Female unemployment rate in New Zealand
New Zealand: Female unemployment rate was 5.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female unemployment rate in New Zealand, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 5.3% for female unemployment rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.3% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female unemployment rate in New Zealand peaked at 9.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2022.
That places New Zealand 102nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Female unemployment rate in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.8% | — |
| 1992 | 9.7% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 9.0% | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 7.8% | -12.8% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | -16.9% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | +9.8% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | +11.0% |
| 1999 | 6.7% | -12.1% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | -10.7% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 5.5% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 5.1% | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -11.5% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -8.3% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 4.0% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | +44.1% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 6.8% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | -13.0% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | -14.2% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +12.7% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -22.0% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | +12.5% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | +23.8% |
| 2025 | 5.3% | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.8% | 6.2% | 9.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 4.0% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 4.4% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 3.5% | 5.3% | 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 female unemployment rate in New Zealand?
- Female unemployment rate in New Zealand was 5.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female unemployment rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 9.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest female unemployment rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for female unemployment rate?
- New Zealand ranks 102nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female unemployment rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. 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 Female unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.