Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand

New Zealand: Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 30.1 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
30.1
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
159th
of 188 countries
All-time high
37.13
in 1993
All-time low
28.5
in 2023
Years of data
38
1990–2027

Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand, 1990–2027

0102030401990200820271990: 36.51991: 36.61992: 37.11993: 37.11994: 36.31995: 35.71996: 34.81997: 351998: 35.41999: 35.32000: 35.22001: 34.72002: 342003: 34.22004: 33.62005: 32.82006: 32.32007: 322008: 322009: 32.32010: 32.52011: 32.12012: 32.42013: 32.62014: 31.72015: 31.62016: 30.52017: 29.52018: 29.52019: 29.82020: 30.12021: 29.62022: 29.12023: 28.52024: 29.42025: 29.62026: 29.92027: 30.1

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in New Zealand is 30.1, measured in 2027.

The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in New Zealand peaked at 37.13 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 28.5, in 2023.

New Zealand ranks 159th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.

Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in New Zealand, 1990 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1990 36.51
1991 36.58 +0.2%
1992 37.06 +1.3%
1993 37.13 +0.2%
1994 36.32 -2.2%
1995 35.69 -1.7%
1996 34.85 -2.4%
1997 34.99 +0.4%
1998 35.42 +1.2%
1999 35.34 -0.2%
2000 35.23 -0.3%
2001 34.66 -1.6%
2002 33.96 -2.0%
2003 34.17 +0.6%
2004 33.57 -1.8%
2005 32.81 -2.3%
2006 32.26 -1.7%
2007 31.99 -0.8%
2008 32.03 +0.1%
2009 32.25 +0.7%
2010 32.46 +0.6%
2011 32.1 -1.1%
2012 32.36 +0.8%
2013 32.59 +0.7%
2014 31.69 -2.8%
2015 31.6 -0.3%
2016 30.45 -3.6%
2017 29.52 -3.1%
2018 29.49 -0.1%
2019 29.83 +1.1%
2020 30.14 +1.0%
2021 29.6 -1.8%
2022 29.07 -1.8%
2023 28.5 -2.0%
2024 29.45 +3.3%
2025 29.65 +0.7%
2026 29.86 +0.7%
2027 30.1 +0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 35.99 34.85 37.13 10
2000s 33.29 31.99 35.23 10
2010s 31.21 29.49 32.59 10
2020s 29.55 28.5 30.14 8

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 156 Ethiopia 31.52 compare
  2. 157 Botswana 30.74 compare
  3. 158 Jamaica 30.3 compare
  4. 160 Burkina Faso 30.1 compare
  5. 161 Bahrain 29.9 compare
  6. 162 Paraguay 29.8 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More gender data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in New Zealand?
Inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) in New Zealand was 30.1 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 37.13 in 1993.
What is the lowest inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 28.5 in 2023.
How does New Zealand rank for inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
New Zealand ranks 159th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is inactivity rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. 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 (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/inactivity-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Inactivity rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,464 data points, 1990–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. 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 ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.