New Zealand Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
New Zealand's youth unemployment was 14.36% in 2025, ranked 103rd globally. This represents a 2.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
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.
New Zealand’s youth unemployment rate stood at 14.36 percent in 2025, placing the country 103rd in the global ranking and closely matching Hungary’s 14.21 percent and Tajikistan’s 14.59 percent. The indicator has traversed a 35‑year span from a post‑recession high of 19.32 percent in 1991, the all‑time peak, down to a historic trough of 9.36 percent in 2022, before rebounding modestly in the most recent year. The decline from the early‑1990s reflects structural reforms, expanded vocational training and a relatively tight domestic labour market, while the slight uptick after 2022 coincides with pandemic‑related disruptions and tighter credit conditions that have constrained entry‑level job creation. Compared with peers, New Zealand’s rate remains marginally above the United Kingdom’s 14.65 percent, suggesting that further reductions will depend on sustaining skill‑development programmes and improving the match between graduate output and industry demand. Continued policy focus on apprenticeship pathways could reverse the recent rise and restore the downward trajectory.
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}
}