New Zealand: Secondary education, pupils

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, New Zealand's secondary education, pupils rose 4.1% on 2023 (from 540,275 to 562,417).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +1.3% and a typical year strayed about 3.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 8.7% in 2019 and the biggest yearly fall was 5.6% in 2010. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 8,717 a year. A straight line explains 86% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, New Zealand had the 49th highest value of the 100 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to New Zealand in the 2024 ranking

• Cuba — 45th of 100: 662,491
• Switzerland — 46th of 100: 636,381
• Paraguay — 47th of 100: 570,654
• Honduras — 49th of 100: 552,199
• Finland — 50th of 100: 543,350
• Oman — 51st of 100: 541,921

What this measures

Secondary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at secondary level in public and private schools.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 54 values

Secondary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Australia — 2.65 million (2024)
• Brunei Darussalam — 40,924 (2023)
• Cambodia — 1.17 million (2024)
• China — 97.98 million (2024)
• Fiji — 113,613 (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 340,877 (2024)
• Indonesia — 27.84 million (2025)
• Japan — 6.61 million (2023)
• Kiribati — 16,846 (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 2.66 million (2024)
• Lao PDR — 532,092 (2025)

More education data for New Zealand

• Primary school starting age (years) — 5 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 383,018 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.03 (2020)
• School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.05 (2020)
• Primary education, pupils (% female) — 48.6% (2017)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is New Zealand's secondary education, pupils?

562,417 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 85.11% from 303,835 in 1970 (1.15% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 562,417 in 2024 and the lowest 303,835 in 1970.

How does New Zealand rank?

49th highest of 100 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in secondary education, pupils unusual for New Zealand?

In 2024, New Zealand's secondary education, pupils rose 4.1% on 2023 (from 540,275 to 562,417). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +1.3% and a typical year strayed about 3.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.SEC.ENRL, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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