Share of electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand
New Zealand: Share of electricity generation from hydropower was 54.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand is 54.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand peaked at 75.6% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 51.0%, in 2008.
New Zealand ranks 37th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 72.8% | 69.2% | 75.3% | 5 |
| 1990s | 68.0% | 60.4% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.9% | 51.0% | 63.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.3% | 51.8% | 59.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.6% | 53.3% | 61.0% | 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 share of electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand?
- Share of electricity generation from hydropower in New Zealand was 54.8% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from hydropower recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 75.6% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from hydropower recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.0% in 2008.
- How does New Zealand rank for share of electricity generation from hydropower?
- New Zealand ranks 37th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Share of electricity generation from hydropower. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.