Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 85.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in New Zealand, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in New Zealand is 85.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in New Zealand peaked at 87.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 82.5%, in 1992.
That places New Zealand 18th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 83.3% | — |
| 1991 | 83.0% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 82.5% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 82.6% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 83.1% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 83.7% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 83.9% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 84.0% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 83.3% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 83.0% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 83.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 83.2% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 83.9% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 83.0% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 83.7% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 84.4% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 85.0% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 84.9% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 84.4% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 83.9% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 83.6% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 83.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 83.1% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 82.7% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 83.8% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 83.9% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 85.0% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 85.8% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 85.8% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 85.2% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 85.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 85.7% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 86.4% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 87.1% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 86.0% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 85.9% | -0.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 85.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 80.2%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 85.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 78.2%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 83.2% | 82.5% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 83.9% | 83.0% | 85.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.3% | 82.7% | 85.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.0% | 85.2% | 87.1% | 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 labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in New Zealand?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in New Zealand was 85.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 87.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.5% in 1992.
- How does New Zealand rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- New Zealand ranks 18th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.