Navy comparison: New Zealand vs United States
United States's 474-ship navy outnumbers New Zealand's 8 vessels (59:1 advantage). Of these, 4 and 243 are in active service respectively. The fleet breakdown includes 0 vs 71 submarines, 0 vs 11 aircraft carriers, 0 vs 78 destroyers, 2 vs 1 frigates, 0 vs 33 corvettes, 1 vs 58 amphibious ships, 4 vs 0 patrol boats, 0 vs 4 mine warfare ships (New Zealand vs United States). New Zealand's navy is officially the Royal New Zealand Navy, while United States's is the United States Navy.
Royal New Zealand Navy 🇳🇿
| Official Name | Royal New Zealand Navy |
| Total ships | 8 as of 2026 |
| Active ships | 4 as of 2026 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
United States Navy 🇺🇸
| Official Name | United States Navy |
| Total ships | 474 as of 2025 |
| Active ships | 243 as of 2025 |
| Naval Ensign |
|
New Zealand ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 0 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | |
| Destroyers | 0 | |
| Cruisers | 0 | |
| Frigates | 2 | |
| Corvettes | 0 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 4 | |
| Amphibious ships | 1 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 0 | |
| Cargo ships | 0 | |
| Support ships | 1 | |
| Other ships | 0 | |
United States ships by category
| Ship category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Submarines | 71 | |
| Aircraft carriers | 11 | |
| Destroyers | 78 | |
| Cruisers | 18 | |
| Frigates | 1 | |
| Corvettes | 33 | |
| Coastal boats | 0 | |
| Patrol boats | 0 | |
| Amphibious ships | 58 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 4 | |
| Cargo ships | 83 | |
| Support ships | 81 | |
| Other ships | 36 | |
Ship Categories Radar Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more naval ships, New Zealand or United States?
United States has a larger navy with 474 ships compared to New Zealand's 8 ships.
Which navy has more submarines, New Zealand or United States?
United States operates more submarines with 71 compared to New Zealand's 0.
Which country has more aircraft carriers, New Zealand or United States?
United States has 11 aircraft carrier(s) compared to New Zealand's 0.
Which navy has more destroyers, New Zealand or United States?
United States operates 78 destroyers compared to New Zealand's 0.
Which navy has more frigates, New Zealand or United States?
New Zealand operates 2 frigates compared to United States's 1.
How do the New Zealand and United States navies compare in size?
United States's navy is 59.2 times larger than New Zealand's in terms of total ships (474 vs 8).