Quality of life comparison
If you lived in United States instead of New Zealand, you would:
Health
see 2.4 times more spent on your healthcare
New Zealand spends $5,576 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). United States spends $13,473 as of 2023.
live 3.1 years less
In New Zealand, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024. In United States, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.
be 20.4% more likely to be obese
In New Zealand, 34.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United States, that number is 41.0% of people as of 2024.
be 31.1% more likely to die by suicide
New Zealand has a suicide rate of 11.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United States, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 17.3% less likely to be unemployed
In New Zealand, 5.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United States, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
make 81.5% more money
New Zealand has a GDP per capita of $49,591 as of 2025, while in United States, the GDP per capita is $90,027 as of 2025.
Life
be 2.4 times more likely to die during childbirth
In New Zealand, approximately 7.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In United States, 17.0 women do as of 2023.
be 37.5% more likely to die during infancy
In New Zealand, approximately 4.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In United States, on the other hand, 5.5 children do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 65.9% more on healthcare
New Zealand spends 10.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In United States, that number is 16.7% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 31.7% more coastline
New Zealand has a total of 15,134 km of coastline. In United States, that number is 19,924 km.
Safety
be 3.9 times more likely to be murdered
New Zealand has a homicide rate of 1.5 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In United States, that number is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 2.2 times more likely to die in a road accident
In New Zealand, road accidents kill 6.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United States, they kill 14.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
use 60.7% more electricity
New Zealand uses 7,989 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. United States uses 12,839 kWh as of 2024.
live with 3.5 times more strain on fresh water
New Zealand withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United States withdraws 28% as of 2022.
Environment
be 16.7% more likely to die from air pollution
In New Zealand, air pollution causes 12.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In United States, it causes 14.0 as of 2019.
emit 2.3 times more CO2
New Zealand emits 6.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United States emits 13.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: New Zealand vs. United States
United States: At a glance
How big is United States compared to New Zealand? See an in-depth size comparison.