Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 70.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 70.5% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2025.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in New Zealand peaked at 72.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 63.3%, in 1993.
New Zealand ranks 34th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 66.7% | — |
| 1987 | 66.3% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 64.8% | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 63.6% | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 63.9% | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 63.8% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 63.4% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 63.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 64.1% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 64.7% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 65.6% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 65.5% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 65.0% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 65.1% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 65.2% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 65.8% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 66.5% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 66.3% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 66.9% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 67.7% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 68.2% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 68.4% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 68.3% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 67.9% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 67.6% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 67.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 67.6% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 67.8% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 68.7% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 68.8% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 70.0% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 70.9% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 70.9% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 70.6% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 70.2% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 70.8% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 71.3% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 72.1% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 71.3% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 70.5% | -1.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 70.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.5%, 1.1× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 70.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.2%, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 65.4% | 63.6% | 66.7% | 4 |
| 1990s | 64.4% | 63.3% | 65.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.1% | 65.2% | 68.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.1% | 67.6% | 70.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.0% | 70.2% | 72.1% | 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in New Zealand?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in New Zealand was 70.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 72.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.3% in 1993.
- How does New Zealand rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- New Zealand ranks 34th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national 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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.