Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand

New Zealand: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 74.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
74.6%
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
61st
of 196 countries
All-time high
79.4%
in 1986
All-time low
73.2%
in 1993
Years of data
40
1986–2025

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand, 1986–2025

0204060801986200520251986: 79.41987: 78.51988: 76.11989: 74.81990: 74.31991: 73.91992: 73.21993: 73.21994: 73.71995: 74.11996: 74.51997: 74.31998: 73.61999: 73.42000: 73.62001: 73.82002: 74.52003: 73.82004: 74.52005: 752006: 75.52007: 75.52008: 752009: 74.42010: 74.12011: 74.22012: 73.52013: 73.42014: 74.32015: 74.42016: 75.52017: 76.52018: 76.22019: 75.42020: 75.52021: 75.62022: 75.92023: 76.72024: 75.52025: 74.6

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand is 74.6%, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand peaked at 79.4% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 73.2%, in 1993.

New Zealand ranks 61st of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in New Zealand, 1986 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1986 79.4%
1987 78.5% -1.2%
1988 76.1% -3.0%
1989 74.8% -1.7%
1990 74.3% -0.7%
1991 73.9% -0.6%
1992 73.2% -0.9%
1993 73.2% -0.0%
1994 73.7% +0.6%
1995 74.1% +0.6%
1996 74.5% +0.5%
1997 74.3% -0.2%
1998 73.6% -1.0%
1999 73.4% -0.2%
2000 73.6% +0.2%
2001 73.8% +0.3%
2002 74.5% +1.0%
2003 73.8% -1.0%
2004 74.5% +1.0%
2005 75.0% +0.7%
2006 75.5% +0.7%
2007 75.5% -0.0%
2008 75.0% -0.7%
2009 74.4% -0.9%
2010 74.1% -0.4%
2011 74.2% +0.1%
2012 73.5% -0.9%
2013 73.4% -0.1%
2014 74.3% +1.2%
2015 74.4% +0.1%
2016 75.5% +1.5%
2017 76.5% +1.3%
2018 76.2% -0.3%
2019 75.4% -1.1%
2020 75.5% +0.0%
2021 75.6% +0.2%
2022 75.9% +0.4%
2023 76.7% +1.1%
2024 75.5% -1.5%
2025 74.6% -1.3%

New Zealand compared with similar countries

  • New Zealand's 74.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 1.1× the median. (79 countries reporting)
  • New Zealand's 74.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 71.0%, 1.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 77.2% 74.8% 79.4% 4
1990s 73.8% 73.2% 74.5% 10
2000s 74.6% 73.6% 75.5% 10
2010s 74.8% 73.4% 76.5% 10
2020s 75.6% 74.6% 76.7% 6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 58 Moldova 75.3% compare
  2. 59 Angola 75.1% compare
  3. 60 Kazakhstan 74.6% compare
  4. 62 Malta 74.5% compare
  5. 63 Uruguay 74.5% compare
  6. 64 Cameroon 74.5% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand?
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand was 74.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 79.4% in 1986.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 73.2% in 1993.
How does New Zealand rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
New Zealand ranks 61st out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-national-estimate/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,453 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.