10 answers, 5 from New Zealand's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
73.6% of Year 12 students in New Zealand attained NCEA Level 2 in 2025, the same as in 2024, according to finalised data from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), released on 27 March 2026. 71.5% of Year 13 students attained NCEA Level 3, up from 69.4%.
These rates are based on all students enrolled in each year level. The 2025 Year 12 group was the first to have faced strengthened literacy and numeracy requirements in Year 11. NZQA reports wide differences in attainment between schools facing more and fewer socio-economic barriers.
52.0% of Year 13 students in New Zealand attained University Entrance in 2025, up from 50.6% in 2024, according to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
University Entrance is the minimum requirement for admission to a New Zealand university, though many courses set higher entry requirements. The rate is based on all enrolled Year 13 students. NZQA reported improvements in 2025 for students at schools with more socio-economic barriers, while noting that significant disparities by school equity group and ethnicity remain.
73.5% of the 45,755 Year 11 students who took part in NCEA Level 1 in 2025 attained the qualification, up from 71.5% in 2024, according to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
NCEA Level 1 is optional, and just under a third of Year 11 students do not take part, so its rate is reported on a participation basis rather than for all enrolled students. NZQA said the 2025 increase followed a 2024 decline that was largely due to stronger literacy and numeracy requirements coming into effect.
73.8% of New Zealand students had met the NCEA literacy and numeracy co-requisite by the end of Year 11 in 2025, up 4.3 percentage points from 69.5% in 2024, according to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
The co-requisite became compulsory in 2024: students must pass standards in reading, writing and numeracy (or te reo matatini and pāngarau) to gain any NCEA qualification. NZQA said the increase suggests a stronger focus on teaching and learning and improved support for students.
New Zealand's core Crown education expenses were $21.2 billion in the year ended 30 June 2026, up from $20.9 billion the year before, according to the Treasury's Financial Statements of the Government. Education was the third-largest area of core Crown spending, after social security and welfare and health.
Education spending covers early learning subsidies, state and state-integrated schools, tertiary tuition subsidies and student support. The figure does not include fees paid by families or students.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts net primary school enrolment in New Zealand at 99.1% in 2017. It is 3rd highest of 16 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 94.6%. Worldwide: 12th of 134.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in New Zealand was 114.2% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 125.8%; its low point was 2018, at 112.4%. East Asia & Pacific median: 92.0%; New Zealand is 2nd highest of 16. Of 100 countries with 2024 data, 11th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in New Zealand at 77.2% in 2024. Its high point since 2013 was 2015, at 82.2%; its low point was 2020, at 75.7%. East Asia & Pacific median: 47.4%; New Zealand is 3rd highest of 15. Worldwide: 17th of 90.
5.2% of GDP: that is government spending on education in New Zealand for 2023, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2013 it has ranged from 5.2% of GDP (2022) to 5.9% of GDP (2013). Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 3.8% of GDP, and New Zealand placed 8th highest of 20. World rank, highest first: 24th of 112.
In 2017, the number of primary pupils per teacher in New Zealand was 15, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 16; its low point was 2014, at 14. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 18, and New Zealand placed 15th highest of 18. Of 130 countries with 2017 data, 86th highest.
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