Youth unemployment rate in New Zealand
New Zealand: Youth unemployment rate was 14.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Youth unemployment rate in New Zealand, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, youth unemployment rate in New Zealand stood at 14.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth unemployment rate in New Zealand peaked at 19.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 82nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Youth unemployment rate in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.3% | — |
| 1992 | 19.1% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 17.9% | -6.7% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | -13.5% |
| 1995 | 12.3% | -20.6% |
| 1996 | 12.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 13.6% | +11.1% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | +10.3% |
| 1999 | 14.2% | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 13.5% | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 12.1% | -10.4% |
| 2002 | 11.7% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 10.5% | -10.6% |
| 2004 | 9.7% | -7.9% |
| 2005 | 9.8% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 9.9% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | +13.0% |
| 2009 | 16.8% | +46.9% |
| 2010 | 17.4% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 17.5% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 18.0% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 15.3% | -15.0% |
| 2014 | 14.1% | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 13.5% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 13.0% | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -8.8% |
| 2019 | 11.3% | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 12.4% | +10.2% |
| 2021 | 10.5% | -15.7% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | -10.8% |
| 2023 | 10.7% | +14.4% |
| 2024 | 14.0% | +31.0% |
| 2025 | 14.4% | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.5% | 12.2% | 19.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.5% | 9.7% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.6% | 11.3% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 9.4% | 14.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 79 Kuwait 15.1% compare
- 80 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 14.6% compare
- 81 Tajikistan 14.6% compare
- 83 Hungary 14.2% compare
- 84 Puerto Rico 14.0% compare
- 85 Brazil 14.0% compare
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 youth unemployment rate in New Zealand?
- Youth unemployment rate in New Zealand was 14.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest youth unemployment rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest youth unemployment rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for youth unemployment rate?
- New Zealand ranks 82nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is youth unemployment rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Youth unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force aged 15-24 without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.