New Zealand: Youth unemployment

The latest value from 2025 is 14.35 percent, an increase from 14.04 percent in 2024. In comparison, the world average is 15.49 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for New Zealand from 1991 to 2025 is 13.48 percent. The minimum value, 9.36 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 19.32 percent was recorded in 1991. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

We present the rate of youth unemployment for New Zealand and other countries. Youth unemployment is the percent of 15-24 year olds who are part of the labor force but are unemployed. Recall that the labor force includes the employed and the unemployed people.

Definition: Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.