Interest payments in New Zealand

New Zealand: Interest payments was 3.0% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
3.0%
Change on year
up 9.3%
World rank
114th
of 152 countries
All-time high
18.9%
in 1985
All-time low
2.2%
in 2008
Years of data
39
1972–2022

Interest payments in New Zealand, 1972–2022

051015201972199720221972: 9.1 % of expense1973: 8.3 % of expense1974: 7.9 % of expense1975: 7.5 % of expense1976: 9.2 % of expense1977: 9.5 % of expense1978: 9.8 % of expense1979: 10.8 % of expense1980: 10.6 % of expense1981: 11.3 % of expense1982: 11.9 % of expense1983: 14.9 % of expense1984: 16.3 % of expense1985: 18.9 % of expense1986: 18.7 % of expense1987: 18.5 % of expense1988: 16.3 % of expense2001: 6.3 % of expense2002: 5.3 % of expense2003: 5.5 % of expense2004: 5.4 % of expense2005: 5.3 % of expense2006: 4.5 % of expense2007: 3.9 % of expense2008: 2.2 % of expense2009: 3.5 % of expense2010: 3.6 % of expense2011: 3.8 % of expense2012: 4.8 % of expense2013: 4.9 % of expense2014: 4.5 % of expense2015: 4.6 % of expense2016: 4.3 % of expense2017: 4.1 % of expense2018: 3.9 % of expense2019: 3.6 % of expense2020: 2.7 % of expense2021: 2.7 % of expense2022: 3 % of expense

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of expense.

Analysis

The most recent figure for interest payments in New Zealand is 3.0%, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of up 9.3% on the previous year and down 37.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, interest payments in New Zealand peaked at 18.9% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2008.

That places New Zealand 114th out of 152 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Interest payments in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Interest payments (% of expense) in New Zealand, 1972 to 2022.
Year % of expense Change
1972 9.1%
1973 8.3% -8.0%
1974 7.9% -5.3%
1975 7.5% -4.5%
1976 9.2% +22.2%
1977 9.5% +2.5%
1978 9.8% +3.3%
1979 10.8% +10.9%
1980 10.6% -2.1%
1981 11.3% +6.9%
1982 11.9% +5.4%
1983 14.9% +24.7%
1984 16.3% +9.4%
1985 18.9% +16.2%
1986 18.7% -1.0%
1987 18.5% -1.5%
1988 16.3% -11.6%
2001 6.3% -61.6%
2002 5.3% -15.7%
2003 5.5% +4.7%
2004 5.4% -3.1%
2005 5.3% -1.7%
2006 4.5% -13.6%
2007 3.9% -15.2%
2008 2.2% -43.9%
2009 3.5% +60.0%
2010 3.6% +4.3%
2011 3.8% +5.1%
2012 4.8% +25.3%
2013 4.9% +3.2%
2014 4.5% -8.0%
2015 4.6% +0.9%
2016 4.3% -6.3%
2017 4.1% -4.8%
2018 3.9% -5.3%
2019 3.6% -6.5%
2020 2.7% -25.3%
2021 2.7% +1.1%
2022 3.0% +9.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 9.0% 7.5% 10.8% 8
1980s 15.3% 10.6% 18.9% 9
2000s 4.6% 2.2% 6.3% 9
2010s 4.2% 3.6% 4.9% 10
2020s 2.8% 2.7% 3.0% 3

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 111 Malta 3.1% compare
  2. 112 Cyprus 3.1% compare
  3. 113 Australia 3.0% compare
  4. 115 Vanuatu 3.0% compare
  5. 116 Uzbekistan 2.9% compare
  6. 117 Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.9% compare

See the full ranking of 193 places →

More public sector data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is interest payments in New Zealand?
Interest payments in New Zealand was 3.0% in 2022, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest interest payments recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 1985.
What is the lowest interest payments recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2008.
How does New Zealand rank for interest payments?
New Zealand ranks 114th out of 152 countries with data for 2022.
Is interest payments rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 37.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Interest payments (% of expense). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Interest payments in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/interest-payments-percent-of-expense/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Interest payments (% of expense)
Unit
% of expense
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
193 places, 5,277 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Interest payments include interest payments on government debt (including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments) to domestic and foreign residents. This indicator is expressed as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.