Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 159.8 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand stood at 159.8. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 10.3% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand peaked at 159.8 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 96.47, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 42nd of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 132.55 | — |
| 2015 | 135.45 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 134.72 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 128.62 | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 120.05 | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 115.33 | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 131.15 | +13.7% |
| 2021 | 109.4 | -16.6% |
| 2022 | 96.47 | -11.8% |
| 2023 | 113.62 | +17.8% |
| 2024 | 144.85 | +27.5% |
| 2025 | 159.8 | +10.3% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 159.8 is below the median for high income countries, which is 169.05, 95% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 159.8 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 159.8, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 127.79 | 115.33 | 135.45 | 6 |
| 2020s | 125.88 | 96.47 | 159.8 | 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 unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand?
- Unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand was 159.8 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 159.8 in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 96.47 in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- New Zealand ranks 42nd out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.