2025 country profile

How democratic is
New Zealand?

New Zealand scores 79.1 out of 100 and ranks 28 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public participation. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

79.1out of 100Substantial but incomplete

2025 rank28 of 179

10-year change−6.7

25-year change−7.9

Source-bound range73.9–86.1

Weakest areaParticipation

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

New Zealand, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2024 context · Freedom House assessment

Policy changes put Māori protections at the center of debate

The governing coalition reduced the prominence of the Māori language in official communications and pursued changes to Māori-focused institutions and protections. Freedom House presents these as concerns about inclusion. Their democratic relevance lies in equal voice and minority rights, not simply whether the coalition had won an election.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for New Zealand fell 6.7 points, from 85.8 to 79.1 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Participation contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Participation

The evidence rates opportunities to participate through civic organizations, direct democracy, and local or regional institutions less favorably.

Area score: 73.7 → 61.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.7 points

Another important influence

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments less favorably.

Area score: 85.1 → 72.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.6 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2022–2023−0.9 points
The overall score fell from 85.3 to 84.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−2.5 points
The overall score fell from 84.4 to 81.9. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025−2.8 points
The overall score fell from 81.9 to 79.1. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 86.0 in 2018. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Participation	73.7	61.4	−12.3	−2.7
Public reasoning	85.1	72.4	−12.7	−2.6
Elections	88.3	84.9	−3.4	−0.7
Political equality	87.7	85.0	−2.7	−0.5
Rights and checks	94.9	93.8	−1.1	−0.2

