The Human Truth Foundation

New Zealand

http://www.humantruth.info/new_zealand.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#australia #belgium #denmark #new_zealand

New Zealand
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index6th best
CapitalWellington
Land Area 263 310km21
LocationAustralasia, Polynesia
Population4.7m2
Life Expectancy82.45yrs (2017)3
GNI$44 057 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesNZ, NZL, 5545
Internet Domain.nz6
CurrencyDollar (NZD)7
Telephone+648

1. Overview

#UK

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both world wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverPlucked straight from a film set or a coffee-table book of picture-perfect scenery, New Zealand is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. `Wow!´ will escape from your lips at least once a day. New Zealand is bigger than the UK with one-fourteenth the population. Filling in the gaps are the sublime forests, mountains, lakes, beaches and fiords that have made NZ one of the best hiking (locals call it `tramping´) destinations on the planet. Tackle one of nine epic `Great Walks´ or just spend a few dreamy hours wandering through some easily accessible wilderness.

NZ chefs find inspiration in new-world culinary oceans, especially the Pacific with its abundant seafood. Thirsty? NZ´s cool-climate wineries have been collecting wine-award trophies for decades now, but the country´s booming craft-beer scene also deserves your serious scrutiny. And with coffee culture firmly entrenched, you can usually find a decent double-shot. See how Maori culture impresses itself on contemporary Kiwi life: across NZ you can hear Maori language, watch traditional Maori song, dance and usually a blood-curdling haka (war dance), visit marae (meeting houses) or join in a hangi (Maori feast).

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. New Zealand National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
11Finland0.940
12Singapore0.939
13=Belgium0.937
13=New Zealand0.937
15Canada0.936
16Liechtenstein0.935
17Luxembourg0.930
18UK0.929
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
26France$45 937
27UK$45 225
28S. Korea$44 501
29New Zealand$44 057
30Italy$42 840
31Japan$42 274
32Israel$41 524
33Slovenia$39 746
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
4Finland31.7
5Netherlands32.1
6New Zealand34.0
7Iceland35.0
8Canada36.8
9Switzerland37.2
10Germany37.4
11Australia38.2
12Austria38.6
Australasia Avg102.5
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. New Zealand's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

New Zealand's population is predicted to rise to 5.211 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.15. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
121Oman4.8m
122Liberia4.8m
123Ireland4.8m
124New Zealand4.7m
125Central African Rep.4.7m
126Mauritania4.4m
127Panama4.2m
128Croatia4.2m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
15Canada82.7
16Luxembourg82.6
17France82.5
18New Zealand82.5
19Israel82.3
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
22Belgium81.9
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
18Bahamas1.88
19Finland1.87
20UK1.87
21New Zealand2.15
22Azerbaijan2.16
23Chile1.84
24Bangladesh2.16
25Belgium1.83
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
151Hungary32.9
152Romania33.6
153USA33.8
154New Zealand34.9
155UK35.0
156Barbados35.6
157Lithuania36.0
158Czechia36.1
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
19Brunei25.3%
20Israel23.6%
21Palau23.0%
22New Zealand22.7%
23Canada21.5%
24Kazakhstan20.0%
25Austria19.0%
26Sweden17.6%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
42Lebanon15.6%
43Equatorial Guinea14.9%
44Seychelles14.6%
45New Zealand14.5%
46Ukraine14.4%
47Israel14.0%
48Swaziland13.4%
49Lithuania13.2%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. New Zealand's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#antisemitism #equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1New Zealand17.3
2Australia23.9
3Fiji102.1
4Papua New Guinea122.2
5=Nauru123.0
6Micronesia128.4
7Palau130.6
8Tonga132.6
9Marshall Islands134.2
10Samoa135.9
11Vanuatu137.8
12=Kiribati138.0
13Cook Islands144.5
Australasia Avg119.7
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
4Netherlands15.6
5New Zealand17.3
6Iceland19.9
7Canada21.0
8Austria22.3
9Luxembourg23.7
10Finland23.8
11Australia23.9
12Hong Kong24.3
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better19
Pos.2009
Treaties19
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
47Poland20
48=S. Korea20
48=Panama20
48=New Zealand20
51Uganda19
52=Colombia19
52=Switzerland19
52=UK19
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better20
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty20
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
51Finland7.49
52Togo7.50
53Iraq7.55
54New Zealand7.56
55Iceland7.57
56Jamaica7.61
57Honduras7.64
58Congo, DR7.72
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better21
Pos.2014
Rank21
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
4Ireland4
5Denmark5
6=UK6
6=Canada6
6=Australia6
9Finland9
10Netherlands10
11=Luxembourg11
11=Austria11
Australasia Avg36.0
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Press Freedom
Lower is better22
Pos.201322
1Finland638
2Netherlands648
3Norway652
4Luxembourg668
5Andorra682
6Denmark708
7Liechtenstein735
8New Zealand838
9Iceland849
10Sweden923
11Estonia926
12Austria940
Australasia Avg2164
World Avg3249
q=178.
Slavery
Lower is better
23
Pos.2018
% Victims23
1Japan0.03
2=Canada0.05
2=Taiwan0.05
4Australia0.06
5=New Zealand0.06
6Chile0.08
7=Mauritius0.10
7=Uruguay0.10
9Costa Rica0.13
10=USA0.13
10=Argentina0.13
12Hong Kong0.14
Australasia Avg0.38
World Avg0.65
q=167.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 report on the state of the world's human rights, had little to say about New Zealand: "An independent inquiry called for an end to the detention in correctional facilities of people seeking asylum. Reports highlighted ongoing concerns about the prison system. Civil society strongly criticized a new oversight system for Oranga Tamariki/the Ministry for Children"24.

