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Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
New Zealand: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
New Zealand is placed 12th of 193 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 111.86 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 85.98 (2024).
Energy
12th
of 193 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place New Zealand on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Ember
Why it is a key: How much greenhouse gas a country's power stations emit for every unit of electricity they produce.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
111.86
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
New Zealand: 111.86. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 23.49 (Ethiopia) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 468.81.
- World median
- 468.81
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 111.86 New Zealand
Each grey tick is one of 193 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 2 of 3
Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Ember
Why it is a key: How much of the electricity a country generates already comes from renewable sources.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
85.98
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 85.98. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 31.14.
- World median
- 31.14
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 85.98 New Zealand
Each grey tick is one of 193 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
Why it is a key: How a country's energy system balances security of supply, affordability and environmental impact — three pressures that trade off against one another.
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
79.6
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 9th of 99 by World Energy Council
New Zealand: 79.6. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 79.6 New Zealand
Each grey tick is one of 126 countries in the 2023 edition.
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.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand fell from 184.53 in 2000 to 111.86 in 2024; the world median went from 535.09 to 468.81.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2024 111.9 468.81 2023 87.4 483.79 2022 103.3 478.89 2021 145.1 477.79 2020 142.1 493.42 2019 133.5 500.00 2018 123.6 516.24 2017 131.9 532.77 2016 114.8 526.94 2015 142.8 533.89 2014 148.6 525.61 2013 177.0 527.42 2012 198.2 532.82 2011 165.7 533.91 2010 179.1 523.24 2009 196.8 536.89 2008 246.7 529.83 2007 226.8 547.13 2006 249.1 543.43 2005 253.9 540.07 2004 204.2 541.41 2003 231.1 562.29 2002 197.8 551.28 2001 230.1 547.67 2000 184.5 535.09 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 71.75 in 2000 to 85.98 in 2024; the world median went from 14.98 to 31.14.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2024 85.98 31.136 2023 89.63 26.890 2022 86.94 27.359 2021 81.72 24.983 2020 80.92 25.000 2019 82.42 23.341 2018 83.40 22.936 2017 81.22 19.936 2016 84.33 20.000 2015 80.08 18.557 2014 79.10 19.081 2013 74.19 18.562 2012 71.73 16.909 2011 75.99 16.188 2010 73.12 16.875 2009 71.69 15.276 2008 64.23 14.901 2007 65.49 14.229 2006 64.78 14.041 2005 64.41 14.768 2004 72.39 13.794 2003 66.09 13.498 2002 69.63 12.500 2001 63.65 13.889 2000 71.76 14.977
03In context
New Zealand beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 193 countries on energy, never a place within the region.
1st193rdNot placed · 31 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
New Zealand and Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. The standing is each country’s place among all 193 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12th | 111.86 | 85.98 | 79.6 |
 Australia | 77th | 553.96 | 35.08 | 75.7 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Australia and New Zealand
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 193.
- New Zealand12th
- Australia77th
Placed either side on energy
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
10 more statistics filed under energy, 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 median5
Statistics on which New Zealand does better than the middle country measured.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 35.6685.9835.66No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 85.98 · world median 35.66 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 190 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2659.2433.26▼ Worsened since 2013
New Zealand: 59.24 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2363.6148.23▼ Worsened since 2013
New Zealand: 63.61 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.76910.635.769▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 10.63 · world median 5.769 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7382.6842.738▲ Improved since 2014
New Zealand: 2.684 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
Behind the world median1
Statistics on which New Zealand does worse than the middle country measured.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.216.2293.21No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 6.229 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 47th of 210 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.5117.8649.5Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 117.86 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 0 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
05Country Index 2026
Energy among New Zealand’s 15 topics
Energy is New Zealand’s 5th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Governance & Institutions2nd of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 5th of 1983/3 keys
- Peace & Security5th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equality9th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy12th of 1933/3 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 16th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour23rd of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation29th of 1764/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience37th of 1923/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge38th of 1712/4 keys
- Digital & Technology50th of 1983/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing52nd of 2003/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade49th of 1473/3 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 71st of 1754/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 122nd of 1812/3 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 energy
The three countries placed highest of 193, and the leaders New Zealand can most readily be measured against.
1
BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 193 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 193 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 193 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
New Zealand12th3/3 keys
Positions out of 193 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.
07Questions
New Zealand on energy: 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 energy?
New Zealand is placed 12th of 193 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for New Zealand?
111.86 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 468.81.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for New Zealand?
85.98 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 31.14.
How have New Zealand’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 184.53 in 2000 to 111.86 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 71.75 in 2000 to 85.98 in 2024.
08Keep reading
Explore further
New Zealand, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions2nd of 194
- Economy & Innovation29th of 176
- Work & Labour23rd of 182
- Education & Knowledge38th of 171
- Health & Wellbeing52nd of 200
- Development & Human Capital=16th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability=122nd of 181
- Gender & Equality9th of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties=5th of 198
- Peace & Security5th of 177
- Risk & Resilience37th of 192
- Mobility & Trade49th of 147
- Food & Agriculture=71st of 175
- Digital & Technology50th of 198
- The full New Zealand profile
The key statistics, for every country
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 3 indicators on this topic are keys and 10 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2023 to 2024, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 3 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 193 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 3.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 10 statistics on this page come from 5 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
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). New Zealand: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/new-zealand/energy