Gross capital formation in New Zealand
New Zealand: Gross capital formation was 23.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Gross capital formation in New Zealand, 1970–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross capital formation in New Zealand is 23.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross capital formation in New Zealand peaked at 35.0% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1991.
New Zealand ranks 96th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Gross capital formation in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 24.3% | — |
| 1971 | 24.4% | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 23.9% | -2.2% |
| 1973 | 27.2% | +13.8% |
| 1974 | 35.0% | +28.6% |
| 1975 | 27.7% | -20.9% |
| 1976 | 27.3% | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 25.3% | -7.6% |
| 1978 | 22.2% | -12.2% |
| 1979 | 23.7% | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 21.5% | -9.0% |
| 1981 | 25.3% | +17.4% |
| 1982 | 26.5% | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 26.9% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 29.0% | +8.1% |
| 1985 | 27.0% | -6.8% |
| 1986 | 25.1% | -7.1% |
| 1987 | 22.6% | -9.9% |
| 1988 | 21.1% | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 23.4% | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 20.5% | -12.4% |
| 1991 | 17.5% | -14.3% |
| 1992 | 18.7% | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 21.2% | +13.7% |
| 1994 | 22.6% | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 23.7% | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 23.1% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 22.9% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 20.8% | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 23.2% | +11.6% |
| 2000 | 22.0% | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 23.0% | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 22.7% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 24.1% | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 25.3% | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 25.4% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 23.8% | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 24.8% | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 22.9% | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 19.9% | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 20.4% | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 20.7% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 21.3% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 22.2% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 23.1% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 23.3% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 23.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 23.9% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 24.2% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 23.9% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 23.3% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 25.2% | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 26.4% | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 24.1% | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 23.1% | -4.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 23.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 22.9%, 1.0× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 23.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.1%, 89% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.1% | 22.2% | 35.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.8% | 21.1% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.4% | 17.5% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.4% | 19.9% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.6% | 20.4% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.4% | 23.1% | 26.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More economy & growth data for New Zealand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.71 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.37 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 23.86 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0001 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 4.48 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 3.61 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 104.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 677.46 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 27.59 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross capital formation in New Zealand?
- Gross capital formation in New Zealand was 23.1% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross capital formation recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 35.0% in 1974.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1991.
- How does New Zealand rank for gross capital formation?
- New Zealand ranks 96th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gross capital formation rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Gross capital formation (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross capital formation includes acquisitions less disposals of produced assets for purposes of fixed capital formation, inventories or valuables. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.