Measure
Snapshot
New Zealand
Ranked 13 of 26 for comprehensive power, with an overall score of 17.8 out of 100.
Lost 1.2 points (−6% change) in overall score in 2021.
Measure
Analysis
New Zealand is a middle power in Asia.
The country’s overall score declined by 1.2 points compared to 2020.
New Zealand performs best in the resilience and defence networks measures, where it places 6th for both. Its lowest ranking, in 18th place, occurs in the future resources measure.
In 2021, New Zealand saw its greatest improvement in its economic capability and future resources, where it moved up one place for both. However, it has also slipped by one place in the economic relationships measure, where New Zealand was surpassed by Indonesia.
New Zealand exerts more influence in the region than expected given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s positive power gap score. While New Zealand is a net overachiever in Asia, its positive power gap deteriorated in 2021.
Read more analysis in the Key Findings report . Explore further results in the Scores section.
Annual changes
Bilateral Influence
Bilateral trade, current dollars (2020)
Countries that influence New Zealand
Globally, which countries does New Zealand do most of its trade with?
Countries influenced by New Zealand
Which countries in the region rely most on trade with New Zealand?
Scores
Comprehensive power
A country’s weighted average across eight measures of power
13th
17.8
Rank
Change
Trend
Score
Economic capability
Economic size and attributes with the most geopolitical relevance
14th
+1
6.7
Military capability
Conventional military strength
15th
10.6
Resilience
Capacity to deter real or potential threats to state stability
6th
44.7
Future resources
Projected distribution of future economic, military and demographic resources
18th
+1
3.4
Economic relationships
The capacity to exercise influence and leverage through economic interdependencies
13th
−1
10.2
Defence networks
Defence partnerships that act as force multipliers of military capability
6th
32.3
Diplomatic influence
The extent and standing of a state’s foreign relations
11th
43.5
Cultural influence
Ability to shape international public opinion through cultural appeal and interaction
15th
9.0
