Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in New Zealand
New Zealand: Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP was 29.95 in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
29.95
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
149th
of 188 countries
All-time high
246.56
in 1933
All-time low
5.67
in 1863
Years of data
156
1860–2015
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in New Zealand, 1860–2015
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in New Zealand is 29.95, measured in 2015.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 61.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in New Zealand peaked at 246.56 in 1933 and was at its lowest, 5.67, in 1863.
New Zealand ranks 149th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 9.41 | — |
| 1861 | 7.79 | -17.2% |
| 1862 | 8.2 | +5.3% |
| 1863 | 5.67 | -30.9% |
| 1864 | 11.77 | +107.7% |
| 1865 | 21.04 | +78.8% |
| 1866 | 22.22 | +5.6% |
| 1867 | 22.31 | +0.4% |
| 1868 | 23.94 | +7.3% |
| 1869 | 39.15 | +63.6% |
| 1870 | 45.84 | +17.1% |
| 1871 | 53.74 | +17.2% |
| 1872 | 55.61 | +3.5% |
| 1873 | 50.19 | -9.8% |
| 1874 | 51.52 | +2.7% |
| 1875 | 64.24 | +24.7% |
| 1876 | 62.8 | -2.2% |
| 1877 | 71.22 | +13.4% |
| 1878 | 67.53 | -5.2% |
| 1879 | 69.83 | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 90.44 | +29.5% |
| 1881 | 91.87 | +1.6% |
| 1882 | 92.83 | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 95.67 | +3.1% |
| 1884 | 103.63 | +8.3% |
| 1885 | 104.77 | +1.1% |
| 1886 | 116.65 | +11.3% |
| 1887 | 123.06 | +5.5% |
| 1888 | 126.35 | +2.7% |
| 1889 | 129.87 | +2.8% |
| 1890 | 119.65 | -7.9% |
| 1891 | 121.7 | +1.7% |
| 1892 | 120.96 | -0.6% |
| 1893 | 120.49 | -0.4% |
| 1894 | 125.58 | +4.2% |
| 1895 | 132.68 | +5.7% |
| 1896 | 136.47 | +2.9% |
| 1897 | 128.13 | -6.1% |
| 1898 | 129.49 | +1.1% |
| 1899 | 132.06 | +2.0% |
| 1900 | 124.41 | -5.8% |
| 1901 | 119.15 | -4.2% |
| 1902 | 129.79 | +8.9% |
| 1903 | 124.47 | -4.1% |
| 1904 | 119.84 | -3.7% |
| 1905 | 120.73 | +0.8% |
| 1906 | 109.87 | -9.0% |
| 1907 | 99.54 | -9.4% |
| 1908 | 95.9 | -3.7% |
| 1909 | 110.06 | +14.8% |
| 1910 | 112.09 | +1.8% |
| 1911 | 106.49 | -5.0% |
| 1912 | 105.72 | -0.7% |
| 1913 | 112.01 | +6.0% |
| 1914 | 118.58 | +5.9% |
| 1915 | 106.01 | -10.6% |
| 1916 | 102.65 | -3.2% |
| 1917 | 116.52 | +13.5% |
| 1918 | 128.11 | +10.0% |
| 1919 | 137.66 | +7.5% |
| 1920 | 132.65 | -3.6% |
| 1921 | 117.67 | -11.3% |
| 1922 | 136.3 | +15.8% |
| 1923 | 155.13 | +13.8% |
| 1924 | 146.2 | -5.8% |
| 1925 | 142.26 | -2.7% |
| 1926 | 145.88 | +2.5% |
| 1927 | 164.14 | +12.5% |
| 1928 | 171.03 | +4.2% |
| 1929 | 163.31 | -4.5% |
| 1930 | 164.31 | +0.6% |
| 1931 | 190.18 | +15.7% |
| 1932 | 233.13 | +22.6% |
| 1933 | 246.56 | +5.8% |
| 1934 | 235.98 | -4.3% |
| 1935 | 205.06 | -13.1% |
| 1936 | 179.97 | -12.2% |
| 1937 | 147.95 | -17.8% |
| 1938 | 135.75 | -8.2% |
| 1939 | 129.61 | -4.5% |
| 1940 | 128.07 | -1.2% |
| 1941 | 128.75 | +0.5% |
| 1942 | 131.29 | +2.0% |
| 1943 | 137.15 | +4.5% |
| 1944 | 139.38 | +1.6% |
| 1945 | 147.22 | +5.6% |
| 1946 | 147.55 | +0.2% |
| 1947 | 140.87 | -4.5% |
| 1948 | 124.27 | -11.8% |
| 1949 | 129.5 | +4.2% |
| 1950 | 121.05 | -6.5% |
| 1951 | 94.74 | -21.7% |
| 1952 | 89.58 | -5.4% |
| 1953 | 87.37 | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 83.37 | -4.6% |
| 1955 | 77.62 | -6.9% |
| 1956 | 74.28 | -4.3% |
| 1957 | 72.86 | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 70.29 | -3.5% |
| 1959 | 70.36 | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 68.05 | -3.3% |
| 1961 | 64.61 | -5.1% |
| 1962 | 64.97 | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 64.49 | -0.7% |
| 1964 | 61.78 | -4.2% |
| 1965 | 59.63 | -3.5% |
| 1966 | 58.19 | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 59.72 | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 62.56 | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 62.58 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 56.04 | -10.5% |
| 1971 | 51.56 | -8.0% |
| 1972 | 46.36 | -10.1% |
| 1973 | 44.34 | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 40.6 | -8.4% |
| 1975 | 41.6 | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 47.63 | +14.5% |
| 1977 | 44.6 | -6.4% |
| 1978 | 49.99 | +12.1% |
| 1979 | 52.01 | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 52.27 | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 50.53 | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 51.56 | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 59.64 | +15.7% |
| 1984 | 62.8 | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 71.79 | +14.3% |
