Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 15.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand is 15.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.7% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand peaked at 19.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 8.1%, in 1986.
That places New Zealand 62nd out of 160 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 8.1% | — |
| 1987 | 8.2% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 11.1% | +34.7% |
| 1989 | 13.9% | +25.1% |
| 1990 | 14.5% | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 19.3% | +33.8% |
| 1992 | 19.2% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 17.9% | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | -13.5% |
| 1995 | 12.3% | -20.7% |
| 1996 | 12.2% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 13.6% | +11.1% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | +10.7% |
| 1999 | 14.2% | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 13.5% | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 12.1% | -10.5% |
| 2002 | 11.7% | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 10.5% | -10.7% |
| 2004 | 9.6% | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 9.8% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 9.9% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 9.9% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 11.0% | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 16.0% | +45.2% |
| 2010 | 16.6% | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 16.2% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 16.9% | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 15.3% | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 14.1% | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 13.4% | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -8.8% |
| 2019 | 11.3% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 12.4% | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 10.5% | -15.2% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | -10.7% |
| 2023 | 10.8% | +14.7% |
| 2024 | 14.2% | +31.0% |
| 2025 | 15.7% | +10.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 15.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.1× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 15.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.0%, 2.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.3% | 8.1% | 13.9% | 4 |
| 1990s | 15.4% | 12.2% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.4% | 9.6% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.2% | 11.3% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 9.4% | 15.7% | 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand was 15.7% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.1% in 1986.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- New Zealand ranks 62nd out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.