Travel safety comparison · Oceania
Australia vs New Zealand: safety comparison
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Australia vs New Zealand: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Australia and New Zealand have very similar overall Warnely composite scores: 13 and 10. The choice between them is unlikely to be driven by the headline number alone. Women's-safety rating differs: Australia is Generally Safe and New Zealand is Very Safe.
| 🇦🇺Australia | 🇳🇿New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 13 / 100 | 10 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Very Safe | Very Safe |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #18 | #3 |
| Drug law | Strict | Strict |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Very Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | marriage | marriage |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | AUD | NZD |
Australia vs New Zealand: common questions
Is Australia or New Zealand safer to visit?
New Zealand has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 10/100 vs 13/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Australia or New Zealand safer for solo female travellers?
Australia is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; New Zealand is rated Very Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Australia and New Zealand?
Australia: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). New Zealand: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).