Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey

The Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey (YHWS) is New Zealand's largest, nationally representative survey of young people aimed at understanding youth health and wellbeing.

Before 1999, there was a crucial data-gap and a need for comprehensive, current and nationally representative information about the health, mental health and wellbeing of young people in New Zealand. This led to the development of the Youth2000 survey series by a group of academics, whose work has since established a foundational evidence base on youth wellbeing. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) undertook the What About Me? survey in 2021, the findings from which built on those from the Youth2000 series.

The YHWS 2025 represents the merging and continuation of What About Me? and the Youth2000 surveys to produce a single survey that can help track youth health and wellbeing trends from the past 25-years onward. In addition to merging surveys, the YHWS 2025 includes various new questions including on social media, screen time, aspirations for the future, and presents a refreshed snapshot of youth psychological distress. These surveys run approximately every three years and the YHWS 2025 is the sixth version of this survey.

The YHWS is the biggest survey capturing youth-voices (that is, the young people answer it, not a caregiver or teacher on their behalf) in the country. Because of this, YHWS results are widely used by people working in government, in universities and in non-government organisations to understand how things might be changing for young people, including things that are positively or negatively impacting them.

Findings from the Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey 2025

The YHWS 2025 was conducted between March and September 2025. A total of around 9,400 young people, aged 13 to 19, completed digital questionnaires in school settings across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The survey findings identified areas of strength, resilience and challenges for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand:

• Wellbeing - most young people reported having good or excellent wellbeing (65.6%).
• Screen time and social media - young people self-reported relatively high rates of screen and social media use. 56.0% of young people spend at least five hours on screens a day. 33.5% reported spending at least five hours on social media a day.
• Safe homes - most young people live with someone who cares for them and loves them (90.0%). A majority of young people report their homes are warm (96.1%), safe (88.9%), and damp-free (78.7%).
• School attendance - 71.3% of young people think it’s important to be at school daily.
• Mental health - about a fifth (21.2%) of young people who answered enough of the “screening” questions met thresholds for high levels of psychological distress, around one in eight (13.2%) reported high levels of depressive symptoms, and about a third (31.6%) reported levels of symptoms indicating they are at high risk of having possible disordered eating problems and may benefit from further assessment.

Main Reports

An overview report, with the context for the survey and key findings.

An Excel spreadsheet with detailed breakdowns for responses to all survey questions by ethnicity (Māori, Pacific Peoples, Asian, European), Rainbow indicator, Years grouping, gender, disability (based on Washington Group Short Set), and region (Auckland, Rest of North Island, South Island).

The data dictionary has information about variables in the data and how they relate to the questionnaire.

A fieldwork technical report, describing survey methods and other technical aspects of survey design and collection

An analysis technical summary, describing the analytical methods and decisions for production of the overview infographic report and data tables infographic report.

Accompanying reports

Detailed technical report appendices, containing supporting fieldwork documentation

The YHWS survey questionnaire which could be completed by students in either te Reo or English.

Accessing the YHWS 2025 dataset

The YHWS 2025 dataset is available to approved researchers in the Stats NZ Data Lab. More information about the application process for organisations and researchers to conduct research in Stats NZ Data Labs can be found here.  

Media enquires

If you have a media enquiry regarding the YHWS 2025 please contact the MSD media team:

Email: media@msd.govt.nz

Phone: 04 916 3496

Here to Help

If you are feeling down, or like you need some support, check out our Here to Help PDF where you will find a range of supports like crisis lines, 24/7 counselling, free tools to do in your own time, or where to find a mental health professional near you.

Previous iterations

Findings from What About Me? The Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey 2021 and other youth health and wellbeing resources can be accessed here: