Female employment vs. public spending on family benefits in New Zealand
New Zealand: Female employment vs. public spending on family benefits was 2.5% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Female employment vs. public spending on family benefits in New Zealand, 1980–2022
Source: OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment vs. public spending on family benefits in New Zealand is 2.5%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment vs. public spending on family benefits in New Zealand peaked at 3.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1983.
That places New Zealand 15th out of 41 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Female employment vs. public spending on family benefits in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.1% | — |
| 1981 | 1.9% | -10.1% |
| 1982 | 1.9% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | +12.9% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | +11.7% |
| 1987 | 2.3% | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 2.3% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 2.5% | +8.9% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | -13.5% |
| 1992 | 2.2% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | +10.8% |
| 1995 | 2.2% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | +17.4% |
| 1998 | 3.0% | +10.4% |
| 1999 | 2.9% | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -3.6% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 2.8% | +19.3% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | +11.6% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 3.3% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | -12.1% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 2.7% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.0% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 3 |
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 vs. public spending on family benefits in New Zealand?
- Female employment vs. public spending on family benefits in New Zealand was 2.5% in 2022, according to OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment vs. public spending on family benefits recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest female employment vs. public spending on family benefits recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1983.
- How does New Zealand rank for female employment vs. public spending on family benefits?
- New Zealand ranks 15th out of 41 countries with data for 2022.
- Is female employment vs. public spending on family benefits rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment vs. public spending on family benefits. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Public social expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage. Includes both in-cash and in-kind benefits in family programs.