New Zealand

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

New Zealand
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	15th best
Capital	Wellington
Land Area	263 310km²₁
Location	Australasia, Polynesia
Population	4.7m₂
Life Expectancy	82.45yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$44 057 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	NZ, NZL, 554₅
Internet Domain	.nz₆
Currency	Dollar (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

“Plucked 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
11	Finland	0.940
12	Singapore	0.939
13=	Belgium	0.937
13=	New Zealand	0.937
15	Canada	0.936
16	Liechtenstein	0.935
17	Luxembourg	0.930
18	UK	0.929
	Australasia Avg	0.70
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
26	France	$45 937
27	UK	$45 225
28	S. Korea	$44 501
29	New Zealand	$44 057
30	Italy	$42 840
31	Japan	$42 274
32	Israel	$41 524
33	Slovenia	$39 746
	Australasia Avg	$12 519
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	27.2
2	Norway	29.2
3	Sweden	30.2
	...
12	France	39.4
13	Austria	39.5
14	Monaco	41.2
15	New Zealand	41.8
16	Liechtenstein	42.7
17	Australia	42.8
18	Canada	43.1
19	Spain	43.5
	Australasia Avg	100.6
	World Avg	89.2
q=200.

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 #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

New Zealand's population is predicted to rise to 5.211 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.66. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
121	Oman	4.8m
122	Liberia	4.8m
123	Ireland	4.8m
124	New Zealand	4.7m
125	Central African Rep.	4.7m
126	Mauritania	4.4m
127	Panama	4.2m
128	Croatia	4.2m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
15	Canada	82.7
16	Luxembourg	82.6
17	France	82.5
18	New Zealand	82.5
19	Israel	82.3
20	Finland	82.0
21	Ireland	82.0
22	Belgium	81.9
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
50	Azerbaijan	1.67
51	USA	1.67
52	Honduras	2.34
53	New Zealand	1.66
54	S. Africa	2.34
55	Turks & Caicos Islands	1.66
56	Guatemala	2.35
57	Barbados	1.63
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
151	Hungary	32.9
152	Romania	33.6
153	USA	33.8
154	New Zealand	34.9
155	UK	35.0
156	Barbados	35.6
157	Lithuania	36.0
158	Czechia	36.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
19	Brunei	25.3%
20	Israel	23.6%
21	Palau	23.0%
22	New Zealand	22.7%
23	Canada	21.5%
24	Kazakhstan	20.0%
25	Austria	19.0%
26	Sweden	17.6%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
42	Lebanon	15.6%
43	Equatorial Guinea	14.9%
44	Seychelles	14.6%
45	New Zealand	14.5%
46	Ukraine	14.4%
47	Israel	14.0%
48	Swaziland	13.4%
49	Lithuania	13.2%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

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

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Australasia (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	New Zealand	19.4
2	Australia	22.6
3	Micronesia	59.3
4	Vanuatu	78.5
5	Kiribati	81.6
6	Tuvalu	83.8
7	Nauru	89.3
8	Fiji	90.8
9	Palau	91.4
10	Samoa	98.2
11	Tonga	101.0
12	Marshall Islands	102.9
13	Papua New Guinea	110.2
	Australasia Avg	82.01
q=14.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
7	Finland	17.7
8	Luxembourg	18.1
9	Belgium	18.7
10	New Zealand	19.4
11	Australia	22.6
12	France	23.5
13	Austria	24.3
14	Germany	25.1
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

30 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, 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 Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #new_zealand #politics #slavery

Press Freedom Higher is better₂₁
Pos.		2025₂₁
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
13	Luxembourg	83.04
14	Lithuania	82.27
15	Latvia	81.82
16	New Zealand	81.37
17	Iceland	81.36
18	Belgium	80.12
19	Trinidad & Tobago	79.71
20	UK	78.89
	Australasia Avg	70.62
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₂₂
Pos.		Slavery in the 2020s Per 1000₂₂
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
11	Mauritius	1.50
12=	Australia	1.60
12=	Lesotho	1.60
12=	New Zealand	1.60
15	Taiwan	1.70
16=	UK	1.80
16=	Canada	1.80
16=	Botswana	1.80
	Australasia Avg	4.50
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
12=	Palau	1.0
12=	Czechia	1.0
12=	Finland	1.0
12=	New Zealand	1.0
12=	Netherlands	1.0
12=	Germany	1.0
12=	Micronesia	1.0
12=	Iceland	1.0
	Australasia Avg	1.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₂₃
Pos.		2009 Treaties₂₃
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
47=	Poland	20
47=	S. Korea	20
47=	Panama	20
47=	New Zealand	20
51=	Uganda	19
51=	Colombia	19
51=	Switzerland	19
51=	UK	19
	Australasia Avg	8.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₄
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₄
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
51	Finland	7.49
52	Togo	7.50
53	Iraq	7.55
54	New Zealand	7.56
55	Iceland	7.57
56	Jamaica	7.61
57	Honduras	7.64
58	Congo, DR	7.72
	Australasia Avg	14.35
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

