Atlas · Asia-Pacific · NZL
New Zealand
- Output · rank 54/187
- $259B
- People · rank 125/187
- 5.3M
- Land · rank 74/187
- 262K km²
- GDP per person
- $48,868
- Density
- 20.2 /km²
Government debt
46.3%gross debt, share of GDP
$120Boutstanding, rank 54 of 178
- Perimeter
- General government
- Basis
- Gross, not net
- Valuation
- Nominal
- Debt per person
- $22,623
- Net of assets
- 22.8%
- Source
- IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
Gross debt is 46.3%; net of the government’s financial assets it is 22.8%, a 23.5% gap.
What this number does not tell youThe most misread figure in public finance. Perimeter varies by country — the IMF notes its Fiscal Monitor tables use a narrower perimeter for China than its Article IV estimates, and published figures for Japan range from roughly 200% to 250% depending on perimeter and valuation, both citing the IMF. Debt in a currency the government issues is a fundamentally different instrument from debt it must earn or borrow to service; this ratio does not distinguish them.
Private-sector debt
- Households
- 92.8% of GDP
- Non-financial corporations
- 78.2% of GDP
- Total private
- 171.0% of GDP
Government debt is only one layer. Household and corporate borrowing is where financial fragility often actually sits — and here it totals 171.0% of GDP, larger than the public debt above.
Currency & monetary policy
Issues its own currency and sets its own policy rate — meaningful room to manage local-currency debt.
House prices
The real figure strips out inflation and is the one that tells you whether housing actually became more expensive.
Against its region and the world
Where New Zealand sits relative to the Asia-Pacific average and the world average.
GDP per person (USD)
This country48,868
Region average8,736
World average14,013
Population density (per km²)
This country20
Region average135
World average64
Debt to GDP (%)
This country46
Region average97
World average95
Major banks
Largest institutions headquartered in New Zealand, by total assets. Assets, not market value — the two rank very differently.
| Institution | Total assets | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ANZ Bank New Zealand | $130B |
| 2 | Bank of New Zealand | $90B |
All figures
- Nominal GDP
- $259B
- Share of world output
- 0.22%
- Population
- 5.3M
- Share of world population
- 0.06%
- Land area
- 262,443 km²
- Share of world land
- 0.20%
- GDP per person
- $48,868
- GDP per km²
- $986,881
- Population density
- 20.2 /km²
- Government debt
- 46.3%
- Debt outstanding
- $120B
Closest by output in Asia-Pacific
| Kazakhstan | $300B | 25.6% |
| Uzbekistan | $113B | 35.2% |
| Pakistan | $412B | 73.4% |
| Hong Kong SAR | $422B | 11.9% |
| Sri Lanka | $83B | 103.7% |
Nearest neighbours by nominal output within the same region. Third column is debt to GDP.
Where these figures come from
- Nominal GDPGross domestic product at current market prices, converted to US dollars at market exchange rates. Not adjusted for purchasing power.
- IMF World Economic Outlook
2025 estimate - PopulationTotal resident population, mid-year estimate.
- UN World Population Prospects
2025 estimate - Land areaTotal land area, excluding inland water where the source reports it separately.
- UN Statistics Division
2024 - General government gross debtGross debt of the general government sector as a share of GDP. Gross means government-held financial assets are not netted off.
- IMF World Economic Outlook / Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Bank total assetsTotal assets for the most recent reporting period: cash, loans, investments, property and equipment.
- S&P Global Market Intelligence
2026 ranking - Net government debtGovernment debt net of its financial assets, as a share of GDP.
- IMF Fiscal Monitor
2025–26 estimate - Household debtCredit to households and non-profits serving them, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Corporate debtCredit to non-financial corporations, as a share of GDP.
- BIS credit statistics
2024–25 - Exchange rate regimeHow the currency is managed: free floating, floating, pegged, currency board, or no separate legal tender.
- IMF AREAER
2025 - Central bank policy rateThe main policy interest rate set by the central bank.
- Central banks / BIS
mid-2026, live - Residential house pricesYear-on-year change in residential property prices, nominal and inflation-adjusted.
- BIS / OECD residential property
latest quarter