Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in New Zealand
New Zealand: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 88.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in New Zealand, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 88.4% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in New Zealand peaked at 88.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 71.9%, in 1990.
That places New Zealand 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 71.9% | — |
| 1991 | 72.8% | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 73.1% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 73.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 74.1% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 74.6% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 76.1% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 76.1% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 76.8% | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 77.4% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 77.3% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 78.3% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 78.5% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 79.7% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 79.6% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 80.4% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 80.5% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 81.1% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 82.0% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 82.7% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 82.8% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 83.2% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 84.2% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 84.5% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 84.8% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 84.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 85.1% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 85.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 85.8% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 86.9% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 86.0% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 87.1% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 87.8% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 87.8% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 88.4% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 88.4% | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 88.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 83.3%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 88.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 83.2%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.6% | 71.9% | 77.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.0% | 77.3% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.7% | 82.8% | 86.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 87.6% | 86.0% | 88.4% | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in New Zealand?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in New Zealand was 88.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 88.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.9% in 1990.
- How does New Zealand rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- New Zealand ranks 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).