Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 08 of 18 · Country Index 2026
New Zealand: Gender & Equality
How wide is the gap between women's and men's lives?
New Zealand is placed 9th of 183 countries on gender & equality in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Women, Business and the Law 97.5 (2025); Women's Political Empowerment Index 0.937 (2025).
Share
Gender & Equality
9th
of 183 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 97.5Women, Business and the Law, 2025WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
- 0.937Women's Political Empowerment Index, 2025Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
- 20.31Firms with a Female Top Manager, 2025Firms with a female top manager (%)
- 14Social Institutions and Gender Index, 2023SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place New Zealand on gender & equality — 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.
97.5
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 97.5. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 3.125 (Afghanistan) to 100 (Sweden); the world median is 81.25.
- World median
- 81.25
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 97.5 New Zealand
Key 2 of 4
Women's Political Empowerment Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.937
Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 0.937. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.028 (Afghanistan) to 0.954 (Denmark); the world median is 0.772.
- World median
- 0.772
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 0.937 New Zealand
Key 3 of 4
Firms with a Female Top Manager
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · New Zealand’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
20.31
Firms with a female top manager (%)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 20.31. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 1.429 (Qatar) to 62.9 (Kiribati); the world median is 19.16.
- World median
- 19.16
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 20.54 Australia
Key 4 of 4
Social Institutions and Gender Index
OECD
2023 edition · data for 2023 · OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
14
SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
Lower is better
New Zealand: 14. Across the 140 countries in this edition, values run from 6.7 (Norway) to 67.4 (Mauritania); the world median is 25.2.
- World median
- 25.2
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 14 New Zealand
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.
Women, Business and the Law
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 86.88 in 2000 to 97.5 in 2025; the world median went from 63.13 to 81.25.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2025 98 81.3 2023 98 81.3 2022 98 80.3 2021 98 80.0 2020 98 79.7 2019 94 78.8 2018 94 77.5 2017 94 77.5 2016 92 76.9 2015 92 75.9 2014 92 75.6 2013 92 75.0 2012 92 73.8 2011 92 73.1 2010 92 73.1 2009 92 72.5 2008 92 71.3 2007 92 69.7 2006 92 68.8 2005 89 67.2 2004 89 66.9 2003 89 64.7 2002 87 63.8 2001 87 63.8 2000 87 63.1 Women's Political Empowerment Index
Women's political empowerment index (0–1) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 0.934 in 2000 to 0.937 in 2025; the world median went from 0.681 to 0.772.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2025 0.937 0.7715 2024 0.937 0.7745 2023 0.941 0.7755 2022 0.935 0.7825 2021 0.936 0.7785 2020 0.937 0.7755 2019 0.938 0.7665 2018 0.937 0.7715 2017 0.936 0.7710 2016 0.936 0.7780 2015 0.935 0.7755 2014 0.935 0.7795 2013 0.936 0.7730 2012 0.935 0.7740 2011 0.935 0.7650 2010 0.935 0.7610 2009 0.935 0.7515 2008 0.935 0.7505 2007 0.935 0.7380 2006 0.935 0.7290 2005 0.935 0.7350 2004 0.934 0.7205 2003 0.934 0.7160 2002 0.934 0.7150 2001 0.932 0.6950 2000 0.934 0.6810
03In context
New Zealand beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 183 countries on gender & equality, 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 183; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Women, Business and the LawWBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) | Women's Political Empowerment IndexWomen's political empowerment index (0–1) | Firms with a Female Top ManagerFirms with a female top manager (%) | Social Institutions and Gender IndexSIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 9th | 97.5 | 0.937 | 20.31 | 14 |
 Australiacompare | 23rd | 96.88 | 0.906 | 20.54 | 15.4 |
“—”: 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 183.
- New Zealand9th
- Australia23rd
Placed either side on gender & equality
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
20 more statistics filed under gender & equality, 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 median10
Statistics on which New Zealand does better than the middle country measured.
Gender Social Norms IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 91.8127.3991.81No earlier reading
New Zealand: 27.39 · world median 91.81 · People with at least one bias against gender equality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.39 to 99.92; lower is better.
Position 91st of 91 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2587.971.25No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 87.9 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 15th of 196 · derived.