| 1986 | 70.67 | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 76.05 | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 62.35 | -18.0% |
| 1989 | 58.4 | -6.3% |
| 1990 | 61.71 | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 60.06 | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 64.58 | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 63.1 | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 57.05 | -9.6% |
| 1995 | 50.65 | -11.2% |
| 1996 | 44.78 | -11.6% |
| 1997 | 36.99 | -17.4% |
| 1998 | 37.61 | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 35.83 | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 26.72 | -25.4% |
| 2001 | 25.07 | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 23.5 | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 21.98 | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 20.03 | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 18.5 | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 16.37 | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 14.51 | -11.4% |
| 2008 | 16.89 | +16.4% |
| 2009 | 21.65 | +28.2% |
| 2010 | 26.87 | +24.1% |
| 2011 | 31.54 | +17.4% |
| 2012 | 31.95 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 30.8 | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 30.32 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 29.95 | -1.2% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 29.95 is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.98, 57% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 29.95 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 37.64, 80% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1864 | +107.7% | 5.67 | 11.77 |
| 1865 | +78.8% | 11.77 | 21.04 |
| 1869 | +63.6% | 23.94 | 39.15 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 17.15 | 5.67 | 39.15 | 10 |
| 1870s | 59.25 | 45.84 | 71.22 | 10 |
| 1880s | 107.51 | 90.44 | 129.87 | 10 |
| 1890s | 126.72 | 119.65 | 136.47 | 10 |
| 1900s | 115.38 | 95.9 | 129.79 | 10 |
| 1910s | 114.58 | 102.65 | 137.66 | 10 |
| 1920s | 147.46 | 117.67 | 171.03 | 10 |
| 1930s | 186.85 | 129.61 | 246.56 | 10 |
| 1940s | 135.41 | 124.27 | 147.55 | 10 |
| 1950s | 84.15 | 70.29 | 121.05 | 10 |
| 1960s | 62.66 | 58.19 | 68.05 | 10 |
| 1970s | 47.47 | 40.6 | 56.04 | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.61 | 50.53 | 76.05 | 10 |
| 1990s | 51.24 | 35.83 | 64.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.52 | 14.51 | 26.72 | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.24 | 26.87 | 31.95 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 146 Papua New Guinea 30.55 compare
- 147 Haiti 30.1 compare
- 148 Syrian Arab Republic 30.02 compare
- 150 Nicaragua 29.4 compare
- 151 Cameroon 29.01 compare
- 152 Azerbaijan 28.32 compare
More external debt data for New Zealand
- Other investment, Debt instruments 29.41 billion US dollar (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 0.9582 % change on previous year (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 5,523 US dollar per person (2025)
- Other investment, Debt instruments (Assets, Positions, US dollar) 0.1114 US dollar per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 104.01 billion (2025)
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government, Percent of -0.0081 (2030)
- Primary net lending (+) / net borrowing (-), General government 2 (2030)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 5.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross debt, General government, Percent of GDP 53 (2030)
- Liabilities, International Liquidity, Liabilities to Nonresidents 19,534 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in New Zealand?
- Gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp in New Zealand was 29.95 in 2015, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 246.56 in 1933.
- What is the lowest gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.67 in 1863.
- How does New Zealand rank for gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp?
- New Zealand ranks 149th out of 188 countries with data for 2015.
- Is gross debt, general government, percent of fiscal year gdp rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Gross debt, General government, Percent of fiscal year GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The Historical Public Debt Database contains unbalanced panel data on Gross Domestic Product, Gross Government Debt, and Debt to GDP Ratio for 187 countries. The series spans the years 1800 through 2015 although each country’s data depends on its date of independence and data availability.