New Zealand Unemployment Rate
1986 - 2026 | Quarterly | % | Stats NZ
Key information about New Zealand Unemployment Rate
- New Zealand Unemployment Rate dropped to 5.30% in Mar 2026, from the previously reported figure of 5.40% in Dec 2025.
- New Zealand Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1986 to Mar 2026, with an average rate of 4.10%.
- The data reached an all-time high of 11.20% in Sep 1991 and a record low of 3.20% in Dec 2021.
- The data is reported by reported by Stats NZ.
- In the latest reports, New Zealand Population reached 5.34 million people in Dec 2025.
View New Zealand's Unemployment Rate from Mar 1986 to Mar 2026 in the chart:
What was New Zealand's Unemployment Rate in Mar 2026?
New Zealand Unemployment Rate dropped to 5.30% in Mar 2026, from the previously reported figure of 5.40% in Dec 2025. See the table below for more data.
| Last | Previous | Min | Max | Unit | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.30 Mar 2026 | 5.40 Dec 2025 | 3.20 Dec 2021 | 11.20 Sep 1991 | % | quarterly | Mar 1986 - Mar 2026 |
Unemployment Rate by Country Comparison
| country/region | Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania (%) | 8.28 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2012 - Dec 2025 |
| Algeria (%) | 11.40 Jun 2019 | quarterly | Mar 2014 - Jun 2019 |
| Argentina (%) | 7.60 Jun 2025 | quarterly | Jun 1990 - Jun 2025 |
| Armenia (%) | 13.11 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2008 - Dec 2025 |
| Australia (%) | 4.26 Mar 2026 | monthly | Feb 1978 - Mar 2026 |
| Austria (%) | 5.60 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1993 - Mar 2026 |
| Azerbaijan (%) | 5.20 Sep 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2008 - Sep 2025 |
| Bahrain (%) | 5.60 2025 | yearly | 1991 - 2025 |
| Bangladesh (%) | 5.30 2020 | yearly | 1991 - 2020 |
| Belarus (%) | 0.10 Mar 2026 | monthly | Oct 2004 - Mar 2026 |
| Belgium (%) | 6.30 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1983 - Mar 2026 |
| Bolivia (%) | 1.75 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Dec 2015 - Dec 2025 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (%) | 12.21 2025 | yearly | 2006 - 2025 |
| Botswana (%) | 23.14 2024 | yearly | 1991 - 2024 |
| Brazil (%) | 6.10 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 2012 - Mar 2026 |
| Brunei (%) | 5.07 2025 | yearly | 1981 - 2025 |
| Bulgaria (%) | 3.20 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2000 - Dec 2025 |
| Cambodia (%) | 0.70 2023 | yearly | 2020 - 2023 |
| Canada (%) | 6.90 Apr 2026 | monthly | Jan 1976 - Apr 2026 |
| Chile (%) | 8.93 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 2009 - Mar 2026 |
| China (%) | 5.40 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 2017 - Mar 2026 |
| Colombia (%) | 8.79 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2001 - Mar 2026 |
| Croatia (%) | 5.50 Mar 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1998 - Mar 2025 |
| Cyprus (%) | 4.30 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2000 - Mar 2026 |
| Czech Republic (%) | 3.28 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1993 - Mar 2026 |
| Denmark (%) | 6.40 Oct 2025 | monthly | Jan 1983 - Oct 2025 |
| Ecuador (%) | 3.38 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Dec 2013 - Mar 2026 |
| Egypt (%) | 6.20 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2003 - Dec 2025 |
| Estonia (%) | 7.10 Sep 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1997 - Sep 2025 |
| European Union (%) | 6.00 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2000 - Mar 2026 |
| Finland (%) | 10.50 Oct 2025 | monthly | Jan 1988 - Oct 2025 |
| France (%) | 7.70 Sep 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1975 - Sep 2025 |
| Georgia (%) | 13.88 2025 | yearly | 1991 - 2025 |
| Germany (%) | 4.00 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1991 - Mar 2026 |
| Ghana (%) | 2.98 2025 | yearly | 1991 - 2025 |
| Greece (%) | 8.20 Sep 2025 | monthly | Apr 1998 - Sep 2025 |
| Hong Kong SAR, China (%) | 3.70 Mar 2026 | monthly | Oct 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Hungary (%) | 4.66 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2000 - Mar 2026 |
| Iceland (%) | 3.35 Dec 2024 | monthly | Jan 2003 - Dec 2024 |
| India (%) | 7.11 2020 | yearly | 1991 - 2020 |
| Indonesia (%) | 4.85 2025 | yearly | 1984 - 2025 |
| Iran (%) | 9.40 Mar 2022 | quarterly | Jun 2001 - Mar 2022 |
| Ireland (%) | 5.00 Oct 2025 | monthly | Jan 1998 - Oct 2025 |
| Israel (%) | 3.02 Oct 2025 | monthly | Jan 2012 - Oct 2025 |