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"₂₅.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #prejudice #women

New Zealand is notable for its equality between the sexes and this has been a feature of the country's culture for quite some time.

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Gender Inequality Lower is better₂₆
Pos.		2022₂₆
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
21	Portugal	0.08
22	Japan	0.08
23	France	0.08
24	New Zealand	0.09
25	Israel	0.09
26	Croatia	0.09
27	Estonia	0.10
28	UK	0.10
	Australasia Avg	0.37
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Gender Biases Lower is better₂₇
Pos.		2022 %₂₇
1	Sweden	31.8₂₈
2	New Zealand	34.4₂₉
3	Australia	37.0₂₉
4	Germany	40.2₂₉
5	Canada	41.1₂₉
6	Norway	42.1₃₀
7	Andorra	43.1₂₉
8	Netherlands	44.2₂₈
9	USA	50.7₂₉
10	Finland	52.5₃₀
11	Spain	53.5₂₈
12	Switzerland	56.9₃₀
	Australasia Avg	35.72
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Year Women Can Vote Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
4	Norway	1913
5=	Denmark	1915
5=	Iceland	1915
7	Russia	1917
8=	Latvia	1918
8=	Estonia	1918
8=	Kyrgyzstan	1918
11=	Austria	1919
11=	Slovakia	1919
	Australasia Avg	1962
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#2020s #antisemitism #freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2014 %₃₁
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
10=	Thailand	13
10=	Czechia	13
12=	Canada	14
12=	New Zealand	14
12=	Australia	14
15=	Norway	15
15=	Ghana	15
15=	Finland	15
	Australasia Avg	14.0
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₃₂
Pos.		LGBT Equality in the 2020s Score₃₂
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
25	Malta	2.88
26=	Canada	2.83
26=	Iceland	2.83
28	New Zealand	2.73
29	Ireland	2.63
30	Montenegro	2.57
31	Ecuador	2.55
32	Peru	2.40
	Australasia Avg	-0.93
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

After the colonial era saw British laws enact severe penalties on male homosexuals, legality was restored in 1986 with the Homosexual Law Reform Act. LGB folk can serve openly in the military, especially since anti-discrimination laws of the 1990s. Civil Unions were introduced in 2005, granting most of the same rights as marriage, before full marriage equality from 2013. ILGA researchers in 2017 found that New Zealand had legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination, hate crime, and other protections.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

⇡ Supported the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
⇡ Supported the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights, tabled by Argentina.
⇡ In 2025, signed the UN Human Rights Council Joint statement on ending acts of violence and human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2021₃₃
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
26=	S. Korea	1.8
27=	Barbados	2.0
27=	Gabon	2.0
27=	New Zealand	2.0
27=	Sierra Leone	2.0
27=	Luxembourg	2.0
27=	S. Sudan	2.0
33=	Greece	2.3
	Australasia Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. New Zealand's Health

#health

Compared to Australasia (2025)₃₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₄
1	Australia	62.1
2	New Zealand	66.8
3	New Caledonia	68.1
4	French Polynesia	93.1
5	Fiji	94.4
6	Palau	98.6
7	Tonga	102.1
8	Niue	102.3
9	Tuvalu	118.6
10	Guam	122.6
11	Vanuatu	123.4
12	Solomon Islands	123.9
13=	Samoa	124.1
	Australasia Avg	110.70
q=19.

