New Zealand vs World: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)
New Zealand
70.4%
in 2025
World
61.0%
in 2025
New Zealand rank
27th
World rank
24th
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) over time
- New Zealand
- World
How they compare
New Zealand currently reports 70.4% against 61.0% in World, a difference of 9.4%.
That makes New Zealand's figure about 1.2 times World's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was World ahead.
New Zealand ranks 27th and World ranks 24th of 187 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, New Zealand averaged higher in 3 and World in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | World | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.0% | 64.9% | 0.9% | World |
| 2000s | 66.7% | 63.7% | 3.0% | New Zealand |
| 2010s | 68.8% | 61.7% | 7.0% | New Zealand |
| 2020s | 70.6% | 60.7% | 9.9% | New Zealand |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+), New Zealand or World?
- New Zealand, at 70.4% against 61.0% in World as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) between New Zealand and World?
- 9.4%, with New Zealand ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and World?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do New Zealand and World rank globally for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- New Zealand ranks 27th and World ranks 24th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.