New Zealand Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Overview
New Zealand's youth unemployment stood at 14.36% in 2025, a rise of +0.32pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 15.51% by 2026. New Zealand ranked 103rd globally.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 18.00% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 16.75% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 15.51% | - | - |
| 2025 | 14.36% | +0.32pp | #103 |
| 2024 | 14.04% | +3.33pp | #101 |
| 2023 | 10.71% | +1.35pp | #75 |
| 2022 | 9.36% | −1.13pp | #59 |
| 2021 | 10.49% | −1.95pp | #62 |
| 2020 | 12.44% | +1.15pp | #72 |
| 2019 | 11.29% | −0.54pp | #83 |
| 2018 | 11.83% | −1.14pp | #87 |
| 2017 | 12.97% | −0.51pp | #91 |
| 2016 | 13.47% | −0.40pp | #91 |
| 2015 | 13.87% | −0.24pp | #91 |
| 2014 | 14.11% | −1.19pp | #90 |
| 2013 | 15.30% | −2.70pp | #91 |
| 2012 | 18.00% | +0.49pp | #107 |
| 2011 | 17.51% | +0.09pp | #103 |
Analysis
New Zealand's youth unemployment was 14.36% in 2025, a rise of +0.32pp from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 15.51% by 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's youth unemployment was 14.36% in 2025. Ranked 103rd globally. This represents a 2.3% increase from the previous year.
New Zealand's youth unemployment peaked at 19.32% in 1991.
The lowest youth unemployment in New Zealand was 9.36% in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 103rd globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's youth unemployment is projected to reach 15.51% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of New Zealand in 2025 was 14.36%. This ranks 103rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_youth-unemployment,
title = {New Zealand Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/youth-unemployment},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}