Population ages 65 and above, female in New Zealand
New Zealand: Population ages 65 and above, female was 18.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population ages 65 and above, female in New Zealand, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of female population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, female in New Zealand is 18.6%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, female in New Zealand peaked at 18.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 9.6%, in 1965.
That places New Zealand 59th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population ages 65 and above, female in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of female population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.7% | — |
| 1961 | 9.7% | -0.4% |
| 1962 | 9.7% | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 9.6% | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 9.6% | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 9.6% | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 9.6% | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 9.6% | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 9.6% | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 9.7% | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 9.8% | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 9.8% | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 9.9% | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 9.9% | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 10.0% | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 10.1% | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 10.2% | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 10.4% | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 10.7% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 10.9% | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 11.1% | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 11.3% | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 11.5% | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 11.6% | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 11.7% | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 11.9% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 12.1% | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 12.2% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 12.4% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 12.5% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 12.6% | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 12.7% | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 12.8% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 12.9% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 12.9% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 12.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 12.9% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 12.9% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 12.9% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 13.0% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 13.0% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 13.1% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 13.0% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 13.0% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 13.0% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 13.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 13.2% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 13.4% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 13.5% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 13.7% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 13.9% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 14.1% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 14.5% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 14.9% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 15.2% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 15.4% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 15.6% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 15.7% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 16.2% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 16.5% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 16.9% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 17.7% | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 18.2% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 18.6% | +2.5% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 18.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 19.5%, 96% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 18.6% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.8%, 2.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.6% | 9.6% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.2% | 9.8% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.8% | 11.1% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.9% | 12.6% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.2% | 13.0% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.1% | 13.9% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 16.5% | 18.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, female in New Zealand?
- Population ages 65 and above, female in New Zealand was 18.6% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.6% in 1965.
- How does New Zealand rank for population ages 65 and above, female?
- New Zealand ranks 59th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, female rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above, female (% of female population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female population 65 years of age or older as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.