New Zealand

New Zealand

Australasia

Oceania
82
Overall score
Excellent overall · 95% data coverage
Language
English
Currency
NZD
Citizenship
5 years (PR-based)
Personal tax
10.5–39%
Cost of living
NZD 2,600 / mo (single)
Overall scoring rubric
89
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
93Residence12%
79Citizenship and passport5%
72
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
73Salary and work12%
71Buying power13%
72
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
60Taxes7%
84Business8%
70Investment5%
86
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
85Quality of life18%
89Education7%
97
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
98Freedom6%
97Rule of law7%

Safety (86) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Healthcare (85) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Environment (98) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Rights and institutions (97) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
82

Stunning landscapes, top-3 ease of doing business and no general capital-gains tax, with a revamped Active Investor Plus visa - though it's remote and local tech salaries trail Australia.

Pros

  • No general capital-gains tax
  • Top-ranked ease of doing business
  • Active Investor Plus visa; great lifestyle

Cons

  • Very geographically isolated
  • Lower tech salaries than Australia
  • Housing costs high

Best for

Investors & entrepreneursSkilled migrantsLifestyle-first families

Score profile

Access
Residence
93
Citizenship
73
Passport
94
Earning power
Salary & work
73
Buying power
71
Cost of living
38
Economy
76
Business and wealth
Taxes
60
Personal tax
29
Corporate tax
20
Business
84
Investment
70
Wealth building
67
Daily life
Safety
86
Healthcare
85
Environment
98
Infrastructure
82
Education
89
HDI
94
Rights and institutions
Freedom
98
Rule of law
97

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Excellent
93
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock28.2% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality1.84 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
Skilled Migrant (points)Active Investor PlusAccredited Employer Work VisaStudy → work
StudentStudent visa; up to 20 hrs/week (full-time in breaks).
WorkAccredited Employer Work Visa via approved employers.
Self-employedEntrepreneur Work Visa for founders; investor routes for capital.
PermanentPermanent Resident Visa after 2 years on a resident visa.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Good
73
Years required5 years as a resident (with strong presence requirement)
Dual allowedtrue
LanguageEnglish (sufficient for everyday use)
ResidenceResidence-class visa held ~5 years with 240+ days/yr presence
NotesPermanent residence is reached first via skilled, work-to-residence or investor pathways.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Excellent
94

Passport-index style mobility for the New Zealand passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

186 / 198
Mobility
#9
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free139
  • On arrival38
  • eTA9
  • Visa required12

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
73
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$89,558 PPP (2024)
Unemployment5.1% (2025)
Participation70.4% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)NZD 110,000–150,000 (senior dev)
FreelanceSolid contracting; smaller market than Australia
Job marketAuckland & Wellington tech hubs; Xero and a healthy SaaS scene.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
71
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$53,600 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$28,837 PPP (2022)
Price level90 (US = 100) (2025)
Inflation2.8% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Limited
38

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level90 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentNZD 1,800–2,800 (1BR Auckland)
MonthlyNZD 2,600
CitiesAuckland, Wellington, Christchurch
Economy
Economic strength
Good
76
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$264.1B (2025)
GDP / person$49,591 (2025)
GNI / person$53,600 PPP (2025)
GDP growth1.3% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation2.8% / yr (2025)
Unemployment5.1% (2025)
Output per worker$89,558 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture4.0% of GDP (2023)
Industry19.4% of GDP (2023)
Services68.2% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Agriculture & dairyTourismFood processingForestryTechnologyWine
Top exports
Dairy productsMeatWood & forestryWineFruit
TypeHigh-income, agri- and services-led
Key sectorsDairy & agribusiness, Tourism, Niche tech & screen production
SummaryA high-income economy built on world-leading dairy and agri-exports, tourism and a growing tech sector.
CurrencyNew Zealand dollar (commodity-linked)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Moderate
60
Personal10.5–39% progressive
Corporate28%
Capital gainsNo general CGT (some property 'bright-line' rules apply)
DividendsImputation credit system
Exit taxNone
Foreign cosCFC and FIF rules apply to foreign investments
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Low
29
Personal10.5–39% progressive
FreelanceSole trader simple; GST above NZD 60k
Capital gainsNo general CGT (some property 'bright-line' rules apply)
DividendsImputation credit system
Exit taxNone
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Low
20
Corporate28%
Capital gainsNo general CGT (some property 'bright-line' rules apply)
DividendsImputation credit system
Foreign cosCFC and FIF rules apply to foreign investments
Business
Business friendliness
Excellent
84
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality1.84 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness1.85 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Yes: foreign ownership permitted (OIO consent for some assets)
Local co.Company online in ~1 day; needs a resident director (NZ/AU)
FreelanceSole trader simple; GST above NZD 60k
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Good
70
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap39% of GDP (2025)
Private credit143% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsNo general CGT; FIF rules affect some foreign holdings; KiwiSaver tax-advantaged
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxNone
BrokersGood: Sharesies, Hatch, Interactive Brokers
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Good
67
How this score is calculated

How favourable New Zealand is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Good
73
Business
Excellent
84
Investment
Good
70
Tax friendliness
Moderate
60
Cost of living
Limited
38

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Excellent
86
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate1.5 per 100,000 (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption1.93 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability1.15 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Excellent
85
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy82.0 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality4.7 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians3.61 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds2.51 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$5,576 PPP / person (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemUniversal public (Te Whatu Ora) + private
InsurancePublic for residents; private optional for speed
Avg costPrivate cover ~NZD 80–150 / mo
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
98
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure6.9 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress8.0% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Excellent
82
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use93.5% (2024)
Internet resilience73 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed87 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed73 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses6.7% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.80 / 5 (2022)
Rail density14.8 km / 1,000 km² (1998)
Air connectivity33,515 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Excellent
89
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling19.3 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment77% gross (2024)
Education spending5.2% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

TuitionNZD 22,000–35,000 / yr (international)
Public uniSubsidised for domestic; international full-fee
LanguagesEnglish
Student workUp to 20 hrs/week; post-study work visa available
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
94
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.938 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy82.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling19.3 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$47,260 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Excellent
98
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World98 / 100 (Free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Excellent
97
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile97 / 100
Resources

Official references and quick links for New Zealand. Always confirm against the primary source before acting.

Official references
Quick links

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.