A study conducted at Anglia Ruskin University, Britain, found that New Zealand has the highest chance of surviving the collapse of civilization. With the interdependence and hyper-connectivity of the global economy, a severe international incident could rapidly affect the supply chain causing a collapse

The researchers tried to find out which country would survive a global apocalypse caused by the collapse of international agreements and financial structures or climate change. To investigate, they studied trends of population growth, limited resources and natural disasters. They found that New Zealand is the most resilient country.

New Zealand could withstand a global collapse if it happens in a short time or over decades. 

Four other countries could survive a global civilization collapse

New Zealand was not the only country that could survive a global collapse. Others include Ireland, Tasmania in Australia, the United Kingdom and Iceland.

According to Professor Aled Jones, the Director of the Global Sustainability Institute of Anglia Ruskin, climate change and the effects it poses such as increased flooding, drought, higher population migration, and extremely high temperatures could cause significant changes in the next few decades.

The countries most likely to survive are island countries or island continents that have oceans that influence the climate significantly.

They also have lower temperatures and precipitation variability than other countries; thus can maintain stable climatic conditions as climate change occurs.

Other countries should work on factors that make them more resilient to global changes

Scientists ranked the countries based on their ability to protect their borders from immigration, grow enough food for their population, maintain some manufacturing ability and an electric grid. 

New Zealand had a higher chance than these four countries because it can produce hydroelectric and geothermal energy. It also has a low population and extensive agricultural land. The UK has a higher population and less agricultural land; hence might not be as self-sufficient.

Jones adds that the purpose of the study is not just to point out the countries that would survive an apocalypse. The researchers also try to point out factors that could help other countries improve their resilience as climate change occurs. These factors include domestic energy, agricultural capacity and manufacturing capacity.