Sources and methodology

Where the numbers come from

Our rules (we take these more seriously than our jokes)

• Every visual names its source, the date the data was retrieved, and the licence.
• We never invent statistics. If real data is not in yet, the chart is flagged as placeholder data, loudly, with a yellow badge.
• Data files and notes live in the open data folder of the site repository.
• Charts have a text summary and a data table so nothing is locked inside an image, and nobody has to squint at a dot.

Sources by visual

• Australia has more missions in Asia than in Europe and Africa combined:Wikipedia, List of diplomatic missions of Australia (citing the foreign ministry). Retrieved: 19 October 2026. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
• Just three New Zealand embassies cover all of Africa:Wikipedia, List of diplomatic missions of New Zealand (citing the foreign ministry). Retrieved: 19 October 2026. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.
• New Zealand's sheep are losing the numbers game:Placeholder data, to be replaced by Stats NZ. Retrieved: Not yet retrieved. Licence: To be confirmed on the source page. Placeholder data
• New Zealand shakes all year round:Placeholder data, to be replaced by GeoNet (GNS Science). Retrieved: Not yet retrieved. Licence: To be confirmed on the source page. Placeholder data
• A huge slice of New Zealand fits inside one small circle:Placeholder data, to be replaced by Stats NZ. Retrieved: Not yet retrieved. Licence: To be confirmed on the source page. Placeholder data
• New Zealand is bigger than most people picture:Placeholder data, to be replaced by a consistent land area source. Retrieved: Not yet retrieved. Licence: To be confirmed on the source page. Placeholder data
• Kangaroos and Australians are in a population race:Placeholder data, to be replaced by Australian government surveys and the ABS. Retrieved: Not yet retrieved. Licence: To be confirmed on the source page. Placeholder data
• Australia is enormous, but almost everyone is crowded on its edge:Placeholder data, to be replaced by the ABS. Retrieved: Not yet retrieved. Licence: To be confirmed on the source page. Placeholder data
• Australia has more room per person than almost anywhere:Placeholder data, to be replaced by the World Bank and the ABS. Retrieved: Not yet retrieved. Licence: To be confirmed on the source page. Placeholder data