Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand
New Zealand: Proportion of total government spending on essential services was 13.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand is 13.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand peaked at 20.6% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 2025.
That places New Zealand 57th out of 129 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.2% | — |
| 2004 | 20.6% | +27.0% |
| 2005 | 20.2% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 18.6% | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 16.7% | -10.1% |
| 2009 | 16.5% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | -12.4% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | +13.2% |
| 2013 | 16.3% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 16.4% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 16.6% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 16.5% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 16.2% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 15.8% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 14.0% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 13.3% | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 13.5% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 13.4% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 13.1% | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.1% | 16.2% | 20.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 14.7% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 13.1% | 14.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 54 Ethiopia 13.5% compare
- 55 Liberia 13.2% compare
- 56 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 13.2% compare
- 58 El Salvador 13.1% compare
- 59 Seychelles 12.8% compare
- 60 Belarus 12.8% compare
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand?
- Proportion of total government spending on essential services in New Zealand was 13.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 2004.
- What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 2025.
- How does New Zealand rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services?
- New Zealand ranks 57th out of 129 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of total government spending on essential services rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, education (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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