1841
Years of data
185
1841–2025
Judicial Corruption Score in New Zealand, 1841–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, judicial corruption score in New Zealand stood at 3.74. That is the highest value across all 185 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, judicial corruption score in New Zealand peaked at 3.74 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.4, in 1841.
That places New Zealand 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 185 years of available data.
Judicial Corruption Score in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 2.4 | — |
| 1842 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 3.74 | +55.8% |
| 1961 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 3.74 | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 3.74 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.71, 2.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 3.74 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.5635, 6.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 9 |
| 1850s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.74 | 3.74 | 3.74 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.74 | 3.74 | 3.74 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.74 | 3.74 | 3.74 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.74 | 3.74 | 3.74 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.74 | 3.74 | 3.74 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.74 | 3.74 | 3.74 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.74 | 3.74 | 3.74 | 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 judicial corruption score in New Zealand?
- Judicial corruption score in New Zealand was 3.74 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest judicial corruption score recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 3.74 in 1960.
- What is the lowest judicial corruption score recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4 in 1841.
- How does New Zealand rank for judicial corruption score?
- New Zealand ranks 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is judicial corruption score rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Judicial Corruption Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 185 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of how often individuals or businesses make undocumented extra payments or bribes to obtain a favorable judicial decision, or speed up or delay the process. Higher scores mean less corruption. A score of 0 is approximately the average across all countries and years.