Health (2025)₃₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₄
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
31	Cuba	64.7
32	Israel	65.2
33	China	65.8
34	New Zealand	66.8
35	Czechia	67.0
36	Greece	67.2
37	New Caledonia	68.1
38	Austria	68.2
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₅. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₅.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₅, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₅.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #new_zealand #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide

New Zealand does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. New Zealand comes in the best 20 in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₆ (amongst the best in Australasia) and in its average life expectancy₁₁ (amongst the highest in Australasia). It does better than average in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₇, its smoking rate₃₈, its fertility rate₁₅ (amongst the best in Australasia), its adolescent birth rate₃₉ (amongst the best in Australasia) and in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₄₀. But, things still need to improve in New Zealand. New Zealand does worse than average in terms of delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₄₁, its suicide rate₄₂, its alcohol consumption rate₄₃ (one of the highest in Australasia) and in the prevalence of overweight adults₄₄ (still low for Australasia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. 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. Its peak fertility rate was 4.31 in 1961.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
15	Canada	82.7
16	Luxembourg	82.6
17	France	82.5
18	New Zealand	82.5
19	Israel	82.3
20	Finland	82.0
21	Ireland	82.0
22	Belgium	81.9
	Australasia Avg	70.11
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₄₃
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
155=	Denmark	10.4
156=	Cook Islands	10.6
156=	Australia	10.6
158=	New Zealand	10.7
158=	Finland	10.7
160=	Uruguay	10.8
160=	Cyprus	10.8
162	Serbia	11.1
	Australasia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
50	Azerbaijan	1.67
51	USA	1.67
52	Honduras	2.34
53	New Zealand	1.66
54	S. Africa	2.34
55	Turks & Caicos Islands	1.66
56	Guatemala	2.35
57	Barbados	1.63
	Australasia Avg	2.82
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₈
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
44	Canada	12.1%
45	Brazil	12.2%
46	Congo, DR	12.2%
47	New Zealand	12.3%
48	Honduras	12.4%
49	Bolivia	12.4%
50	Qatar	12.5%
51	Sierra Leone	12.9%
	Australasia Avg	29.2%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₄₂
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₄₂
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
133	Uzbekistan	11.41
134	Denmark	11.66
135	Norway	12.03
136	New Zealand	12.10
137	Trinidad & Tobago	12.23
138	Samoa	12.44
139=	Iceland	12.55
139=	Botswana	12.55
	Australasia Avg	13.23
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
14	UAE	14
15	Saudi Arabia	15
16	Belgium	16
17	New Zealand	17
18	Jordan	18
19	S. Korea	19
20	Kuwait	20
21	Japan	21
	Australasia Avg	94.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₄₄
Pos.		1976 %₄₄
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
165	Ukraine	42.2
166	Australia	42.4
167	Lithuania	42.6
168	New Zealand	42.7
169	Russia	43.8
170=	Belgium	43.9
170=	Estonia	43.9
172	Hungary	44.0
	Australasia Avg	48.8
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₅
Pos.		2022 %₄₅
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
158	Bermuda	34.0%
159	Antigua & Barbuda	34.1%
160	Jamaica	34.2%
161	New Zealand	34.2%
162	Turkey	34.3%
163	Malta	34.6%
164	Uruguay	34.7%
165	Jordan	35.6%
	Australasia Avg	49.3%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₉
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
53	Malta	11.5
54	Algeria	11.6
55	Saudi Arabia	11.6
56	New Zealand	11.8
57	Serbia	14.4
58	Albania	14.5
59	Russia	14.5
60	USA	15.1
	Australasia Avg	40.2
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₄₁
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₄₁
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
111	Bonaire	91.8
112=	Solomon Islands	91.6
112=	Bahamas	91.6
112=	New Zealand	91.6
112=	Zambia	91.6
112=	Lithuania	91.6
117	Lesotho	91.4
118	Samoa	91.3
	Australasia Avg	90.0
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₄₀
Pos.		2015 Avg %₄₀
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
93	Burundi	93.3
94	Chile	93.3
95	Georgia	93.1
96	New Zealand	92.9
97	Nauru	92.9
98	USA	92.8
99	Latvia	92.8
100	Romania	92.7
	Australasia Avg	86.4
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₇
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
36	Hungary	5.12
37	Canada	5.40
38	Latvia	5.56
39	New Zealand	5.66
40	Cuba	6.25
41	Slovakia	6.31
42	Serbia	6.52
43	Malta	6.58
	Australasia Avg	25.09
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. New Zealand's Responsibility Towards The Environment

