New Zealand performed strongly in the behavioural aspects of the research but had a poorer rating for attitudes.
The study found New Zealanders underestimate their ability and know more about financial matters than they realise.
When asked to assess how good their knowledge was, only a third rated themselves higher than average, but when tested on the subject two-thirds scored above average.
The findings were revealed at the NZ-OECD Global Symposium on Financial Education, which is being held in New Zealand for the first time today.
Diane Maxwell, New Zealand's Retirement Commissioner said the results suggested many New Zealanders are good at thinking about the longer term.
"The more important question is whether that translates into action - are they doing something about it?
Maxwell said the challenge was to find ways of coping with the financial demands of today, while trying to think about and plan for tomorrow.
"These are some of the things we are addressing at this week's symposium."
The theme of the two-day event is "Today vs Tomorrow?" and it is being jointly hosted in Auckland by the Commission for Financial Capability and the OECD.
Top 10 OECD countries for Financial Literacy 1. France 2. Finland 3= Norway 3= Canada 5= Hong Kong 5= New Zealand 5= Korea 8. Belgium 9. Austria 10. Portugal