Gender Equality:

New Zealand is on the way towards ending gender inequality and has been striving towards this end for quite some time.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
25
Pos.201525
1Switzerland0.04
2Denmark0.04
3Netherlands0.04
...
31Croatia0.14
32Belarus0.14
33Montenegro0.16
34New Zealand0.16
35Bosnia & Herzegovina0.16
36Macedonia0.16
37China0.16
38Libya0.17
Australasia Avg0.39
World Avg0.36
q=159.
Gender Biases
Lower is better
26
Pos.2022
%26
1Sweden31.827
2New Zealand34.428
3Australia37.028
4Germany40.228
5Canada41.128
6Norway42.129
7Andorra43.128
8Netherlands44.227
9USA50.728
10Finland52.529
11Spain53.527
12Switzerland56.929
Australasia Avg35.72
World Avg83.93
q=88.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
4Norway1913
5=Denmark1915
5=Iceland1915
7Russia1917
8=Latvia1918
8=Estonia1918
8=Kyrgyzstan1918
11Austria1919
12=Slovakia1919
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

Anti-Semite Opinions
Lower is better
30
Pos.2014
%30
1Laos0
2Philippines3
3Sweden4
...
10=Thailand13
10=Czechia13
12Canada14
13=New Zealand14
13=Australia14
15Norway15
16=Ghana15
16=Finland15
Australasia Avg14.0
World Avg36.8
q=101.
LGBT Equality
Higher is better
31
Pos.2017
Score31
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
15Argentina69
16=Malta63
16=Andorra63
16=New Zealand63
16=Portugal63
20Canada62
21Colombia58
22Finland57
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
32
Pos.202132
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
26Slovenia1.8
27Sierra Leone2.0
28=Luxembourg2.0
28=New Zealand2.0
28=Gabon2.0
28=S. Sudan2.0
28=Barbados2.0
33Benin2.3
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. New Zealand's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #New_Zealand #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
4New Zealand88.8
5=Fiji90.6
6Vanuatu97.1
7Niue98.7
8=Tonga104.1
9Samoa107.8
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
79=Nicaragua87.5
79=Guyana87.5
81Pakistan88.5
82New Zealand88.8
83St Lucia88.9
84=El Salvador90.5
84=Libya90.5
84=Ecuador90.5
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives34. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau34.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean34, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa34.

