Electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand
New Zealand: Electricity generation from hydropower was 23.77 terawatt-hours in 2025. ▲ Rising
Electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand, 1965–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand is 23.77 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand peaked at 27.53 terawatt-hours in 1995 and was at its lowest, 10.02 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
New Zealand ranks 29th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 61 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.09 terawatt-hours | 10.02 terawatt-hours | 11.77 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 15.36 terawatt-hours | 12.67 terawatt-hours | 18.44 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.67 terawatt-hours | 18.3 terawatt-hours | 22.96 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.17 terawatt-hours | 21.09 terawatt-hours | 27.53 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.66 terawatt-hours | 21.46 terawatt-hours | 26.97 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.51 terawatt-hours | 22.67 terawatt-hours | 26.03 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.55 terawatt-hours | 23.45 terawatt-hours | 26.17 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.2% (2025)
- Gas production 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 0.9% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 6.7% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 56.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand?
- Electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand was 23.77 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from hydropower recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 27.53 terawatt-hours in 1995.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from hydropower recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.02 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does New Zealand rank for electricity generation from hydropower?
- New Zealand ranks 29th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from hydropower. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.