| Italy (%) | 6.14 Sep 2025 | monthly | Jan 1983 - Sep 2025 |
| Ivory Coast (%) | 3.50 2020 | yearly | 1991 - 2020 |
| Japan (%) | 2.70 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1953 - Mar 2026 |
| Jordan (%) | 21.20 Nov 2025 | quarterly | Feb 2000 - Nov 2025 |
| Kazakhstan (%) | 4.50 Apr 2026 | monthly | Jan 2001 - Apr 2026 |
| Kenya (%) | 2.98 2020 | yearly | 1991 - 2020 |
| South Korea (%) | 2.80 Apr 2026 | monthly | Jun 1999 - Apr 2026 |
| Kosovo (%) | 10.90 Dec 2024 | quarterly | Mar 2016 - Dec 2024 |
| Kuwait (%) | 0.93 2021 | yearly | 1999 - 2021 |
| Kyrgyzstan (%) | 3.70 2024 | yearly | 1992 - 2024 |
| Laos (%) | 0.95 2020 | yearly | 1991 - 2020 |
| Latvia (%) | 7.00 Dec 2025 | monthly | Jan 1998 - Dec 2025 |
| Lebanon (%) | 29.56 2021 | yearly | 2004 - 2021 |
| Lithuania (%) | 6.50 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1998 - Mar 2026 |
| Luxembourg (%) | 6.35 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1995 - Mar 2026 |
| Macau SAR, China (%) | 1.60 Mar 2026 | monthly | Sep 1996 - Mar 2026 |
| North Macedonia (%) | 11.40 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Sep 2021 - Dec 2025 |
| Malawi (%) | 6.60 2013 | yearly | 2005 - 2013 |
| Malaysia (%) | 2.90 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2010 - Mar 2026 |
| Malta (%) | 3.39 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2018 - Dec 2025 |
| Mauritius (%) | 7.10 Mar 2020 | quarterly | Mar 2004 - Mar 2020 |
| Mexico (%) | 2.80 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2005 - Mar 2026 |
| Moldova (%) | 3.97 Jun 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1999 - Jun 2025 |
| Mongolia (%) | 5.60 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Sep 2006 - Dec 2025 |
| Montenegro (%) | 10.90 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2008 - Dec 2025 |
| Morocco (%) | 10.80 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 1999 - Mar 2026 |
| Mozambique (%) | 6.63 2025 | yearly | 1991 - 2025 |
| Myanmar (%) | 1.79 2020 | yearly | 1991 - 2020 |
| Nepal (%) | 4.44 2020 | yearly | 1991 - 2020 |
| Netherlands (%) | 4.00 Oct 2025 | monthly | Jan 2003 - Oct 2025 |
| New Zealand (%) | 5.30 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 1986 - Mar 2026 |
| Nigeria (%) | 4.30 Jun 2024 | quarterly | Dec 2022 - Jun 2024 |
| Norway (%) | 4.90 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1989 - Mar 2026 |
| Oman (%) | 2.40 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 2018 - Mar 2026 |
| Pakistan (%) | 6.90 2025 | yearly | 1980 - 2025 |
| Palestinian Territory (%) | 29.50 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 2000 - Mar 2026 |
| Panama (%) | 10.40 2025 | yearly | 2003 - 2025 |
| Paraguay (%) | 5.26 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 2017 - Mar 2026 |
| Peru (%) | 6.84 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 2001 - Mar 2026 |
| Philippines (%) | 5.30 Jul 2025 | quarterly | Jul 1982 - Jul 2025 |
| Poland (%) | 6.10 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1990 - Mar 2026 |
| Portugal (%) | 7.20 Jan 2021 | monthly | Feb 1998 - Jan 2021 |
| Qatar (%) | 0.10 2024 | yearly | 1997 - 2024 |
| Romania (%) | 5.90 Sep 2025 | monthly | Jan 2004 - Sep 2025 |
| Russia (%) | 2.20 Jan 2026 | monthly | Jan 1994 - Jan 2026 |
| Saudi Arabia (%) | 3.53 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2012 - Dec 2025 |
| Serbia (%) | 8.20 Sep 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2014 - Sep 2025 |
| Singapore (%) | 2.00 Sep 2025 | monthly | Mar 2020 - Sep 2025 |
| Slovakia (%) | 5.23 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2006 - Mar 2026 |
| Slovenia (%) | 4.10 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Jun 1997 - Dec 2025 |
| South Africa (%) | 32.70 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 2008 - Mar 2026 |
| Spain (%) | 10.83 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 2002 - Mar 2026 |
| Sri Lanka (%) | 3.80 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 2004 - Dec 2025 |
| Sudan (%) | 20.30 2010 | yearly | 1993 - 2010 |
| Sweden (%) | 8.96 Oct 2025 | monthly | Jan 1983 - Oct 2025 |
| Switzerland (%) | 5.02 Dec 2025 | monthly | Jan 1991 - Dec 2025 |
Accurate Macro & Micro Economic Data You Can Trust
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Learn more about what we doNew Zealand Key Series
| Government and Public Finance | Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated Fiscal Balance: % of GDP (%) | -1.2 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Dec 1999 - Dec 2025 |
