This page sets out New Zealand’s official net worth figures from Stats NZ and explains what counts as net worth, so you can compare your own situation with the figures.
The median NZ household net worth (year ended June 2024, the most recent Stats NZ release) was approximately $529,000, with owner-occupied dwellings and other real estate (not including those owned through trusts or businesses) making up 48 percent of total household assets. One commonly quoted rule of thumb, not an NZ statistic, is 1x annual income by 30, 3x by 40, 5 to 6x by 50.
What Is Net Worth?
Net worth = Total assets − Total liabilities
Assets include:
- Cash and savings accounts
- KiwiSaver balance
- Other investments (shares, bonds, managed funds)
- Property equity (property value minus remaining mortgage)
- Business value
- Vehicles (fair market value)
- Other valuable property (jewellery, collectibles — typically minor)
Liabilities include:
- Mortgage balance outstanding
- Personal loans
- Car loans
- Credit card balances
- Student loan balance
- Buy Now Pay Later balances
- Any other debts
What net worth is not: income. A person on $200,000/year with $250,000 in debt and no assets has a lower net worth than a person on $50,000/year who owns their home and has $200,000 in savings.
NZ Net Worth Data — What Stats NZ Says
NZ’s official household net worth figures come from Stats NZ’s Household net worth statistics release. The most recent release covers the year ended June 2024, and the one before it covered the year ended June 2021. Stats NZ collects the extra net worth data every three years.
Headline June 2024 Figures
| Measure | Household net worth |
|---|---|
| Median | ~$529,000 |
For comparison, the year ended June 2021 median was ~$399,000 — so the median rose about 33% in three years, driven mainly by higher property values.
Why this page uses the median: the median is the midpoint, where half of households are above and half below. It describes a typical household better than an average, which a small number of very wealthy households can pull up.
The Housing Effect
As at June 2024, owner-occupied dwellings and other real estate (excluding property held through trusts or businesses) made up approximately 48% of total household assets in NZ, up from 43% in 2021.
Net Worth by Age
Stats NZ, year ended June 2024. These are median net worth for individuals, not households. Only the lowest and highest age groups are shown.
| Age bracket | Median individual net worth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15–24 | $4,000 | Lowest median individual net worth of any age group |
| 75 and over | $590,000 | Highest median individual net worth of any age group |
Using the Figures
For benchmarking your personal situation, consider:
- Where you sit relative to peers in similar life circumstances
- Whether you are on a trajectory toward your own goals
- The rules of thumb below, which are not NZ statistics
Rules of Thumb for NZ Net Worth by Age
These multiples are rule-of-thumb figures, not NZ statistics, and sources differ on them:
| Age | Net worth target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1x annual gross income | Early career; establishing foundations |
| 40 | 3x annual gross income | Mortgage paying down, investments growing |
| 50 | 5–6x annual gross income | Peak earning, significant investment base |
| 67 | 10x annual gross income | Retirement; sustainable drawdown |
Example: If your gross income is $70,000 at age 40, a 3x multiple works out at $210,000. This might be: $80,000 KiwiSaver + $60,000 investment account + $70,000 property equity = $210,000.
How to Calculate Your Own Net Worth
Assets
| Asset | Your value |
|---|---|
| Cash and savings | $______ |
| KiwiSaver balance (check with your provider) | $______ |
| Other investments | $______ |
| Property value (estimated market value, not purchase price) | $______ |
| Vehicle current market value | $______ |
| Other | $______ |
| Total assets | $______ |
Liabilities
| Liability | Balance |
|---|---|
| Mortgage outstanding | $______ |
| Personal loans | $______ |
| Car loans | $______ |
| Credit card balances | $______ |
| Student loan | $______ |
| Other debts | $______ |
| Total liabilities | $______ |
Net worth = Total assets − Total liabilities = $_______
Use the Net Worth Calculator for a guided version.
What to Do If You’re Behind
- Compare with your age group. Stats NZ’s figures run from $4,000 for 15 to 24-year-olds to $590,000 for those 75 and over, so a household median across all ages says little about someone early in their career.
- Cover the fundamentals: KiwiSaver contributions (employers generally must also contribute if you contribute from your pay), an emergency fund and paying down high-interest debt.
- Focus on trajectory — are you moving in the right direction? A small positive change consistently compounds.
See How to Build Wealth NZ for the practical framework.