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

Compared to Australasia (2025)₄₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₆
1	New Zealand	75.8
2	Australia	76.6
3	Fiji	89.1
4	Vanuatu	93.0
5	Tonga	96.1
6	Papua New Guinea	104.5
7	Samoa	107.0
8	Kiribati	111.4
9	Micronesia	114.6
10	Cook Islands	119.6
11	Solomon Islands	121.6
12	Marshall Islands	123.1
13	Palau	124.5
	Australasia Avg	109.27
q=16.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₆
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₆
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
74	Belgium	75.3
75	Cape Verde	75.6
76	Afghanistan	75.7
77	New Zealand	75.8
78	Bulgaria	75.8
79	Malawi	76.0
80	Benin	76.5
81	Australia	76.6
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₇. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

The best in Australasia with regard to its responsibility towards the environment, New Zealand comes 77th in the world. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. New Zealand comes in the best 20 when it comes to its environmental performance₄₈ (the highest in Australasia). It does better than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₉. New Zealand does not succeed in everything, however. New Zealand does worse than average in its score on the Green Future Index₅₀ (yet still the best in Australasia), energy to GDP efficiency₅₁ (yet still the lowest in Australasia), the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₅₂ (yet still amongst the best in Australasia) and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₅₃.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₉
Pos.		Total₄₉
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
79	Germany	0.6%
80	Norway	0.6%
81	Cyprus	0.5%
82	New Zealand	0.4%
83	Slovenia	0.4%
84	Wallis & Futuna	0.3%
85	Japan	0.2%
86	Niue	0.2%
	Australasia Avg	0.1%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₈
Pos.		2018₄₈
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
14	Norway	77.5
15	Belgium	77.4
16	Italy	77.0
17	New Zealand	76.0
18	Netherlands	75.5
19	Israel	75.0
20	Japan	74.7
21	Australia	74.1
	Australasia Avg	55.2
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₅₁
Pos.		2022 Avg₅₁
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
103	Greece	1.20
104	Algeria	1.20
105	Ecuador	1.22
106	New Zealand	1.22
107	Georgia	1.22
108	Mauritania	1.24
109	Iraq	1.24
110	Australia	1.25
	Australasia Avg	1.23
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
51	Gambia	66%
52	Hungary	66%
53	Azerbaijan	66%
54	New Zealand	66%
55	Spain	66%
56	Guatemala	66%
57	Belgium	66%
58	Papua New Guinea	66%
	Australasia Avg	48.2%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

New Zealand was one of the 30 who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on its first day and was amongst the first batch of countries who signed the Montreal Protocol on protecting the Ozone layer in 1988, whilst most others delayed until subsequent years.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₅₂
Pos.		2011 %₅₂
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
111	Kazakhstan	25.0%
112	Iraq	24.9%
113	Sweden	24.3%
114	New Zealand	24.2%
115	Poland	23.8%
116	Belarus	23.7%
117	Afghanistan	23.6%
118	Russia	23.5%
	Australasia Avg	28.0%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₅₃
Pos.		2021 kg₅₃
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
143	Grenada	78.6
144	Ireland	80.2
145	Kuwait	81.3
146	New Zealand	81.4
147	S. Korea	81.5
148	Dominica	81.6
149	Hungary	82.1
150	UK	82.3
	Australasia Avg	74.2
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

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).₅₃

Green Future Index Higher is better₅₀
Pos.		2023 Score₅₀
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
38	Brazil	4.7
39=	Romania	4.7
39=	Kenya	4.7
41	New Zealand	4.6
42=	Philippines	4.6
42=	Israel	4.6
42=	Australia	4.6
45=	Taiwan	4.5
	Australasia Avg	4.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

7. New Zealand's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2025)₅₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₄
1	New Zealand	18.2
2	Australia	26.8
3	Tonga	80.0
4	Fiji	82.1
5	Samoa	109.0
6	Kiribati	113.8
7	Marshall Islands	116.7
8	Nauru	123.9
9	Micronesia	124.5
10	Vanuatu	129.6
11	Tuvalu	138.6
12	Solomon Islands	149.7
13	Papua New Guinea	157.6
	Australasia Avg	105.42
q=13.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₅₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₄
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
8	Germany	12.8
9	Netherlands	13.1
10	Austria	14.0
11	New Zealand	18.2
12	Czechia	19.7
13	Luxembourg	20.8
14	France	21.1
15	Spain	22.2
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₅₅. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₅. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₆.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₇

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₅, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₅.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #research #science

