Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 02 of 18 · Country Index 2026
New Zealand: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
New Zealand is placed 29th of 176 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 48,233 (2025); Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit 52.96 (2025).
Share
Economy & Innovation
29th
of 176 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 48,233GDP per Capita (PPP), 2025GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
- 52.96Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, 2025Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
- 0.523Economic Complexity Index, 2024ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
- 97.86Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, 2024Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place New Zealand on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
48,233
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 48,233. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 60,194 Australia
Key 2 of 4
Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · New Zealand’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
52.96
Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 52.96. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.
- World median
- 35.95
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 63.01 Australia
Key 3 of 4
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
0.523
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Ranked 49th of 145 by Growth Lab at Harvard University
New Zealand: 0.523. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 0.523 New Zealand
Key 4 of 4
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
97.86
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 97.86. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 98.01 Australia
02Over time
Which way New Zealand is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 35,985 in 2000 to 48,233 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2025 48,233 17,265 2024 48,325 18,108 2023 49,593 17,686 2022 49,843 16,933 2021 48,202 16,260 2020 46,326 15,631 2019 47,392 16,761 2018 46,975 16,349 2017 46,286 16,129 2016 45,746 15,512 2015 45,097 14,857 2014 44,370 14,475 2013 43,453 14,681 2012 42,693 14,631 2011 41,962 13,916 2010 41,395 14,101 2009 41,251 13,655 2008 41,682 14,030 2007 42,473 13,755 2006 41,597 12,983 2005 40,970 12,023 2004 40,091 11,608 2003 39,092 11,183 2002 38,072 11,144 2001 36,995 10,907 2000 35,985 10,589 Economic Complexity Index
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand fell from 0.623 in 2000 to 0.523 in 2024; the world median went from 0.016 to 0.131.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2024 0.523 0.1310 2023 0.473 0.0710 2022 0.485 0.0580 2021 0.439 0.0010 2020 0.429 0.0470 2019 0.472 0.0300 2018 0.460 -0.0150 2017 0.484 0.0080 2016 0.477 -0.0660 2015 0.504 -0.0600 2014 0.529 -0.0190 2013 0.557 0.0140 2012 0.577 0.0060 2011 0.565 -0.0140 2010 0.532 -0.0020 2009 0.540 0.0990 2008 0.620 0.0700 2007 0.580 -0.0080 2006 0.640 0.0740 2005 0.623 0.0510 2004 0.597 0.0505 2003 0.615 0.0450 2002 0.604 0.0100 2001 0.610 0.0470 2000 0.623 0.0160 Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand fell from 99.44 in 2011 to 97.86 in 2024; the world median went from 37.03 to 72.83.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2024 97.9 73 2021 98.8 74 2017 99.2 59 2014 99.5 52 2011 99.4 37
03In context
New Zealand beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
New Zealand and Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australiacompare | 27th | 60,194 | 63.01 | 0.131 | 98.01 |
| New Zealand | 29th | 48,233 | 52.96 | 0.523 | 97.86 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Australia and New Zealand
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.
- Australia27th
- New Zealand29th
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below New Zealand in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where New Zealand is ahead of the world, and behind
51 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median25
Statistics on which New Zealand does better than the middle country measured.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0931.854-0.093No real change since 2015
New Zealand: 1.854 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 209 · derived.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6767.5646.67No real change since 2012
New Zealand: 67.56 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 8th of 195 · derived.
Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate)World Bank Group (Prospects Group) · 2020 · world median 27.511.2227.5No real change since 2010
New Zealand: 11.22 · world median 27.5 · Informal output, model estimate (% of official GDP). World Bank Group (Prospects Group), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 7.91 to 60.43; lower is better.
New Business DensityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.18716.052.187▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 16.05 · world median 2.187 · New limited liability companies registered per 1,000 people aged 15–64. World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 26.76; higher is better.
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 46,486598,37046,486No real change since 2010
New Zealand: 598,370 · world median 46,486 · National comprehensive wealth per person (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 4,276 to 1,246,092; higher is better.
Position 12th of 150 · derived.
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 2023 · world median 63.879.663.8No earlier reading
New Zealand: 79.6 · world median 63.8 · Trilemma score (0–100). World Energy Council, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.7 to 83.2; higher is better.
Ranked 9th of 99 by World Energy Council.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8276.3965.82No earlier reading
New Zealand: 76.39 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 6th of 50 · derived.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1368.9150.13No earlier reading
New Zealand: 68.91 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 6th of 50 · derived.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80034,71012,800No real change since 2017
New Zealand: 34,710 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 21st of 173 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.8190.485▼ Worsened since 2013
New Zealand: 0.819 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 170 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.955,435701.95No earlier reading
New Zealand: 5,435 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 20th of 145 · derived.
Total Factor Productivity LevelGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.6270.8790.627▲ Improved since 2013
New Zealand: 0.879 · world median 0.627 · TFP level at current PPPs (USA = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.052 to 1.192; higher is better.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,89038,25012,890No real change since 2012
New Zealand: 38,250 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 29th of 166 · derived.
Global Innovation IndexWorld Intellectual Property Organization · 2025 · world median 28.5245.4928.52No real change since 2022
New Zealand: 45.49 · world median 28.52 · GII score (0–100). World Intellectual Property Organization, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.94 to 65.96; higher is better.
Ranked 26th of 139 by World Intellectual Property Organization.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1962.740.19▼ Worsened since 2020
New Zealand: 62.7 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 37th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Logistics Performance IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 2.93.62.9▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 3.6 · world median 2.9 · LPI score (1–5). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.9 to 4.3; higher is better.
