New Zealand Government Debt to GDP
54.7%▲ +3.3 pt
Dec 2025 · Annual
New Zealand's government debt stood at 54.73% of GDP in 2025, up from 51.43% a year earlier. The ratio remains well below the all-time high of 68.48% recorded in 1986, and far above the record low of 16.31% in 2007. The series spans from 1985 onwards.
| Actual | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Dates | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54.7% | 51.4% | 68.5%Dec 1986 | 16.3%Dec 2007 | 1985 – 2025 | Annual |
Related indicators
| Indicator | Last | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Last updated | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government Budget | -3.9% | -3.2% | 5.1% | -7.0% | Dec 2025 | Annual |
| Interest Rate | 2.5% | 2.3% | 54.3% | 0.3% | Jul 2026 | Monthly |
About this series
Government Debt to GDP in New Zealand averaged 36.3% from 1985 until 2025, reaching an all-time high of 68.5% in Dec 1986 and a record low of 16.3% in Dec 2007. The series is reported yearly with history from 1985.
Government debt as a percentage of GDP measures the total liabilities of the central government relative to the size of the economy. It is reported annually by the International Monetary Fund, expressed as a percentage of GDP. The series for New Zealand begins in 1985.
Source & methodology
We use primary economic sources for every country. See our methodology page for how we source and verify this data.
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