Employment rate, men vs. women in New Zealand
New Zealand: Employment rate, men vs. women was 71.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate, men vs. women in New Zealand, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate, men vs. women in New Zealand stood at 71.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in New Zealand peaked at 73.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 64.7%, in 1992.
New Zealand ranks 51st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate, men vs. women in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 65.4% | — |
| 1992 | 64.7% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 65.3% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 67.0% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 69.2% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 69.6% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 69.0% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 67.6% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 67.8% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 68.7% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 69.6% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 70.5% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 70.3% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 71.6% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 72.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 72.6% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 72.8% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 71.9% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 69.9% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 69.5% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 69.7% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 68.9% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 69.4% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 70.6% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 70.5% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 73.0% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 72.8% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 72.3% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 72.0% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 72.6% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 73.3% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 73.5% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 71.6% | -2.7% |
| 2025 | 71.1% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.3% | 64.7% | 69.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 71.0% | 68.7% | 72.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.8% | 68.9% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.3% | 71.1% | 73.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 48 Cameroon 71.6% compare
- 49 Uzbekistan 71.3% compare
- 50 Timor-Leste 71.1% compare
- 52 Philippines 71.0% compare
- 53 Republic of Moldova 70.9% compare
- 54 Chad 70.8% compare
More work & labour data for New Zealand
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0748 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0721 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0776 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4877 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,200 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 511.04 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,819 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,994 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,812 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate, men vs. women in New Zealand?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in New Zealand was 71.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 73.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.7% in 1992.
- How does New Zealand rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- New Zealand ranks 51st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.