Ranked 26th of 139 by World Bank Group.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8141.5480.814No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 1.548 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 26th of 84 · derived.
Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 2023 · world median 16.141.7416.1No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 41.74 · world median 16.1 · Value added per cubic metre of freshwater withdrawn (constant US$ per m³). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 1,378; higher is better.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.2188.2456.21▼ Worsened since 2016
New Zealand: 88.24 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 61st of 175 by UNCTAD.
Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3955.4352.39No earlier reading
New Zealand: 55.43 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 169 · derived.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23108.2106.23▲ Improved since 2012
New Zealand: 108.2 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 80th of 195 · derived.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.3899.8628.389No real change since 2011
New Zealand: 9.862 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 51st of 118 · derived.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.867.5166.8No earlier reading
New Zealand: 67.51 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 50 · derived.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9751.230.975No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 1.23 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 57th of 119 · derived.
Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.4226.6825.42▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 26.68 · world median 25.42 · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.377 to 87.15; higher is better.
Position 84th of 170 · derived.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which New Zealand does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8145.741.81No earlier reading
New Zealand: 45.7 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 78th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
ICT Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 7.4746.1157.474No real change since 2015
New Zealand: 6.115 · world median 7.474 · ICT services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 56.25; higher is better.
Position 72nd of 118 · derived.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08100.57106.08No real change since 2012
New Zealand: 100.57 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 134th of 195 · derived.
Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.46.27410.4No earlier reading
New Zealand: 6.274 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.0699107.06No real change since 2012
New Zealand: 99 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 146th of 194 · derived.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3960.4633.396▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 0.463 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 172nd of 186 · derived.
No better end20
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.952,673657.95No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 2,673 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Price Level of Household ConsumptionGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.5231.0210.523Moved since 2013
New Zealand: 1.021 · world median 0.523 · Price level of household consumption (US output price level in 2021 = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.177 to 65.54.
Statutory Corporate Income Tax RateOECD · 2026 · world median 242824Moved since 2016
New Zealand: 28 · world median 24 · Combined statutory corporate income tax rate, central and sub-central government (%). OECD, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 36.13.
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)OECD · 2024 · world median 21.8532.8921.85Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 32.89 · world median 21.85 · Total tax revenue, all levels of government (% of GDP). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.11 to 45.18.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,24015,7772,240Moved since 2022
New Zealand: 15,777 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Creative Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 6.17113.056.171Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 13.05 · world median 6.171 · Creative services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.002 to 63.91.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1780.9967.17Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 80.99 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.
Container Port TrafficUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1,827,7883,371,1751,827,788Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 3,371,175 · world median 1,827,788 · Container port traffic (TEU, twenty-foot equivalent units). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 17,263 to 299,703,800.
Position 39th of 103 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Complexity Outlook IndexGrowth Lab at Harvard University · 2024 · world median -0.2250.082-0.225Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 0.082 · world median -0.225 · Complexity Outlook Index (standardised; roughly −2.5 to +3). Growth Lab at Harvard University, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -1.682 to 2.878.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.23105.43103.23Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 105.43 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.
Inflation, GDP DeflatorWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3063.6233.306Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 3.623 · world median 3.306 · Annual change in the GDP implicit deflator (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -7.93 to 227.09.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7081.4941.708No real change since 2011
New Zealand: 1.494 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 101st of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.73157.04275.73Moved since 2016
New Zealand: 157.04 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.
Creative Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1.2350.7281.235Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 0.728 · world median 1.235 · Creative goods exports (% of merchandise exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.23.
Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.6027.499.602Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 7.49 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.0618.9522.06Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 18.95 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 94th of 146 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.661.73.66Moved since 2012
New Zealand: 1.7 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.2010.306Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 0.201 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.
Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.9680.9741.968Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 0.974 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.
Foreign Value Added Share of Gross ExportsOECD · 2022 · world median 27.4114.6827.41Moved since 2012
New Zealand: 14.68 · world median 27.41 · Foreign value added (% of gross exports). OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 4.491 to 66.08.
No current reading for New Zealand
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2023), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2022), Debt Service on External Debt, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption (last 2024), Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2022), GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) (last 2024), Household Consumption (last 2024), Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) (last 2023), Interest Payments on External Debt, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2023), Palma Ratio and Trade (% of GDP) (last 2024). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among New Zealand’s 15 topics
Economy & Innovation is New Zealand’s 9th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Governance & Institutions2nd of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security5th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties7th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equality9th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy11th of 1653/3 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 16th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour23rd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience26th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation29th of 1764/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade41st of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology52nd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing53rd of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge64th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture60th of 1844/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability129th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders New Zealand can most readily be measured against.
1
AustriaWestern Europe
1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
GermanyWestern Europe
3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia27th4/4 keysThis page
New Zealand29th4/4 keys
Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about New Zealand and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
New Zealand on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does New Zealand rank on economy & innovation?
New Zealand is placed 29th of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP), Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, Economic Complexity Index and Account Ownership at a Financial Institution). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for New Zealand?
48,233 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for New Zealand?
52.96 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.
How have New Zealand’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 35,985 in 2000 to 48,233 in 2025; Economic Complexity Index fell from 0.623 in 2000 to 0.523 in 2024; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution fell from 99.44 in 2011 to 97.86 in 2024.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for New Zealand?
No current reading is published for New Zealand on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Debt Service on External Debt, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), GNI per Capita (PPP), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP), Household Consumption, Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP), Interest Payments on External Debt, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Palma Ratio and Trade (% of GDP). They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 51 statistics on this page come from 14 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
New Zealand’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- New Zealand (banner) — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Germany — dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). New Zealand: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/new-zealand/economy