For more, see:

Health:

New Zealand does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. New Zealand comes in the best 20 in terms of its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance35 (amongst the best in Australasia) and in its average life expectancy11 (one of the highest in Australasia). It does better than average when it comes to its fertility rate13 (amongst the lowest in Australasia), its adolescent birth rate25 and in its immunizations take-up36. New Zealand still has work to do. New Zealand does worse than average in terms of its suicide rate37 (yet still one of the lowest in Australasia), its smoking rate38 (one of the highest in Australasia) and in its alcohol consumption rate39 (one of the worst in Australasia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in New Zealand improved by +7.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, on par with the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
15Canada82.7
16Luxembourg82.6
17France82.5
18New Zealand82.5
19Israel82.3
20Finland82.0
21Ireland82.0
22Belgium81.9
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
39
Pos.2016
Per Capita39
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
155=Denmark10.4
156Cook Islands10.6
157=Australia10.6
158New Zealand10.7
159=Finland10.7
160Uruguay10.8
161=Cyprus10.8
162Serbia11.1
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
18Bahamas1.88
19Finland1.87
20UK1.87
21New Zealand2.15
22Azerbaijan2.16
23Chile1.84
24Bangladesh2.16
25Belgium1.83
Australasia Avg3.26
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
38
Pos.201438
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
101Singapore 652
102Bangladesh 665
103Morocco 671
104New Zealand 680
105Kyrgyzstan 68340
106Qatar 698
107UAE 715
108Namibia 740
Australasia Avg 372
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate37
Pos.2013
Per 100k37
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
54Chile22.4
55Canada22.7
56Iceland23.5
57New Zealand23.6
58Ireland23.7
59Norway23.8
60=Denmark23.9
60=Germany23.9
Australasia Avg20.00
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
35
Pos.2017
Rank35
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
14UAE14
15Saudi Arabia15
16Belgium16
17New Zealand17
18Jordan18
19S. Korea19
20Kuwait20
21Japan21
Australasia Avg94.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better41
Pos.2016
%41
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
167Australia64.5
168Iraq64.6
169Mexico64.9
170New Zealand65.6
171Bahrain65.8
172Malta66.4
173=Turkey66.8
173=Libya66.8
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
25
Pos.2015
Per 100025
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
69Armenia23.0
70Jordan23.2
71Russia23.4
72New Zealand23.6
73Ukraine24.1
74India24.5
75Samoa25.0
76Rwanda26.3
Australasia Avg30.1
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
36
Pos.2015
Avg %36
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
93Burundi93.3
94Chile93.3
95Georgia93.1
96New Zealand92.9
97Nauru92.9
98USA92.8
99Latvia92.8
100Romania92.7
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. New Zealand's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #food #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Australasia (2023)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Fiji63.3
2New Zealand63.8
3Australia66.4
4Vanuatu75.0
5=Kiribati87.0
6Papua New Guinea89.0
7=Solomon Islands103.0
7=Micronesia103.0
9Samoa108.0
10=Nauru108.0
11Tonga115.0
Australasia Avg89.2
q=11.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
34S. Korea62.8
35Fiji63.3
36Guinea63.5
37New Zealand63.8
38Luxembourg64.2
39Burkina Faso64.3
40Cuba64.7
41Ethiopia64.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.
(amongst the lowest in Australasia)In terms of its responsibility towards the environment, New Zealand ranks 37th in the world. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. New Zealand does the best in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. It comes in the best 20 when it comes to its environmental performance43 (the best in Australasia). It does better than average in its forested percent change 1990-201544 (one of the best in Australasia). New Zealand doesn't do so well in other areas. New Zealand does worse than average for its score on the Green Future Index45 (yet still the highest in Australasia), energy to GDP efficiency46 (yet still one of the highest in Australasia), the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population47 (yet still amongst the best in Australasia) and in annual meat consumption per person48.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
44
Pos.2015
%44
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
55Liechtenstein+06.2
56Latvia+05.8
57Uzbekistan+05.7
58New Zealand+05.1
59Slovenia+05.1
60Lebanon+04.8
61Gabon+04.5
62Ukraine+04.1
Australasia Avg+03.4
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
43
Pos.201843
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
14Norway77.5
15Belgium77.4
16Italy77.0
17New Zealand76.0
18Netherlands75.5
19Israel75.0
20Japan74.7
21Australia74.1
Australasia Avg55.2
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better46
Pos.201446
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
72Bolivia07.87
73Brunei07.81
74Armenia07.69
75New Zealand07.63
76=Kuwait07.58
76=USA07.58
78Czechia07.46
79=Tajikistan07.46
Australasia Avg07.92
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
13=Antigua & Barbuda1993 Dec 29
13=Mongolia1993 Dec 29
13=St Kitts & Nevis1993 Dec 29
13=New Zealand1993 Dec 29
13=Japan1993 Dec 29
13=Uganda1993 Dec 29
13=Belarus1993 Dec 29
13=Burkina Faso1993 Dec 29
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better47
Pos.2011
%47
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
111Kazakhstan25.0%
112Iraq24.9%
113Sweden24.3%
114New Zealand24.2%
115Poland23.8%
116Belarus23.7%
117Afghanistan23.6%
118Russia23.5%
Australasia Avg28.0%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
48
Pos.2021
kg48
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
143Grenada78.6
144Ireland80.2
145Kuwait81.3
146New Zealand81.4
147S. Korea81.5
148Dominica81.6
149Hungary82.1
150UK82.3
Australasia Avg74.2
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in New Zealand was nearly double the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment. It managed to reduce this by over 10kgs per year (only 17 countries managed the same).48

