Female employment to population ratio in New Zealand
New Zealand: Female employment to population ratio was 62.9 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
62.9
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
25th
of 172 countries
All-time high
64.89
in 2023
All-time low
48.75
in 1992
Years of data
40
1986–2025
Female employment to population ratio in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment to population ratio in New Zealand is 62.9, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment to population ratio in New Zealand peaked at 64.89 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 48.75, in 1992.
That places New Zealand 25th out of 172 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Female employment to population ratio in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 51.96 | — |
| 1987 | 52.41 | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 51.11 | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 49.22 | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 49.95 | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 48.98 | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 48.75 | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 49.08 | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 50.74 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 52.2 | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 53.58 | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 53.17 | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 52.64 | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 53.44 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 53.97 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 55.11 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 55.77 | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 56.27 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 57.07 | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 58.27 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 58.72 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 59.27 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 59.38 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 58.25 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 57.6 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 58.16 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 57.88 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 58.44 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 59.5 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 59.67 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 61.05 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 62.09 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 62.79 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 62.9 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 61.92 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 63.54 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 64.54 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 64.89 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 63.75 | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 62.9 | -1.3% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 62.9 is above the median for high income countries, which is 53.4, 1.2× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 62.9 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.44, 1.2× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 51.17 | 49.22 | 52.41 | 4 |
| 1990s | 51.25 | 48.75 | 53.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.21 | 53.97 | 59.38 | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.01 | 57.6 | 62.9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.59 | 61.92 | 64.89 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
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 female employment to population ratio in New Zealand?
- Female employment to population ratio in New Zealand was 62.9 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment to population ratio recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 64.89 in 2023.
- What is the lowest female employment to population ratio recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.75 in 1992.
- How does New Zealand rank for female employment to population ratio?
- New Zealand ranks 25th out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment to population ratio rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment to population ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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