New Zealand: GDP per Person, Current U.S. Dollars

## What this measures

New Zealand's gross domestic product divided by its midyear population, converted to U.S. dollars at the year's market exchange rate (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD). Annual since 1995, dated December 31.

## Why it matters

Market exchange rates measure what an economy's output is worth on world markets. It is the first of three ways Palanor compares output per person; the others adjust for prices (PPP) and for hours worked.

## How to read it

Exchange rates move it as much as growth does: a currency that falls a tenth against the dollar takes about a tenth off. Compare with world.gdp_pc.ppp and world.gdp_per_hour.ppp for the same country.

## What it does not say

It does not adjust for prices, which are lower in poorer countries, so it understates their living standards. It is an average and says nothing about how income is shared.

## Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD), CC BY 4.0.