UK vs New Zealand: house prices, GDP per person and government debt compared
In 2025 the OECD gives 115.7 (100 = long-term average) for the UK's house price-to-income ratio and 127.5 (100 = long-term average) for New Zealand. IMF figures for 2025 put the UK's GDP per head at $65,758, higher than New Zealand's $55,871. On IMF figures, the UK's government debt in 2025 was 102.1% of GDP; New Zealand's was 54.7% of GDP.
Price-to-income ratio, standardised
In 2025 the OECD gives 115.7 (100 = long-term average) for the UK's house price-to-income ratio and 127.5 (100 = long-term average) for New Zealand. The UK's figure was not higher than New Zealand's in any year from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | UK | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 115.7 (100 = long-term average) | 127.5 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2024 | 117.5 (100 = long-term average) | 134.5 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2023 | 123.7 (100 = long-term average) | 140.5 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2022 | 131.9 (100 = long-term average) | 160.7 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2021 | 126.0 (100 = long-term average) | 168.0 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2020 | 121.5 (100 = long-term average) | 138.8 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2019 | 117.7 (100 = long-term average) | 134.0 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2018 | 120.4 (100 = long-term average) | 136.4 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2017 | 120.8 (100 = long-term average) | 137.9 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2016 | 118.1 (100 = long-term average) | 134.5 (100 = long-term average) |
| 2015 | 111.4 (100 = long-term average) | 123.4 (100 = long-term average) |
The OECD divides each country's nominal house price index by nominal net disposable income per head, then shows the result as a percentage of that country's own long-term average, so 100 means house prices relative to incomes are at their long-term average for that country.
GDP per head, purchasing power parity
IMF figures for 2025 put the UK's GDP per head at $65,758, higher than New Zealand's $55,871. The UK's figure was higher than New Zealand's in every year from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | UK | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,758 | $55,871 |
| 2024 | $63,492 | $54,622 |
| 2023 | $61,899 | $54,354 |
| 2022 | $60,180 | $52,356 |
| 2021 | $54,009 | $47,650 |
| 2020 | $48,881 | $44,963 |
| 2019 | $50,729 | $44,715 |
| 2018 | $47,780 | $41,946 |
| 2017 | $46,556 | $41,559 |
| 2016 | $44,511 | $40,353 |
| 2015 | $43,480 | $39,317 |
The IMF's GDP per head at purchasing power parity is GDP divided by population, converted into international dollars using purchasing power parities: rates that adjust for differences in price levels between countries, so that a dollar buys the same amount everywhere.
General government gross debt
On IMF figures, the UK's government debt in 2025 was 102.1% of GDP; New Zealand's was 54.7% of GDP. The UK's figure was higher than New Zealand's in every year from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | UK | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 102.1% of GDP | 54.7% of GDP |
| 2024 | 99.4% of GDP | 51.4% of GDP |
| 2023 | 98.3% of GDP | 47.3% of GDP |
| 2022 | 97.1% of GDP | 46.9% of GDP |
| 2021 | 103.0% of GDP | 47.6% of GDP |
| 2020 | 104.4% of GDP | 43.2% of GDP |
| 2019 | 84.5% of GDP | 31.8% of GDP |
| 2018 | 85.3% of GDP | 28.1% of GDP |
| 2017 | 85.9% of GDP | 31.1% of GDP |
| 2016 | 87.2% of GDP | 33.4% of GDP |
| 2015 | 87.3% of GDP | 34.2% of GDP |
The IMF's general government gross debt is all the liabilities of central, regional and local government and social security funds that require payments of interest or principal in future: debt securities, loans, currency and deposits, insurance and pension schemes, and other accounts payable.
More figures for the UK and New Zealand
| Figure | UK | New Zealand | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.4 years | 82.0 years | 2024 | World Bank |
| Total tax revenue | 34.4% of GDP | 32.9% of GDP | 2024 | OECD |
| Current health expenditure | 11.4% of GDP | 9.8% of GDP | 2025 | OECD |
| General government expenditure | 43.5% of GDP | 41.5% of GDP | 2025 | IMF |
| Employment rate, ages 15 to 64 | 75.1% | 77.2% | 2025 | OECD |
| Real minimum wage per hour | $17.13 an hour | $15.31 an hour | 2025 | OECD |
| Gross domestic spending on research and development | 2.8% of GDP | 1.5% of GDP | 2023 | OECD |
| GDP, current prices | $4.01 trillion | $259.5 billion | 2025 | IMF |
Both values in each row are for the same year. Because international bodies standardise national statistics, their UK figures may not match the ONS's own.
Ranked tables with the UK and New Zealand
- UK national debt compared with other countries
- UK GDP per head compared with other countries
- UK house prices to income compared with other countries
More about New Zealand: New Zealand in figures. Compare any two countries with the country comparison tool.
Sources and receipts
- OECD: Analytical house price indicatorsread 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
1508e2fba50db14f…· publisher's page - International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
50bf0fd1cc9a9b57…· publisher's page - International Monetary Fund: World Economic Outlook database (IMF DataMapper)read 2026-10-14 · SHA-256
bacd0d83be00b655…· publisher's page
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