United Kingdom and New Zealand
The United Kingdom and New Zealand combine historical ties with a trade treaty in force since 2023. Professional services, food standards and climate cooperation form part of its implementation.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07Rules affecting trade
The May 2025 meeting addressed wine and spirits, meat certification, professional services and digital trade.
Follow-up in May 2025
Participants reviewed labor, the environment, climate and agreement instruments, including drafting corrections.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 2,155.23 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Goods: United Kingdom to New Zealand | 814.94 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Goods: New Zealand to United Kingdom | 1,340.29 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Services trade | 2,300 M GBP | 2025 · ONS |
| Export share: United Kingdom to New Zealand | 0.15 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR |
| Export share: New Zealand to United Kingdom | ||
| Investment stock: United Kingdom in New Zealand | 1,700 M GBP | 2024 · ONS |
| Investment stock: New Zealand in United Kingdom | 889 M GBP | 2024 · ONS |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: United Kingdom to New Zealand
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: New Zealand to United Kingdom
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods; full year; GBR reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Services trade
- 2025 · Department for Business and Trade / ONS · Services trade, calendar year 2025, according to the ONS table in the current profile. Figure rounded as in the source. The figure for four quarters through March 2026 is not used. It is not added to goods expressed in USD.
- Export share: United Kingdom to New Zealand
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / GBR · Goods share: GBR exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
- Investment stock: United Kingdom in New Zealand
- 2024 · Department for Business and Trade / ONS · Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publication where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending.
- Investment stock: New Zealand in United Kingdom
- 2024 · Department for Business and Trade / ONS · Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publication where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 4 trillion USD2025 · World Bank | 264.06 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 57,601.96 USD2025 · World Bank | 49,591.04 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 1.39 %2025 · World Bank | 0.46 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 3.88 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank | 2.84 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.1 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · ONS | |
| Unemployment | 4.75 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank | 5.08 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -5.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -3.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 102.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 54.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -2.43 %2025 · World Bank | -3.62 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 69,487,0002025 · World Bank | 5,324,7002025 · WB |
| Area | 243,610 km²2023 · World Bank | 267,710 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedUnited Kingdom: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change relative to the same month of the previous year · ONS · Headline CPI, not CPIH or core inflation.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionUnited Kingdom: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.New Zealand: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.New Zealand: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited Kingdom: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.New Zealand: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
United Kingdom to New Zealand
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 191.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 187.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 59.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 39 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 8.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 1.8 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 0.3 M USD2025 · Source |
New Zealand to United Kingdom
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Meat and edible offal | 462 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 116.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 58.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 39.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 26.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | United Kingdom to New Zealand | New Zealand to United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,158.6 | 1,147.3 | 1,011.3 |
| 2022 | 2,038.5 | 1,072.2 | 966.3 |
| 2023 | 2,212.5 | 1,247.8 | 964.7 |
| 2024 | 2,284.8 | 1,160.3 | 1,124.5 |
| 2025 | 2,155.2 | 814.9 | 1,340.3 |
Connections between people
Professional contacts and participation by communities and institutions form part of the agreement. They do not replace resident, student or travel statistics. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United Kingdom living in New Zealand | ||
| Residents from New Zealand living in United Kingdom | ||
| Study and training: United Kingdom in New Zealand | ||
| Study and training: New Zealand in United Kingdom | ||
| Academic stays: United Kingdom in New Zealand | ||
| Academic stays: New Zealand in United Kingdom | ||
| Travel: United Kingdom to New Zealand | ||
| Travel: New Zealand to United Kingdom |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
An agreement applied since 2023
The bilateral trade treaty entered into force on 31 May 2023. Its joint committee reviews the agreement's operation and enables implementation issues to be resolved. [1]
Rules affecting trade
The May 2025 meeting addressed wine and spirits, meat certification, professional services and digital trade. Those procedures matter to specific businesses and are not reducible to a general reduction of all tariffs. [1]
Professionals and inclusive trade
Follow-up includes legal and professional services mechanisms, small business participation and consultation with Māori groups. These are access and coordination channels different from a migration register. [1]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for United Kingdom is 4,002.6 billion USD (2025), compared with 264.1 for New Zealand (2025). The reference populations are 69.49 and 5.32 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of United Kingdom was 15.16 times that of New Zealand in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [6] [7] [8] [9]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Follow-up in May 2025
Participants reviewed labor, the environment, climate and agreement instruments, including drafting corrections. Future coordination was agreed; proposed tasks are distinguished from results already completed. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (United Kingdom and New Zealand) totalled 2,155.2 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 814.9 million; those in the opposite direction, 1,340.3 million. The difference between the two flows was 525.3 million, in favour of New Zealand. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from United Kingdom to the partner represented 0.15% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 2,158.6 million USD in 2021 and 2,155.2 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was -0.2 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2024, at 2,284.8 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [3]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, machinery and mechanical appliances stands out in shipments from United Kingdom to New Zealand, at 191.5 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, meat and edible offal stands out in shipments from New Zealand to United Kingdom, at 462 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [4]
Cross-border services
Published services trade for the pair was 2300 million GBP (2025). Services trade, calendar year 2025, according to the ONS table in the current profile. Figure rounded as in the source. The figure for four quarters through March 2026 is not used. It is not added to goods expressed in USD. [5]
Direct investment position
The UK's direct investment position in New Zealand was 1700 million GBP (2024). Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publications where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending. [5]
Direct investment position
New Zealand's direct investment position in the United Kingdom was GBP 889 million (2024). Direct investment position at the end of 2024 published by ONS, including ad hoc publications where the profile indicates. Not total portfolio investment, announcements or annual flow. Published negative values are retained: these are net positions, not annual spending. [5]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations: GBR-NZL
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 826; partners 0,484,76,32,152,170,554,360,704,410,682,784,634,818,376,710
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 826; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total
UN Comtrade / GBR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade and Investment Factsheet — GBR-NZL
Department for Business and Trade / ONS · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / GBR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 826; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total.