Background: Polynesians settled New Zealand between the late 1200s and the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. By the 1500s, competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori tribes as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but left after an encounter with local Maori. British sea captain James COOK arrived in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although the position had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori tribes from the North Island declared independence. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, the majority of Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British in 1840. Land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still being actively negotiated in New Zealand. The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and granted limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars between Europeans and various Maori tribes from the 1840s to the 1870s. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947 and signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986, but bilateral relations and military ties have been revitalized since the 2010s with new security agreements. A key challenge for Auckland that has emerged over the past decade is balancing concerns over China’s growing influence in the Pacific region with its role as New Zealand's largest export destination. New Zealand has close ties with Australia based to a large extent on the two nations’ common origins as British colonies and their shared military history.

Area
Total: 268,838 km²
Land: 264,537 km²
Water: 4,301 km²
Note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Comparative: almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 15,134 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain: predominately mountainous with large coastal plains

Elevation
Highest point: Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 388 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 34.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 38.6% (2023 est.)
Other: 24.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 7,000 km² (2014)

Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m) has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under 'Geography - note'

Geography
Note note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th-largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th-largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism
Note note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes
Note note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

Population
Total: 5,161,211 (2024 est.)
Male: 2,584,607
Female: 2,576,604
Distribution: over three quarters of New Zealanders, including the Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Growth rate: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Languages: English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)
Note: shares sum to 124.1% due to multiple responses on the 2018 census

Religions: Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)
Note: based on the 2018 census of the usually resident population; percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one religion

Age structure
0-14 years: 19% (male 503,120/female 475,490)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 1,674,407/female 1,638,276)
65 years and over: 16.9% (2024 est.) (male 407,080/female 462,838)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 55.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 29.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 26.3 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 37.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 37.2 years
Female: 38.6 years

Population growth rate: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: over three quarters of New Zealanders, including the Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas

Urbanization
Urban population: 87% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.673 million Auckland, 422,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 82.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 81.2 years
Female: 84.8 years

Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.9% (2024 est.); 3.8% (2023 est.); 3.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Wellington
Geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E
Time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Time zone note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)
Etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur WELLESLEY, the first Duke of Wellington, who was famous for his victory at Waterloo in 1815 and was a benefactor of the New Zealand Company that settled North Island

Administrative divisions: 16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Dependent areas: (1) Tokelau (1)

Legal system: common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Christopher LUXON (since 27 November 2023)
Cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by the governor-general

Legislative branch
Legislature name: House of Representatives
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 120 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: mixed system
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 3 years
Most recent election date: 10/14/2023
Parties elected and seats per party: National Party (49); Labour Party (34); Green Party (15); ACT New Zealand (11); New Zealand First (8); Other (6)
Percentage of women in chamber: 45.1%
Expected date of next election: September 2026

Flag description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant, with four five-pointed red stars edged in white centered in the right half of the flag

National anthem
Title: 'God Save the King'
Lyrics/music: unknown
History: royal anthem and one of two official national anthems; usually played only when a member of the royal family or a representative is present or when allegiance to the crown is demonstrated
Note: New Zealand is one of only two countries that has two national anthems of equal status (Denmark is the other)

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: -0.1% (2024 est.); 1.4% (2023 est.); 3.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: -0.1% (2024 est.); 1.4% (2023 est.); 3.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 57.5% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 20.9% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 25.4% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.9% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 24% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -29.4% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Industry: 19.6% (2022 est.)
Services: 67.4% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: -1% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 3.124 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2024 est.); 3.8% (2023 est.); 3.3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.9% (2024 est.); 3.8% (2023 est.); 3.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $83.167 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $91.782 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 29.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $61.799 billion (2024 est.); $59.029 billion (2023 est.); $57.485 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: milk, wood, beef, butter, sheep and goat meat (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $67.998 billion (2024 est.); $68.412 billion (2023 est.); $71.35 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, trucks (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 10.643 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 40.794 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 3.058 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 12.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 59.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 17.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 3.011 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.696 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 906,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 283,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 6.75 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 12,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 154,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 40.993 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 3.97 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 3.891 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 31.149 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 33.506 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 4.24 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 21.836 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.43 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 121.647 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 660,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 6.56 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.93 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 206 (2025)

Heliports: 62 (2025)

Railways
Total: 4,128 km (2018)
Narrow gauge: 4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)

Merchant marine
Total: 117 (2023)
By type: container ship 2, general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 100