New Zealand Regulatory Quality
Regulatory Quality RQ.EST
New Zealand's regulatory quality was 1.89 in 2025, ranked 6th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's regulatory quality stood at 1.89 in 2025, a decline of +0.02 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.89 by 2025. New Zealand ranked 6th globally.
New Zealand’s regulatory quality score, measured by the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, has remained remarkably stable over the 26‑year series, holding at 1.89 in both the earliest observation in 1996 and the most recent 2025 release, which places the country sixth globally. The indicator peaked at 2.08 in 2017, reflecting a brief period of heightened confidence in the predictability and impartiality of rules, before regressing to a low of 1.56 in 2002 during a phase of regulatory uncertainty. Compared with close peers, New Zealand trails Australia’s 1.96 and Macao SAR’s 1.92, yet exceeds Ireland’s 1.80 and Switzerland’s 1.74, suggesting a competitive but not leading position among advanced economies. The modest swing between peak and trough underscores the resilience of New Zealand’s institutional framework, while the recent plateau hints at limited further gains without substantive reforms. Continued emphasis on transparent rule‑making and stakeholder engagement could lift the trajectory and restore upward momentum.
Data & projection
| Year | Regulatory Quality | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.90 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.89 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.89 | −0.02 | #6 |
| 2023 | 1.91 | +0.05 | #4 |
| 2022 | 1.87 | +0.06 | #3 |
| 2021 | 1.80 | −0.07 | #5 |
| 2020 | 1.87 | +0.00 | #2 |
| 2019 | 1.87 | −0.13 | #3 |
| 2018 | 2.00 | −0.08 | #4 |
| 2017 | 2.08 | +0.05 | #3 |
| 2016 | 2.03 | +0.12 | #3 |
| 2015 | 1.91 | −0.03 | #3 |
| 2014 | 1.94 | +0.12 | #3 |
| 2013 | 1.82 | −0.03 | #5 |
| 2012 | 1.84 | −0.12 | #4 |
| 2011 | 1.96 | +0.15 | #1 |
| 2010 | 1.81 | −0.01 | #4 |
Analysis
New Zealand's regulatory quality was 1.89 in 2025, a decline of −0.02 from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 1.89 by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's regulatory quality was 1.89 in 2025. Ranked 6th globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
New Zealand's regulatory quality peaked at 2.08 in 2017.
The lowest regulatory quality in New Zealand was 1.56 in 2002.
New Zealand ranks 6th globally in regulatory quality as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RQ.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
New Zealand's regulatory quality is projected to reach 1.89 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The regulatory quality of New Zealand in 2025 was 1.89. This ranks 6th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_regulatory-quality,
title = {New Zealand Regulatory Quality},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/regulatory-quality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}