New Zealand: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026

News •

Max Llewellyn: Wales centre inspired by Sonny Bill Williams ahead of All Blacks • Nov. 11, 2026, 11:29 AM ET (BBC)

Conservative bloc takes a slim lead in New Zealand election that's still too close to call • Nov. 7, 2026, 6:44 AM ET (AP)

New Zealand's military chief resigns after admitting to an inappropriate relationship • Oct. 23, 2026, 12:42 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Dominion of New Zealand • Aotearoa
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Christopher Luxon
Capital	Wellington
Population	(2026 est.) 5,475,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 1.803 New Zealand dollar
Head Of State	British Monarch: King Charles III, represented by Governor-General: Dame Alcyion Cynthia (Cindy) Kiro
Form Of Government	constitutional monarchy with one legislative house (House of Representatives [120])
Official Languages	English; Māori; New Zealand Sign Language¹
Official Religion	none
Official Name	New Zealand (English); Aotearoa (Māori)
Total Area (Sq Km)	265,700
Total Area (Sq Mi)	102,587
Monetary Unit	New Zealand dollar (NZ$)
Population Rank	(2026) 122
Population Projection 2030	5,283,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 53.4
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 20.6
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2018) 83.7% • Rural: (2018) 16.3%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2025) 80.4 years • Female: (2025) 83.7 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 251,585
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 47,580
¹Became official August 10, 2006.

Did You Know?

New Zealand's government built "castaway depots" on islands to provide future shipwreck survivors with food, shelter, and supplies.
Some of New Zealand's coins feature characters from The Hobbit.
New Zealand was the first country to allow women to vote in 1893.
New Zealand's wetapunga, one of the heaviest insects in the world, can weigh more than a sparrow.

Photos and Videos

Map of New Zealand showing the North and South Islands with major cities, towns, and political boundaries labeled. The map includes Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other key locations, and features a locator inset highlighting New Zealand's position in the southwestern Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia.

Wellington Harbour

Waikato River, Hamilton, New Zealand

Map showing the location of New Zealand in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia, with New Zealand highlighted and labeled along with its capital, Wellington. Nearby countries and territories, including Australia, Fiji, and New Caledonia (France), are also labeled.

Map of New Zealand showing major physical features, including the North Island and South Island, surrounding smaller islands, mountain ranges such as the Southern Alps, peaks like Mount Cook and Mount Ruapehu, major lakes, bays, and peninsulas. An inset locator map in the top left shows New Zealand's position relative to Australia and the Pacific region.

Panoramic view of Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand, showing Lyttelton port and harbor below, surrounded by green hills and mountains under a clear sky.

Franz Josef Glacier flows between steep, forested mountain slopes in Westland National Park, South Island, New Zealand, with green trees in the foreground.

Lake Harris, Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand.

How climate change affects New Zealand's glaciers

Touring New Zealand's Waitomo caves

Women farmers in New Zealand

Behold the incredible autumn scenes in Otago, southeastern South Island, New Zealand

Explore the diverse landscapes of New Zealand

God Defend New Zealand / Aotearoa

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Topics

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