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Hong Kong vs New Zealand
Side-by-side comparison of Hong Kong and New Zealand from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
New Zealand
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 185 years
In short
Hong Kong scores 84.3 in the NationsTree Index (2nd in the world) and New Zealand scores 68.4 (40th), a gap of 15.9 points. Their trees are 17 m and 11 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Hong Kong has 41% more people than New Zealand. New Zealand is 241 times larger than Hong Kong by land area. The economy of Hong Kong is 97% larger than that of New Zealand (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Hong Kong 7.5 million and New Zealand 5.3 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $80,423 in Hong Kong and $57,350 in New Zealand (2025, international dollars). People in Hong Kong live on average 3.4 years longer (85.4 vs 82.0 years).
Of 28 indicators reported by both countries, Hong Kong ranks higher in the world on 17 and New Zealand on 11. Hong Kong is clearly stronger in trade, economy and tourism. New Zealand is clearly stronger in environment & energy, natural resources and main industries.
As a nation, New Zealand is the older of the two (statehood since 1841, 185 years), compared with Hong Kong (since 1997). Over the last five years Hong Kong improved faster (direction score 95 vs 7 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Hong Kong
48.1
130th of 205
New Zealandbetter
87.3
5th of 205
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Hong Kong
0.4%
200th of 212
New Zealandbetter
28.9%
82nd of 212
General government gross debtEconomy
Hong Kongbetter
12.1%
10th of 189
New Zealand
54.7%
101st of 189
GDP growthEconomy
Hong Kongbetter
3.5%
98th of 210
New Zealand
0.5%
189th of 210
Homicide rateInstitutions & safety
Hong Kongbetter
0.4
9th of 145
New Zealand
1.5
57th of 145
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Hong Kong overtook New Zealand in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Hong Kong has been ahead of New Zealand in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Hong KongNew Zealand All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Hong Kong | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,110177th/216 · 2024 | 267,71075th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,050176th/216 · 2024 | 263,31075th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 7.5 m104th/217 · 2025 | 5.3 m124th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.34%192nd/217 · 2025 | 0.65%125th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 7,165.84th/216 · 2024 | 20.1185th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 100.0%1st/217 · 2025 | 84.0%48th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 10.3%216th/217 · 2025 | 17.9%143rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 23.7%9th/217 · 2025 | 17.6%54th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $427.31 bn39th/210 · 2025 | $264.06 bn53rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $603.08 bn49th/199 · 2025 | $305.37 bn68th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $515.36 bn49th/199 · 2025 | $256.82 bn69th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $56,98328th/210 · 2025 | $49,59133rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $80,42317th/199 · 2025 | $57,35041st/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $62,50018th/201 · 2025 | $46,63030th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.5%98th/210 · 2025 | 0.5%189th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.4%46th/180 · 2025 | 2.8%84th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.8%32nd/187 · 2025 | 5.1%91st/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 52.0%26th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 12.1%10th/189 · 2025 | 54.7%101st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.5%141st/192 · 2025 | -4.0%133rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 0.0%195th/197 · 2024 | 4.0%115th/197 · 2023 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 6.2%194th/200 · 2024 | 19.4%130th/200 · 2023 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 0.9%184th/192 · 2024 | 8.3%121st/192 · 2023 |
| Services % of GDP | 91.5%3rd/200 · 2024 | 68.2%40th/200 · 2023 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $853.59 bn12th/182 · 2025 | $64.60 bn59th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $841.32 bn10th/182 · 2025 | $67.87 bn58th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 199.8%1st/183 · 2025 | 24.7%126th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 196.9%1st/183 · 2025 | 26.0%148th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 396.6%1st/183 · 2025 | 50.7%142nd/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%136th/170 · 2025 | 0.9%121st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 85.7%11th/171 · 2025 | 14.0%122nd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%159th/171 · 2025 | 68.8%16th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.0%105th/171 · 2025 | 3.3%81st/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 75.6%3rd/168 · 2024 | 13.0%55th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 12.3%17th/191 · 2025 | -3.0%116th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 28.3%5th/196 · 2025 | 1.3%131st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%183rd/209 · 2021 | 1.5%105th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%116th/197 · 2021 | 0.10%75th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.29%48th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.03%40th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.10%72nd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%174th/209 · 2021 | 0.97%56th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 1.9%171st/206 · 2024 | 2.0%170th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | — | 64,3499th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 3.6 m49th/194 · 2020 | 996,00098th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $32.70 bn4th/175 · 2019 | $10.96 bn17th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 5.1%86th/168 · 2019 | 18.8%35th/168 · 2018 |
| Outbound trips departures | 8.3 m23rd/107 · 2020 | 511,00077th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 85.43rd/217 · 2024 | 82.035th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | — | 4.736th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.321995 | 3.6141st/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | — | 2.572nd/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | — | 89%110th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 80.6%70th/153 · 2022 | 81.9%69th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 107.2%34th/173 · 2024 | 114.2%22nd/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 35.8%14th/217 · 2025 | 27.3%52nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | — | 10.1%28th/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 120.1%4th/150 · 2024 | 77.2%35th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9558th/193 · 2023 | 0.93817th/193 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 100.0%1st/150 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 94.8%26th/144 · 2024 | 88.8%40th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 95.8%23rd/186 · 2024 | 93.5%37th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 3652nd/210 · 2024 | 13059th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 40.326th/208 · 2024 | 38.031st/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.0014th/164 · 2022 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 23082nd/82 · 2021 | 3,9081998 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 25.7 m31st/161 · 2023 | 15.0 m44th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 4.60146th/203 · 2024 | 6.01162nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 0.4%200th/212 · 2021 | 28.9%82nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | — | 6.924th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | — | 38.9%83rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,44378th/149 · 2024 | 3,57224th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 83.818th/205 · 2025 | 90.77th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 81.115th/207 · 2025 | 86.18th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 74.140th/207 · 2025 | 85.99th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.261st/207 · 2025 | 86.329th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 83.39th/205 · 2025 | 87.42nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 48.1130th/205 · 2025 | 87.35th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.49th/145 · 2023 | 1.557th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | — | $2.86 bn57th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | — | 1.1%107th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | — | 2.7%127th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | — | 10,000131st/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | — | 0.35%140th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 200.0 m39th/163 · 2024 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 20.0 m43rd/65 · 2023 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.13%37th/110 · 2024 | 1.55%28th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 49544th/137 · 2024 | 27855th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | — | 8,09651st/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Hong Kong or New Zealand?
Hong Kong has the larger population: 7.5 m (2025) compared with 5.3 m for New Zealand (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Hong Kong or New Zealand?
New Zealand is larger: 267,710 km² (2024) compared with 1,110 km² for Hong Kong (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Hong Kong or New Zealand?
Hong Kong has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $603.08 bn intl. (2025) compared with $305.37 bn intl. for New Zealand (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Hong Kong or New Zealand?
Hong Kong has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $80,423 intl. (2025) compared with $57,350 intl. for New Zealand (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Hong Kong or New Zealand?
Hong Kong has the higher life expectancy at birth: 85.4 years (2024) compared with 82.0 years for New Zealand (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Hong Kong or New Zealand?
Hong Kong: 84.3 points (2nd in the world); New Zealand: 68.4 points (40th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Australia
Cambodia
MacaoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Hong Kong vs New Zealand — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/hong-kong-vs-new-zealand. Data as of 26 October 2026.