Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in New Zealand
New Zealand: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 35.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in New Zealand, 2005–2025
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics. Measured in %.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 35.0% for proportion of women in ministerial level positions in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in New Zealand peaked at 45.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 2005.
New Zealand ranks 39th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 23.1% | — |
| 2008 | 32.1% | +39.0% |
| 2010 | 28.6% | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 28.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 29.6% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 33.3% | +12.5% |
| 2016 | 37.0% | +11.1% |
| 2018 | 30.8% | -16.8% |
| 2019 | 30.0% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | +33.3% |
| 2022 | 45.0% | +12.5% |
| 2023 | 39.3% | -12.7% |
| 2024 | 35.0% | -10.9% |
| 2025 | 35.0% | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 35.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 28.6%, 1.2× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 35.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.5%, 2.8× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27.6% | 23.1% | 32.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.1% | 28.6% | 37.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 38.9% | 35.0% | 45.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 37 Liberia 35.3% compare
- 37 Panama 35.3% compare
- 40 Armenia 33.3% compare
- 40 Cyprus 33.3% compare
- 40 Denmark 33.3% compare
- 40 Honduras 33.3% compare
- 40 Luxembourg 33.3% compare
- 40 Madagascar 33.3% compare
- 40 Sierra Leone 33.3% compare
- 40 Uganda 33.3% compare
- 40 United States of America 33.3% compare
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 proportion of women in ministerial level positions in New Zealand?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in New Zealand was 35.0% in 2025, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics.
- What is the highest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 45.0% in 2022.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 2005.
- How does New Zealand rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- New Zealand ranks 39th out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics, published as part of Proportion of women in ministerial level positions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Women in ministerial level positions is the proportion of women in ministerial or equivalent positions (including deputy prime ministers) in the government. Prime Ministers/Heads of Government are included when they hold ministerial portfolios. Vice-Presidents and heads of governmental or public agencies are excluded.