Firms with Female Participation in OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 35.1258.2335.12No earlier reading
New Zealand: 58.23 · world median 35.12 · Firms with at least one woman among the owners (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.273 to 86.78; higher is better.
Position 14th of 181 · derived.
Account Ownership Among WomenWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 71.2498.5471.24▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 98.54 · world median 71.24 · Women with an account (% of women aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.91 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 13th of 139 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3666.0853.36▲ Improved since 2015
New Zealand: 66.08 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 20th of 182 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.0820.351No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 0.082 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 30th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.657.0346.65No real change since 2013
New Zealand: 7.03 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 160th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4610.8827.46▲ Improved since 2013
New Zealand: 10.88 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 160th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.9730.971▼ Worsened since 2013
New Zealand: 0.973 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 84th of 184 · derived.
Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 1.2441.3831.244▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 1.383 · world median 1.244 · Adjusted gender parity index, tertiary gross enrolment (1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.74 to 1.83; higher is better.
Position 76th of 95 · derived.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which New Zealand does worse than the middle country measured.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.996.696.9No earlier reading
New Zealand: 96.6 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.396.399.3▼ Worsened since 2013
New Zealand: 96.3 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 71st of 84 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 98098▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 0 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female-Headed HouseholdsUN DESA Population Division · 2026 · world median 33.2154.4233.21No earlier reading
New Zealand: 54.42 · world median 33.21 · Households headed by a woman (% of households). UN DESA Population Division, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 5.33 to 64.59.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1751.9938.17No earlier reading
New Zealand: 51.99 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · 2019 · world median 24.6530.524.65No earlier reading
New Zealand: 30.5 · world median 24.65 · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years). UN DESA Population Division, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 17 to 34.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.342.5435.3Moved since 2014
New Zealand: 42.54 · world median 35.3 · STEM graduates who are women (%; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.333 to 55.96.
Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 105.1105.3105.1Moved since 2013
New Zealand: 105.3 · world median 105.1 · Male births per 100 female births. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 101.1 to 116.3.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6522.820.65No earlier reading
New Zealand: 22.8 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
No current reading for New Zealand
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Women Who Think a Husband Is Justified in Hitting or Beating His Wife, Women's Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. 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
Gender & Equality among New Zealand’s 15 topics
Gender & Equality is New Zealand’s 4th 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 gender & equality
The three countries placed highest of 183, and the leaders New Zealand can most readily be measured against.
1
LatviaNorthern Europe
1st of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Marcin Szala · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
TaiwanEastern Asia
2nd of 183 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
ItalySouthern Europe
3rd of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
New Zealand9th4/4 keys
Positions out of 183 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 gender & equality: 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 gender & equality?
New Zealand is placed 9th of 183 countries on Gender & Equality in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Women, Business and the Law, Women's Political Empowerment Index, Firms with a Female Top Manager and Social Institutions and Gender Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Women, Business and the Law figure for New Zealand?
97.5 in 2025 (wBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 81.25.
What is the latest Women's Political Empowerment Index figure for New Zealand?
0.937 in 2025 (women's political empowerment index (0–1)), according to V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. The world median in the same edition was 0.772.
How have New Zealand’s gender & equality figures changed?
Women, Business and the Law rose from 86.88 in 2000 to 97.5 in 2025; Women's Political Empowerment Index rose from 0.934 in 2000 to 0.937 in 2025.
Which gender & equality statistics are missing for New Zealand?
No current reading is published for New Zealand on Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Women Who Think a Husband Is Justified in Hitting or Beating His Wife, Women's Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Violence against women is not a key here, because comparable data covers too few countries. The Gender Inequality Index is published here as context rather than as a key: its reading is driven largely by maternal and adolescent health, which moves with a country’s overall development and is already measured under Development and Health. Women’s labour force participation, women in management and child marriage are published here as context too.
How the Gender & Equality 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 gender & equality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Women, Business and the Law — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Women's Political Empowerment Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Firms with a Female Top Manager — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Social Institutions and Gender Index — OECD, OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 8 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
- Latvia — Marcin Szala, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Taiwan — xiangyang17, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Italy — Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). New Zealand: Gender & Equality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/new-zealand/gender