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₈
2	Israel	4.11₅₈
3	Japan	3.58₅₈
	...
28	Luxembourg	1.26₅₈
29	Spain	1.22₅₈
30	Russia	1.19₅₈
31	New Zealand	1.17₅₉
32	Brazil	1.15₆₀
33	Malaysia	1.13₆₀
34	Turkey	1.01₅₈
35	Lithuania	0.95₆₁
	Australasia Avg	1.71
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
9	Belgium	9
10	Slovenia	10
11	Switzerland	11
12	New Zealand	12
13	Latvia	13
14	Bulgaria	14
15	Iceland	15
16	Bosnia & Herzegovina	16
	Australasia Avg	58.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2025 %₆₂
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
14=	Vatican City	100
14=	Hungary	100
14=	Germany	100
14=	New Zealand	100
14=	Denmark	100
14=	Norway	100
14=	Luxembourg	100
14=	Czechia	100
	Australasia Avg	100
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

New Zealand officially adopted metric in 1969 and it was fully metric by late 1970s: road signs, commerce, and daily life.

IQ Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2006₆₃
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
12=	Norway	100
12=	Austria	100
12=	UK	100
15=	New Zealand	99
15=	Poland	99
15=	Germany	99
15=	Finland	99
15=	Estonia	99
	Australasia Avg	98.5
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#australia #belgium #education #english #maths #new_zealand #science

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. ₆₄

Secondary Education Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2018₆₅
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
15	Armenia	97.2%
16	Hungary	97.2%
17	Palau	97.1%
18	New Zealand	96.9%
19	Switzerland	96.5%
20	Moldova	96.4%
21	Germany	96.3%
22	Russia	95.9%
	Australasia Avg	79.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2021 Years₆₆
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
4	Belgium	19.6
5	Sweden	19.4
6	Iceland	19.2
7	Finland	19.1
8	Ireland	18.9
9	Denmark	18.7
10	Netherlands	18.7
11	Grenada	18.7
12	Turkey	18.3
	Australasia Avg	13.4
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		2015 Score₆₇
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
13=	Germany	1524
13=	Netherlands	1524
15	Switzerland	1519
16	New Zealand	1517
17=	Norway	1513
17=	Denmark	1513
19	Poland	1511
20	Belgium	1508
	Australasia Avg	1512
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #technology #the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
13	Australia	96%
14=	Switzerland	96%
14=	Liechtenstein	96%
16	New Zealand	96%
17	UK	96%
18	Malaysia	96%
19	Ireland	95%
20	Oman	95%
	Australasia Avg	64.0%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₆₈
Pos.		2017 Ratio₆₈
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
22	Brazil	13.9
23	Netherlands	10.5
24	Czechia	10.1
25	New Zealand	9.7
26	Romania	8.7
27	Austria	7.5
28	Hungary	7.4
29	Guatemala	6.9
	Australasia Avg	1.55
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₆₉
Pos.		2024₆₉
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
29	Portugal	62.8%
30	Slovenia	62.3%
31	Cyprus	61.6%
32	New Zealand	61.1%
33	Croatia	61.1%
34	Malta	61.0%
35	Slovakia	60.7%
36	Hungary	60.2%
	Australasia Avg	60.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. New Zealand's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Australasia (2025)₇₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇₀
1	New Zealand	15.7
2	Australia	25.1
3	Samoa	79.1
4	Fiji	80.9
5	Vanuatu	82.1
6	Tonga	87.4
7	Solomon Islands	95.9
8	Papua New Guinea	106.8
	Australasia Avg	71.62
q=8.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₇₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₇₀
1	Denmark	10.4
2	Netherlands	11.8
3	Finland	12.2
4	Norway	13.1
5	New Zealand	15.7
6	Switzerland	16.4
7	Sweden	16.7
8	Singapore	16.8
9	Germany	18.3
10	Austria	18.9
11	Luxembourg	19.0
12	Ireland	20.2
	World Avg	80.47
q=183.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 39 datasets, including multiple decades of data on resisting corruption, Creativity and Culture, overall happiness, Open Trading, Aid and Development, passport utility (so far), personal financial stability, World Giving Index, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #denmark #freedom #happiness #internationalism #morals #new_zealand #politics

Corruption Higher is better₇₁
Pos.		2022 Points₇₁
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
4	Norway	84.0
5=	Singapore	83.0
5=	Sweden	83.0
7	Switzerland	82.0
8	Netherlands	80.0
9	Germany	79.0
10=	Ireland	77.0
10=	Luxembourg	77.0
12	Hong Kong	76.0
	Australasia Avg	55.83
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