Green Future Index
Higher is better45
Pos.2023
Score45
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
38Brazil4.7
39=Romania4.7
39=Kenya4.7
41New Zealand4.6
42=Philippines4.6
42=Israel4.6
42=Australia4.6
45Taiwan4.5
Australasia Avg4.6
World Avg4.8
q=76.

7. New Zealand's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #maths #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)49
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank49
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
4Tonga75.2
5=New Caledonia75.5
6Fiji80.8
7French Polynesia95.0
8Nauru99.0
9Marshall Islands102.8
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity & Learning (2020)49
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank49
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
6Belgium16.1
7Czechia16.7
8New Zealand17.6
9Sweden18.6
10Germany18.6
11Australia19.2
12Iceland19.6
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

In 1993, 2009 and 2011, education in New Zealand was the 3rd-longest in the world, at 17.0 years (rising to 18.6 years), beaten only by Australia and Belgium. 50

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2951
2Israel4.1151
3Japan3.5851
...
28Luxembourg1.2651
29Spain1.2251
30Russia1.1951
31New Zealand1.1752
32Brazil1.1553
33Malaysia1.1353
34Turkey1.0151
35Lithuania0.9554
Australasia Avg1.71
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
55
Pos.201855
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
15Armenia97.2%
16Hungary97.2%
17Palau97.1%
18New Zealand96.9%
19Switzerland96.5%
20Moldova96.4%
21Germany96.3%
22Russia95.9%
Australasia Avg79.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
56
Pos.2021
Years56
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
6Iceland19.2
7Finland19.1
8Ireland18.9
9Denmark18.7
10Netherlands18.7
11Grenada18.7
12Turkey18.3
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
35
Pos.2017
Rank35
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
9Belgium9
10Slovenia10
11Switzerland11
12New Zealand12
13Latvia13
14Bulgaria14
15Iceland15
16Bosnia & Herzegovina16
Australasia Avg58.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading
Higher is better
57
Pos.2015
Score57
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
...
13=Germany1524
13=Netherlands1524
15Switzerland1519
16New Zealand1517
17=Norway1513
17=Denmark1513
19Poland1511
20Belgium1508
Australasia Avg1512
World Avg1389
q=70.
IQ
Higher is better58
Pos.200658
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
12=Norway100
12=Austria100
12=UK100
15New Zealand99
16=Poland99
16=Germany99
16=Finland99
16=Estonia99
Australasia Avg98.5
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
59
Pos.201659
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
16Bahrain92%
17Estonia91%
18Japan91%
19New Zealand89%
20=USA89%
20=Canada89%
20=Belgium89%
23Czechia88%
Australasia Avg44.3%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
60
Pos.2017
Ratio60
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
22Brazil13.9
23Netherlands10.5
24Czechia10.1
25New Zealand9.7
26Romania8.7
27Austria7.5
28Hungary7.4
29Guatemala6.9
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
61
Pos.2022
%61
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
4Australia55.0
5New Zealand54.0
6Myanmar (Burma)52.0
7=Sierra Leone51.0
7=Canada51.0
9Zambia50.0
10=Ukraine49.0
10=Ireland49.0
12Czechia48.0
Australasia Avg54.5
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
62
Pos.2022
Points62
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5=Singapore83.0
5=Sweden83.0
7Switzerland82.0
8Netherlands80.0
9Germany79.0
10=Ireland77.0
10=Luxembourg77.0
12Hong Kong76.0
Australasia Avg55.83
World Avg42.98
q=180.