| Consolidated Fiscal Balance (USD mn) | -4,697.177 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 1999 - Mar 2026 |
| Tax Revenue (USD mn) | 79,994.882 2025 | yearly | 1999 - 2025 |
| Tax Revenue: % of GDP (%) | 30.5 2025 | yearly | 1999 - 2025 |
| National Government Debt (USD mn) | 130,325.2 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Dec 2006 - Mar 2026 |
| Government Debt: % of GDP (%) | 49.4 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Dec 2006 - Dec 2025 |
| Forecast: Government Expenditure (NZD bn) | 216.921 2031 | yearly | 1985 - 2031 |
| Forecast: Government Net Debt (NZD bn) | 317.093 2031 | yearly | 1985 - 2031 |
| Forecast: Government Revenue (NZD bn) | 213.303 2031 | yearly | 1985 - 2031 |
| General Government: ytd: Borrowings: Gross Sovereign Issued Debt Excluding Reser... (NZD mn) | 228,240.211 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Dec 2006 - Mar 2026 |
| General Government: ytd: Borrowings (NZD mn) | 295,081.000 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Jun 2002 - Mar 2026 |
| General Government: ytd: Expenses (NZD mn) | 132,721.000 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 1999 - Mar 2026 |
| General Government: ytd: Revenue (NZD mn) | 124,762.000 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 1999 - Mar 2026 |
| Foreign Trade | Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forecast: Exports of Goods Growth (%) | 2.679 2031 | yearly | 1980 - 2031 |
| Trade Balance (USD mn) | 408.2 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1960 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Exports (USD mn) | 4,645.6 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1957 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Exports Growth (%) | 7.3 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1952 - Mar 2026 |
| Aluminum: Exports (USD th) | 748,011.388 2024 | yearly | 1995 - 2024 |
| Exports: Medicament (USD th) | 141,065.733 2024 | yearly | 1995 - 2024 |
| Exports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) | 300,779.899 2024 | yearly | 1995 - 2024 |
| Total Imports (USD mn) | 4,237.4 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1960 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Imports Growth (%) | 9.6 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1961 - Mar 2026 |
| Imports: Medicament (USD th) | 1,026,250.125 2024 | yearly | 1995 - 2024 |
| Imports: Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Product (USD th) | 436,775.230 2024 | yearly | 1995 - 2024 |
| Total Exports to USA (USD mn) | 530.827 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Imports from USA (USD mn) | 379.074 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Exports to China (USD mn) | 1,063.800 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Imports from China (USD mn) | 998.795 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1982 - Mar 2026 |
| Import Volume Index (Jun2002=1000) | 2,914.000 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1949 - Dec 2025 |
| Import Volume Index: sa (Jun2002=1000) | 2,788.000 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Jun 1990 - Dec 2025 |
| Export Volume Index: Exclude Re Export (Jun2002=1000) | 1,461.000 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1951 - Dec 2025 |
| Export Volume Index: Exclude Re Export: sa (Jun2002=1000) | 1,440.000 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Jun 1990 - Dec 2025 |
| Exports: fob: Australia (NZD mn) | 1,060.819 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 1988 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: United States (NZD mn) | 907.706 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: Japan (NZD mn) | 339.552 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: China (NZD mn) | 2,128.062 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: United Kingdom (NZD mn) | 209.512 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: Australia: sa (NZD mn) | 998.081 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: China: sa (NZD mn) | 1,819.083 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jul 1981 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: SITC: Manufacturing: Goods (NZD mn) | 368.193 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2002 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: SITC: Crude Materials (NZD mn) | 807.787 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2002 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: SITC: Mineral Fuels (NZD mn) | 19.650 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2002 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: SITC: Manufacturing: Machinery & Transport Equipment (NZD mn) | 495.345 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2002 - Mar 2026 |
