Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 82.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in New Zealand, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in New Zealand stood at 82.6%.
That represents a change of up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in New Zealand peaked at 83.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 72.8%, in 1992.
New Zealand ranks 13th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 73.1% | — |
| 1991 | 73.2% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 72.8% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 72.9% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 73.8% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 74.6% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 75.5% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 75.4% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 75.0% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 74.9% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 75.0% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 75.6% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 76.2% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 75.8% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 76.3% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 77.2% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 77.8% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 78.1% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 77.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 77.7% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 77.5% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 77.8% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 77.6% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 77.5% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 78.6% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 78.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 79.9% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 81.0% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 81.2% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 80.9% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 80.7% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 81.6% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 82.5% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 83.3% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 82.6% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 82.6% | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 82.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 82.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 70.5%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.1% | 72.8% | 75.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.8% | 75.0% | 78.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.1% | 77.5% | 81.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.2% | 80.7% | 83.3% | 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, total (% of total population ages) in New Zealand?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in New Zealand was 82.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 83.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.8% in 1992.
- How does New Zealand rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- New Zealand ranks 13th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. 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 database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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.