Low pay rate in New Zealand
New Zealand: Low pay rate was 4.99 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Low pay rate in New Zealand, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for low pay rate in New Zealand is 4.99, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 46.8% on the previous year and down 64.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, low pay rate in New Zealand peaked at 14.61 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1990.
New Zealand ranks 79th of 84 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Low pay rate in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 13.27 | — |
| 1998 | 13.12 | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 12.28 | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 11.74 | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 12.23 | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 13.63 | +11.5% |
| 2003 | 13.22 | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 13.16 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 12.44 | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 14.61 | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 13.44 | -8.0% |
| 2008 | 12.53 | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 12.87 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 12.72 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 13.69 | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 13.55 | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 14.08 | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 13.87 | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 13.89 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 11.19 | -19.5% |
| 2017 | 12.09 | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 8.51 | -29.7% |
| 2019 | 7.01 | -17.6% |
| 2020 | 8.26 | +17.8% |
| 2021 | 1.6 | -80.6% |
| 2022 | 2.7 | +68.8% |
| 2023 | 3.42 | +26.6% |
| 2024 | 3.4 | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 4.99 | +46.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 4.99 is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.03, 38% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 4.99 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.83, 31% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Low pay rate in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -80.6% | 8.26 | 1.6 |
| 2022 | +68.8% | 1.6 | 2.7 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.87 | 0 | 13.27 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.99 | 11.74 | 14.61 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.06 | 7.01 | 14.08 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.06 | 1.6 | 8.26 | 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)
- Population 4,499 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 4,499 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7305 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is low pay rate in New Zealand?
- Low pay rate in New Zealand was 4.99 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest low pay rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 14.61 in 2006.
- What is the lowest low pay rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1990.
- How does New Zealand rank for low pay rate?
- New Zealand ranks 79th out of 84 countries with data for 2025.
- Is low pay rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Low pay rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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 measure of earnings dispersion refers to the proportion of employees whose hourly earnings at all jobs were less than two-thirds of median hourly earnings. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.