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.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
32	Costa Rica	32
33	Serbia	33
34	S. Korea	34
35	New Zealand	35
36	Belize	36
37	Iceland	37
38	Croatia	38
39	Bulgaria	39
	Australasia Avg	61.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Happiness Higher is better₇₂
Pos.		2024 Score₇₂
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
9	Luxembourg	7.1
10	Mexico	7.0
11	Australia	7.0
12	New Zealand	7.0
13	Switzerland	6.9
14	Belgium	6.9
15	Ireland	6.9
16	Lithuania	6.8
	Australasia Avg	6.96
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
66	Benin	66
67	Lesotho	67
68	Panama	68
69	New Zealand	69
70	Tunisia	70
71	Montenegro	71
72	Ukraine	72
73	Chile	73
	Australasia Avg	91.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₇₃
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₇₃
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
17=	Norway	186.8
17=	Switzerland	186.8
17=	UK	186.8
20	New Zealand	186.7
21	Greece	186.0
22=	Czechia	185.7
22=	Malta	185.7
22=	Australia	185.7
	Australasia Avg	123.4
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Higher is better₇₄
Pos.		Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Score₇₄
1	Denmark	9.06
2	Switzerland	9.00
3	Finland	8.96
4	Netherlands	8.96
5	New Zealand	8.93
6	Australia	8.90
7	Luxembourg	8.82
8	Sweden	8.82
9	Singapore	8.78
10	Iceland	8.76
11	Japan	8.74
12	Germany	8.64
	Australasia Avg	7.29
	World Avg	6.46
q=165.

World Giving Index Higher is better₇₅
Pos.		2022 %₇₅
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
4	Australia	55.0
5	New Zealand	54.0
6	Myanmar	52.0
7=	Sierra Leone	51.0
7=	Canada	51.0
9	Zambia	50.0
10=	Ukraine	49.0
10=	Ireland	49.0
12=	Czechia	48.0
	Australasia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

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

Global Peace Index Lower is better₇₆
Pos.		2023 Score₇₆
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
4	New Zealand	1.31
5	Austria	1.32
6	Singapore	1.33
7	Portugal	1.33
8	Slovenia	1.33
9	Japan	1.34
10	Switzerland	1.34
11	Canada	1.35
12	Czechia	1.38
	Australasia Avg	1.64
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
30	Paraguay	30
31	Jordan	31
32	India	32
33	New Zealand	33
34	Malaysia	34
35	S. Korea	35
36	Qatar	36
37	Germany	37
	Australasia Avg	88.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
16	France	16
17	Cyprus	17
18	Slovenia	18
19	New Zealand	19
20	Luxembourg	20
21	Ireland	21
22	Costa Rica	22
23	Thailand	23
	Australasia Avg	103.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₇₇
Pos.		2019 Score₇₇
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
26=	Moldova	0.12
26=	Serbia	0.12
26=	Estonia	0.12
29	New Zealand	0.14
30	Uruguay	0.17
31	Dominican Rep.	0.18
32	Hungary	0.18
33	Switzerland	0.19
	Australasia Avg	1.38
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₇₈
Pos.		2019₇₈
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
30	Hungary	4.20
31=	Croatia	4.30
31=	Poland	4.30
31=	New Zealand	4.30
34	Belarus	4.40
35=	Canada	4.60
35=	Malta	4.60
37	Serbia	4.90
	Australasia Avg	13.47
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

Disbelief In God (2007)₇₉
Pos.		Higher is better %₇₉
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
19	Russia	27
20	Australia	25
21	Taiwan	24
22=	New Zealand	22
22=	Canada	22
24=	Latvia	20
24=	Ukraine	20
24=	Mongolia	20
27	Austria	18
28=	Slovakia	17
28=	Switzerland	17
28=	Belarus	17
31=	Greece	16
31=	Iceland	16
33=	Spain	15
33=	Israel	15
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₀:

	2010	2020
Unaffiliated	44.2%	51.4%
Christian	49.1%	40.3%
Other	1.51%	2.87%
Hindu	2.34%	2.79%
Muslim	1.2%	1.36%
Buddhist	1.52%	1.19%
Jewish	0.143%	0.111%

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)₈₁.

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