New Zealand Tops the 2025 Inclusiveness Index

The latest Inclusiveness Index from the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley is out, with New Zealand once again ranked the world’s most inclusive country. Australia sits at number 10 — still a strong global position, but outside the group setting the benchmark for belonging, equity and public trust.

For those of us working in engagement, these results are more than a global snapshot. They act as a real-time signal of the social conditions shaping how people participate — who feels heard, who feels represented, and who still faces barriers.

The Index assesses inclusion across race, gender, disability, religion and the general population. New Zealand’s continued leadership reflects systems that prioritise fairness and cultural responsiveness in visible, everyday ways. Those conditions matter. They lift confidence, reduce fear of participation, and create space for more open, constructive dialogue between institutions and communities.

Australia’s 10th place ranking highlights opportunity — not deficit. It reinforces what many practitioners already see on the ground: strong intentions, growing capability, and pockets of excellence, but uneven experiences across regions, cohorts and systems. This is exactly where thoughtful, intentional engagement practice can influence change.

It connects directly with the Engagement Institute’s Inclusive and Accessible Engagement Policy, which highlights a core truth: inclusion is not automatic. It must be designed, tested and continually refined. The Index gives us a macro-level view; our practice delivers the on-the-ground reality.

This year’s Index also includes new tools — including interactive comparisons and year-to-year shifts — that help practitioners interrogate trends rather than headlines. Progress in inclusion is rarely linear. Social attitudes evolve, institutional settings shift, and external pressures reshape community confidence. Strong engagement practice means staying ahead of those currents, not reacting to them once they land in a submission or feedback form.

Ultimately, the Index isn’t a verdict. It’s a signal.

A reminder that meaningful engagement thrives in environments where people feel valued — and struggles where they don’t. Our role as practitioners is to help build the conditions where participation feels possible, safe and worthwhile.

View the Inclusiveness Index from the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley.