Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — New Zealand

Labor force participation rate in New Zealand in 2025 — 70.35%. Ranked 26 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 6.86 pp.

2025 70.35% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 26of 182
Period maximum 71.5%2023
Period minimum 62.87%1993

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — New Zealand, 1990–202562.56567.57072.519901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 63.49%1991: 63.43%1992: 62.94%1993: 62.87%1994: 63.68%1995: 64.31%1996: 65.15%1997: 65.01%1998: 64.58%1999: 64.66%2000: 64.77%2001: 65.34%2002: 66.04%2003: 65.83%2004: 66.43%2005: 67.19%2006: 67.74%2007: 68.01%2008: 67.97%2009: 67.75%2010: 67.54%2011: 67.9%2012: 67.64%2013: 67.41%2014: 68.31%2015: 68.4%2016: 69.55%2017: 70.48%2018: 70.51%2019: 70.17%2020: 69.86%2021: 70.4%2022: 70.93%2023: 71.5%2024: 70.55%2025: 70.35%
Change over the period: +6.86 pp Annual average: 0.2 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: New Zealand

New Zealand 70.35%
World 60.98%
Australia and New Zealand computed 67.15%
High-income countries computed 61.12%
Labor force participation rate — New Zealand, by year New Zealand All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 70.35 −0.2 pp
2024 70.55 −0.95 pp
2023 71.5 +0.57 pp
2022 70.93 +0.53 pp
2021 70.4 +0.53 pp
2020 69.86 −0.31 pp
2019 70.17 −0.33 pp
2018 70.51 +0.03 pp
2017 70.48 +0.93 pp
2016 69.55 +1.15 pp
2015 68.4 +0.09 pp
2014 68.31 +0.9 pp
2013 67.41 −0.23 pp
2012 67.64 −0.26 pp
2011 67.9 +0.36 pp
2010 67.54 −0.2 pp
2009 67.75 −0.22 pp
2008 67.97 −0.04 pp
2007 68.01 +0.27 pp
2006 67.74 +0.55 pp
2005 67.19 +0.76 pp
2004 66.43 +0.6 pp
2003 65.83 −0.21 pp
2002 66.04 +0.7 pp
2001 65.34 +0.58 pp
2000 64.77 +0.11 pp
1999 64.66 +0.08 pp
1998 64.58 −0.43 pp
1997 65.01 −0.15 pp
1996 65.15 +0.84 pp
1995 64.31 +0.63 pp
1994 63.68 +0.81 pp
1993 62.87 −0.08 pp
1992 62.94 −0.48 pp
1991 63.43 −0.07 pp
1990 63.49

Australia and New Zealand, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

NZ New Zealand 70.35 AU Australia 66.54

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.