International New Zealand relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 57 relations tracked

New Zealand is a sovereign island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, as well as several smaller islands. The country has a population of about 5 million people and its capital is Wellington, located on the southern tip of the North Island.

Population

4.8M#126 of 203

Land area

262.4K km²#74 of 203

GDP

$264.1B#53 of 197

Military expenditure

$3.0B#55 of 167

Global influence

#30Medium

Map legend

Closest relations Strained relations New Zealand No data

New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented in the country by a governor-general. The government is led by the prime minister, who is the leader of the political party that holds the most seats in the Parliament.

New Zealand is a member of several international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Commonwealth of Nations. It is also a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The economy of New Zealand is based largely on agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. The country is known for its production of dairy products, meat, and wool, as well as its forestry and fishing industries. It is also a popular tourist destination, with attractions such as the Southern Alps, geothermal hot springs, and Maori cultural sites.

New Zealand has a diverse culture that is influenced by its indigenous Maori population and its British colonial history. The Maori language is an official language of the country, along with English. Maori culture is an important part of New Zealand's national identity, and the country has a strong tradition of Maori art, music, and dance.

Geography & terrain

Two main mountainous islands, with the Southern Alps running the length of the South Island and volcanic terrain on the North Island. Temperate maritime climate, wetter in the west. Entirely coastal, made up of islands with no land borders. Its extreme geographic isolation in the South Pacific has made it naturally very hard to invade, historically shielded more by distance than terrain.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, New Zealand Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Wellington (217.0K people, 4.5% of total population)
Population	4.8M (#126 of 203 countries)
Land area	262.4K km² (#74 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Christianity
Life expectancy	82 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	New Zealand Dollar
Main language(s)	English, Māori
Government type	Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Time zone	UTC+12.0
GDP	$264.1B (#53 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$49.6K (#29 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+64
Driving side	Left
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	3
Military expenditure	$3.0B
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$899.6M
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$899.6M
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$1.2B
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	1.2%
Military expenditure per capita	$622
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member
Other groups	Commonwealth of Nations CPTPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)

Land borders

New Zealand has no land borders (it is an island nation or otherwise has no neighboring countries).

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #30 Medium International Influence

New Zealand's actions have a limited effect on the world or on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of New Zealand by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.