Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 29.5 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand is 29.5, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand peaked at 31.31 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 27.91, in 2023.
New Zealand ranks 68th of 71 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 31.31 | — |
| 2015 | 31.22 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 30.03 | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 29.09 | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 29.09 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 29.45 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 29.75 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 29.2 | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 28.66 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 27.91 | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 28.74 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 29.5 | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30.03 | 29.09 | 31.31 | 6 |
| 2020s | 28.96 | 27.91 | 29.75 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More gender data for New Zealand
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 907.87 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.6435 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 28,751 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 30,320 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 29,075 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 30,663 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 29,141 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 30,721 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 29,018 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 30,560 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand?
- Inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand was 29.5 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 31.31 in 2014.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.91 in 2023.
- How does New Zealand rank for inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- New Zealand ranks 68th out of 71 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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. This indicator conveys the number of persons of working age outside the labour force (that is, not employed or unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the working-age population. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.