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

84.9

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

93.8

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

61.4

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

72.4

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

85.0

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

New Zealand score table

Download New Zealand CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	79.1	73.9–86.1	84.9	93.8	61.4	72.4	85.0
2024	81.9	77.7–88.5	86.8	94.8	65.1	79.6	84.9
2023	84.4	80.5–89.6	88.0	95.0	70.4	83.5	85.9
2022	85.3	81.7–90.3	87.8	94.7	71.1	87.1	86.6
2021	84.8	81.3–90.0	87.4	94.2	72.7	83.7	87.0
2020	85.3	81.7–90.5	88.2	94.6	72.7	84.6	87.0
2019	85.6	82.1–90.7	88.5	94.9	73.4	84.0	87.8
2018	86.0	82.5–91.0	88.8	94.8	74.1	84.8	88.4
2017	86.0	82.4–91.0	87.9	94.9	74.8	85.1	88.1
2016	85.8	82.0–90.7	88.3	94.9	73.8	85.1	87.7
2015	85.8	82.0–90.6	88.3	94.9	73.7	85.1	87.7
2014	85.9	82.0–90.6	88.6	94.9	73.7	85.1	87.7
2013	85.9	82.1–90.6	88.7	94.9	73.7	85.1	87.7
2012	86.0	82.2–90.8	89.3	94.9	73.7	85.1	87.7
2011	86.0	82.2–90.8	89.1	94.9	74.0	85.1	87.7
2010	85.3	81.6–90.1	89.3	94.9	70.6	85.1	87.7
2009	85.5	81.7–90.2	89.3	94.9	71.6	85.1	87.7
2008	85.5	82.1–90.5	88.0	94.9	71.4	86.2	88.0
2007	85.6	82.2–90.7	87.8	94.9	72.4	86.0	87.8
2006	86.0	82.9–91.2	87.8	94.9	73.5	86.0	88.4
2005	86.2	82.9–91.3	87.9	94.9	74.6	86.0	88.4
2004	86.4	83.0–91.4	88.0	94.9	75.7	86.0	88.0
2003	86.6	83.2–91.6	88.0	94.9	76.7	86.0	88.0
2002	86.8	83.4–91.8	88.1	94.9	77.4	86.0	88.0
2001	86.9	83.6–92.0	88.1	94.9	78.1	86.0	88.0
2000	87.0	83.7–92.0	88.1	94.9	78.3	86.0	88.0
1999	86.3	82.8–91.6	88.0	94.9	77.8	84.4	86.6
1998	85.2	81.4–90.9	88.0	94.9	77.3	80.9	85.2
1997	85.0	81.0–90.6	88.0	94.9	77.6	80.9	84.3
1996	84.7	80.3–90.1	87.9	94.2	77.6	80.1	84.3
1995	84.4	80.2–90.0	87.2	94.2	77.6	80.1	83.4
1994	83.2	79.0–88.8	87.2	94.2	71.9	80.1	83.4
1993	81.1	76.6–87.5	87.4	94.2	71.9	70.1	83.4
1992	80.6	76.0–86.8	87.1	94.2	69.5	70.1	83.4
1991	79.8	75.2–86.1	87.1	94.2	66.2	70.1	83.4
1990	80.0	75.3–86.1	86.9	94.2	66.8	70.1	83.5
1989	79.9	75.4–86.3	86.6	94.3	66.8	70.1	83.5
1988	79.9	75.4–86.3	86.6	94.3	66.8	70.1	83.5
1987	79.7	75.4–86.3	86.4	94.3	66.8	70.1	82.4
1986	79.7	75.3–86.3	86.3	94.3	66.8	70.1	82.4
1985	79.5	74.9–86.1	86.3	93.3	66.8	70.1	82.6
1984	78.3	73.0–84.9	86.2	92.3	66.8	63.8	84.3
1983	79.3	74.4–85.7	85.3	92.1	67.3	67.5	86.0
1982	80.8	76.2–86.9	85.0	92.1	67.3	74.8	86.0
1981	80.8	76.0–86.9	84.9	92.1	67.3	74.8	86.0
1980	80.8	76.0–86.8	84.9	92.1	67.3	74.8	86.0
1979	80.6	75.5–86.4	84.6	92.0	67.3	74.8	85.6
1978	80.7	75.6–86.4	84.9	92.0	67.3	74.8	85.6
1977	80.6	75.5–86.3	84.7	92.0	67.3	74.8	85.6
1976	80.8	75.7–86.5	85.3	92.0	67.3	74.8	85.6
1975	82.3	78.1–87.8	85.0	91.6	67.5	82.2	86.3
1974	82.7	78.8–88.3	85.0	91.6	67.5	85.1	85.3
1973	82.6	78.7–88.2	84.5	91.6	67.5	85.1	85.3
1972	82.6	78.7–88.2	84.7	91.6	67.5	85.1	85.3
1971	82.1	78.2–87.9	84.7	91.4	67.3	83.3	84.8
1970	82.1	78.2–87.9	84.7	91.4	67.3	83.3	84.8
1969	81.7	77.6–87.7	83.3	91.4	67.1	83.3	84.3
1968	81.7	77.6–87.7	83.3	91.4	67.1	83.3	84.3
1967	82.4	78.3–88.5	83.3	91.4	70.4	83.3	84.3
1966	81.6	77.4–87.5	83.1	91.4	67.1	83.3	84.3
1965	81.6	77.3–87.4	83.1	91.4	67.1	83.3	84.3
1964	81.6	77.3–87.4	83.1	91.4	67.1	83.3	84.3
1963	81.7	77.4–87.4	83.3	91.4	67.1	83.3	84.3
1962	81.4	77.0–87.1	82.9	90.5	67.1	83.3	84.3
1961	81.1	77.0–87.2	82.2	89.6	67.1	83.3	84.3
1960	81.0	76.9–87.3	82.0	89.6	67.1	83.3	83.8
1959	80.4	76.0–86.4	80.9	88.4	67.1	83.3	83.1
1958	80.4	76.0–86.4	80.9	88.4	67.1	83.3	83.1
1957	80.3	76.1–86.5	80.4	88.4	67.1	83.3	83.1
1956	79.2	74.5–85.6	80.4	88.4	67.1	77.9	83.1
