Working-age population (Organisation) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Working-age population was 4,307 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Working-age population in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, working-age population in New Zealand stood at 4,307 Persons. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, working-age population in New Zealand peaked at 4,307 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,533 Persons, in 1986.
New Zealand ranks 30th of 33 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Working-age population in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 2,533 Persons | — |
| 1987 | 2,555 Persons | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 2,572 Persons | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 2,584 Persons | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 2,612 Persons | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 2,646 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 2,675 Persons | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 2,706 Persons | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 2,743 Persons | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 2,785 Persons | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 2,831 Persons | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 2,870 Persons | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 2,897 Persons | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 2,917 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 2,938 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 2,966 Persons | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 3,023 Persons | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 3,093 Persons | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 3,150 Persons | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 3,199 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 3,251 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 3,289 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 3,320 Persons | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 3,356 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 3,396 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 3,425 Persons | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 3,449 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 3,485 Persons | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 3,554 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 3,641 Persons | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 3,741 Persons | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 3,829 Persons | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 3,909 Persons | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3,975 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 4,056 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 4,070 Persons | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 4,078 Persons | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 4,183 Persons | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 4,267 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 4,307 Persons | +0.9% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 4,307 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 8,857 Persons, 49% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,561 Persons | 2,533 Persons | 2,584 Persons | 4 |
| 1990s | 2,768 Persons | 2,612 Persons | 2,917 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,159 Persons | 2,938 Persons | 3,356 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,640 Persons | 3,396 Persons | 3,975 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,160 Persons | 4,056 Persons | 4,307 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More population data for New Zealand
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,949 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0739 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -14.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.0744 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 256,010 people (2100)
- Population density 22.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.191 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is working-age population in New Zealand?
- Working-age population in New Zealand was 4,307 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest working-age population recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 4,307 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest working-age population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,533 Persons in 1986.
- How does New Zealand rank for working-age population?
- New Zealand ranks 30th out of 33 countries with data for 2025.
- Is working-age population rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Working-age population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on working age population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the working age population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and selected other economies. The working-age population is commonly defined as persons aged 15 years and older. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.