When the Corruption Perception Index was launched in 1995, New Zealand scored the 4th-best, but rose to 1st position the next year, and attained that again 2008-2009. It had the 2nd-best average score of the 2010s too, after Denmark.

Happiness
Higher is better
63
Pos.2018
Score63
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
6Netherlands7.4
7Canada7.3
8New Zealand7.3
9Sweden7.3
10Australia7.3
11Israel7.2
12Austria7.1
Australasia Avg7.30
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
35
Pos.2017
Rank35
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
32Costa Rica32
33Serbia33
34S. Korea34
35New Zealand35
36Belize36
37Iceland37
38Croatia38
39Bulgaria39
Australasia Avg61.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
35
Pos.2017
Rank35
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
66Benin66
67Lesotho67
68Panama68
69New Zealand69
70Tunisia70
71Montenegro71
72Ukraine72
73Chile73
Australasia Avg91.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
64
Pos.2023
Score64
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
4New Zealand1.31
5Austria1.32
6Singapore1.33
7Portugal1.33
8Slovenia1.33
9Japan1.34
10Switzerland1.34
11Canada1.35
12Czechia1.38
Australasia Avg1.64
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
35
Pos.2017
Rank35
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
30Paraguay30
31Jordan31
32India32
33New Zealand33
34Malaysia34
35S. Korea35
36Qatar36
37Germany37
Australasia Avg88.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
35
Pos.2017
Rank35
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
16France16
17Cyprus17
18Slovenia18
19New Zealand19
20Luxembourg20
21Ireland21
22Costa Rica22
23Thailand23
Australasia Avg103.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
65
Pos.2019
Score65
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
26=Moldova0.12
26=Serbia0.12
26=Estonia0.12
29New Zealand0.14
30Uruguay0.17
31Dominican Rep.0.18
32Hungary0.18
33Switzerland0.19
Australasia Avg1.38
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better66
Pos.201966
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
30Hungary4.20
31=Croatia4.30
31=Poland4.30
31=New Zealand4.30
34Belarus4.40
35=Canada4.60
35=Malta4.60
37Serbia4.90
Australasia Avg13.47
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)67
Pos.Higher is better
%67
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
19Russia27
20Australia25
21Taiwan24
22=New Zealand22
22=Canada22
24Latvia20
25=Ukraine20
25=Mongolia20
27Austria18
28=Slovakia17
28=Switzerland17
28=Belarus17
31Greece16
32=Iceland16
33Spain15
34=Israel15
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below68:

Christian57%
Muslim1.2%
Hindu2.1%
Buddhist1.6%
Folk Religion0.5%
Jewish0.2%
Unaffiliated36.6%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 38.6% (Anglican 13.8%, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Reformed 10%, Christian (no denomination specified) 4.6%, Methodist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Baptist 1.4%, other Christian 3.8%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, Maori Christian 1.6%, Hindu 1.6%, Buddhist 1.3%, other religions 2.2%, none 32.2%, other or unidentified 9.9% (2006 Census)69.

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