| Exports: fob: SITC: Food & Live Animals (NZD mn) | 5,086.579 Mar 2026 | monthly | Jan 2002 - Mar 2026 |
| Term Trade Index (Jun2002=1000) | 1,593.000 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1957 - Dec 2025 |
| Export Value Index (2015=100) | 120.500 2023 | yearly | 1995 - 2023 |
| Import Value Index (2015=100) | 136.700 2023 | yearly | 1995 - 2023 |
| Monetary | Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non Performing Loans Ratio (%) | 0.5 Dec 2017 | quarterly | Mar 1996 - Dec 2017 |
| Household Debt: % of GDP (%) | 91.1 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Dec 1990 - Dec 2025 |
| Money Supply M1 (USD mn) | 78,784.867 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 2016 - Mar 2026 |
| Money Supply M2 (USD mn) | 260,172.152 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 1988 - Mar 2026 |
| M2 Growth (%) | 5.6 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 1989 - Mar 2026 |
| Foreign Exchange Reserves (USD mn) | 31,323.1 Mar 2026 | monthly | Sep 2005 - Mar 2026 |
| Foreign Exchange Reserves: % of GDP (%) | 9.623 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Sep 2005 - Dec 2025 |
| Foreign Exchange Reserves: Months of Import (NA) | 7.6 Mar 2026 | monthly | Sep 2005 - Mar 2026 |
| Gold Reserves (USD mn) | 0.000 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 1950 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Deposits (USD mn) | 282,755.773 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 2016 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Deposits Growth (%) | 5.0 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 2017 - Mar 2026 |
| Domestic Credit (USD mn) | 364,984.9 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 1988 - Mar 2026 |
| Domestic Credit Growth (%) | 5.0 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 1989 - Mar 2026 |
| Credit to Households (USD bn) | 231.046 Sep 2025 | quarterly | Dec 1990 - Sep 2025 |
| Credit to Private Non-Financial Sector (USD bn) | 412.759 Sep 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1960 - Sep 2025 |
| Household Debt (USD mn) | 234,208.8 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 1990 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Loans (USD mn) | 347,228.525 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 2016 - Mar 2026 |
| Total Loans Growth (%) | 5.30 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 2017 - Mar 2026 |
| Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP (%) | 136.85 Dec 2025 | quarterly | Mar 1988 - Dec 2025 |
| Depository Corp: Money Supply: Broad Money: Narrow Money (NZD mn) | 137,977.000 Mar 2026 | monthly | Dec 2016 - Mar 2026 |
| Depository Corp: Domestic Credit (NZD mn) | 639,203.000 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 1988 - Mar 2026 |
| Depository Corp: Money Supply: Broad Money (NZD mn) | 455,643.000 Mar 2026 | monthly | Mar 1988 - Mar 2026 |
| Official Reserve Assets (NZD mn) | 60,718.073 Mar 2026 | monthly | Sep 2005 - Mar 2026 |
| Official Reserve Assets: Foreign Currency Reserves (NZD mn) | 45,690.018 Mar 2026 | monthly | Sep 2005 - Mar 2026 |
| Business and Economic Survey | Last | Frequency | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Confidence Growth (% Point) | 10.2 Oct 2025 | monthly | Aug 2003 - Oct 2025 |
| House Price Inflation: Net Percent Expecting (%) | 79.100 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 2022 - Mar 2026 |
| House Price Inflation: Net Percent Expecting Higher (%) | -27.500 Mar 2026 | quarterly | Mar 2022 - Mar 2026 |
| Business Outlook Survey: Service: Business Confidence Index (Point) | -18.600 Apr 2026 | monthly | Feb 1991 - Apr 2026 |
| Business Outlook Survey: Manufacturing: Business Confidence Index (Point) | 6.300 Apr 2026 | monthly | Feb 1991 - Apr 2026 |
| Business Outlook Survey: Retail: Business Confidence Index (Point) | 2.000 Apr 2026 | monthly | Feb 1991 - Apr 2026 |
| Business Outlook Survey: Construction: Business Confidence Index (Point) | 19.600 Apr 2026 | monthly | Feb 1991 - Apr 2026 |
| Business Outlook Survey: All Industries: Business Confidence Index (Point) | -10.600 Apr 2026 | monthly | Feb 1991 - Apr 2026 |
| Performance Manufacturing Index (NA) | 54.000 Mar 2026 | monthly | Aug 2002 - Mar 2026 |
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