1955	79.2	74.5–85.6	80.4	88.4	67.1	77.9	83.1
1954	79.0	74.1–85.2	79.3	88.4	67.1	77.9	83.1
1953	78.9	74.0–85.1	78.6	88.4	67.1	77.9	83.1
1952	78.9	74.0–85.1	78.6	88.4	67.1	77.9	83.1
1951	78.5	73.6–84.8	76.8	88.4	67.1	77.9	83.1
1950	79.1	74.4–85.4	80.0	88.4	67.1	77.9	83.1
1949	80.7	75.7–86.5	80.1	88.4	69.6	82.8	83.4
1948	80.0	75.1–85.8	80.2	88.4	66.3	82.8	83.4
1947	80.1	75.5–86.1	80.2	88.4	66.3	83.1	83.4
1946	79.9	75.3–86.0	79.4	88.4	66.3	83.1	83.4
1945	76.2	70.6–83.5	77.4	88.4	63.8	69.4	83.4
1944	76.0	70.5–83.4	77.4	88.4	63.8	69.4	82.4
1943	76.0	70.6–83.5	77.4	88.4	63.8	69.4	82.2
1942	76.0	70.6–83.5	77.4	88.4	63.8	69.4	82.2
1941	76.0	70.6–83.5	77.4	88.4	63.8	69.4	82.2
1940	76.0	70.6–83.5	77.4	88.4	63.8	69.4	82.2
1939	78.4	73.6–85.3	78.2	88.4	63.8	80.4	82.2
1938	78.2	73.4–85.1	78.7	88.4	63.8	80.4	80.7
1937	77.8	72.9–84.6	78.7	88.4	63.8	80.4	79.0
1936	77.8	72.9–84.6	78.7	88.4	63.8	80.4	79.0
1935	77.1	71.9–83.9	80.2	88.4	63.3	80.4	74.4
1934	74.2	67.9–81.1	81.0	88.4	63.3	68.5	71.1
1933	73.9	67.6–80.7	81.0	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.8
1932	73.7	67.7–80.7	80.0	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.5
1931	73.9	68.0–81.0	81.4	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.5
1930	73.9	68.0–81.0	81.4	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.5
1929	73.7	67.3–80.5	80.7	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.1
1928	73.6	67.3–80.5	80.3	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.1
1927	73.6	67.3–80.5	80.2	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.1
1926	73.6	67.3–80.5	80.2	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.1
1925	73.7	67.2–80.3	80.5	88.4	63.3	68.5	69.1
1924	73.6	67.4–80.5	80.6	88.4	63.3	68.5	68.4
1923	73.6	67.4–80.5	80.6	88.4	63.3	68.5	68.4
1922	73.5	67.6–80.6	80.4	88.4	63.3	68.5	68.4
1921	73.4	67.3–80.5	79.8	88.4	63.3	68.5	68.4
1920	73.5	67.4–80.5	80.2	88.4	63.3	68.5	68.4
1919	72.5	66.0–79.9	79.6	88.3	62.7	65.6	67.9
1918	69.4	62.9–77.4	76.7	88.1	63.0	53.8	67.9
1917	69.4	62.9–77.4	76.7	88.1	63.0	53.8	67.9
1916	69.8	63.2–77.4	76.9	88.1	63.0	56.0	67.2
1915	69.8	63.0–77.4	76.7	88.1	63.0	56.0	67.2
1914	71.1	64.5–78.6	77.2	88.1	63.0	61.5	67.2
1913	72.7	66.5–80.1	78.3	88.3	63.0	68.0	67.2
1912	72.6	66.0–79.6	78.1	88.1	63.0	68.0	67.0
1911	72.9	66.3–79.9	79.8	88.1	62.9	68.0	67.0
1910	72.9	66.4–79.9	79.8	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1909	72.9	66.4–79.9	79.8	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1908	72.9	66.4–79.9	79.7	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1907	72.9	66.4–79.9	79.7	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1906	72.9	66.4–79.9	79.7	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1905	72.9	66.5–79.9	79.6	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1904	72.9	66.5–79.9	79.6	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1903	72.9	66.5–79.9	79.6	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1902	72.8	66.2–79.9	79.4	88.1	63.1	68.0	67.0
1901	72.0	65.3–79.0	79.3	88.1	59.2	68.0	67.0
1900	71.8	65.4–79.1	78.3	88.1	59.2	68.0	67.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “New Zealand Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#26Spain80.4 #27Slovenia80.2 #29Poland78.9 #30United Kingdom78.9

All rankings

How democratic isNew Zealand?

New Zealand, 1975–2025

Policy changes put Māori protections at the center of debate

Participation

Public reasoning

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

New Zealand score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
New Zealand?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.