Reference
NZ Household Debt and Savings
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~165%
Household Debt to Income
Mostly mortgages
Make-up of Debt
Quarterly
RBNZ / Stats NZ Data
New Zealand households carry high debt relative to income by international standards, the bulk of it housing-related. These figures, from the Reserve Bank and Stats NZ, give context for your own position: how your debt-to-income and saving rate compare with the national picture. Figures move over time, so check the source for the latest.
DTI Calculator Net Worth Calculator Debt Snowball CalculatorHousehold Debt
| Measure | Approximate level |
|---|---|
| Household debt to disposable income | Around 160% to 170% (so debt is well over a year's after-tax income on average) |
| Share that is housing (mortgage) debt | The large majority; consumer and student debt are much smaller |
| Debt servicing | Rose sharply as mortgage rates climbed from 2022, easing as the OCR fell through 2025 |
Source: RBNZ - Household balance sheet. The debt-to-income figure is an approximate national average; individual situations vary widely.
Household Saving
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Household saving rate | Has been low and at times negative, meaning households spend close to or more than their after-tax income on average |
| KiwiSaver | A major form of household saving, with most employees enrolled and contributing |
| Net worth | Dominated by housing equity for most households |
The takeaway for your own planning: a debt-to-income ratio near the national average is common but leaves little buffer if rates rise or income drops. Building even a modest emergency fund and a regular saving habit puts you ahead of the average household, which saves little. Use the DTI and net worth tools to see where you sit.
Source: Stats NZ household income and saving statistics, and RBNZ. See also our NZ Interest Rates and Mortgage Lending Rules references.
Cite this page
NZ Household Debt and Savings. Calculate.co.nz. https://www.calculate.co.nz/reference/nz-household-debt-and-savings.php (retrieved 16 October 2026).
Figures are compiled from the official sources listed above and reviewed twice monthly.