CONTENT
Causes of death across New Zealand are changing because of Population Increase, Life Expectancy rise and Living Standard.On this below article we provide graphical representation of major causes of death in New Zealand.
Highlights of New Zealand BMI and Diet Compositions
Comprehensive data on food supply and consumption is published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Data was analyzed by The Global Graph and is published in these below Highlights, Graphs and Tables (Data Quality & definitions)
- As per United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), average person in New Zealand gets their caloric supply from :
- Carbohydrates : 58.87%
58.87% - Fat : 35.70%
35.70% - Animal protein : 7.49%
7.49% - Plant protein : 5.16%
5.16% - 7.21% increase in caloric supply : Currently New Zealand gets 3137/kilocalories per person per day worth of caloric supply when compared to 2926/kilocalories per person per day in Year 1961
- Cereals & Grains, Oils & Fats and Sugar are three major diet compositions in New Zealand
- Wheat, Rice and Maize are three major Cereal preferences in New Zealand
- National and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on vegetable intake is to range between 200-250g per day and in New Zealand average intake is 354.82 grams
- Apples, Bananas and Oranges & Mandarines are three major Fruit Types Intake in New Zealand
- National and World Health Organization (WHO) typically set a guideline of 200g Fruit Intake per day and in New Zealand average Fruit intake is 271.26grams
- In New Zealand, average male height is in the decreasing trend and female height is in increasing trend
- 68.00% of population is suffering from obesity and this trend is continously increasing from last few years
- Average Male BMI in New Zealand is in the range of obese and Average Female BMI is in range of obese (BMI = Body Mass Index - The WHO define a BMI <=18.5 as 'underweight'; 18.5 to 25 as 'normal/healthy'; 25.0 to 30.0 as 'obese')
Rank | Cereals | kcal/capita/day |
---|---|---|
1 | Wheat | 617 |
2 | Rice | 91 |
3 | Maize | 37 |
4 | Oats | 24 |
5 | Barley | 3 |
6 | Rye | 0 |
Rank | Type | kilocalories per person per day |
---|---|---|
1 | Cereals & Grains | 805 |
2 | Oils & Fats | 583 |
3 | Sugar | 568 |
4 | Meat | 469 |
5 | Fruits & Vegetables | 234 |
6 | Dairy & Eggs | 206 |
7 | Alcoholic Beverages | 109 |
8 | Starchy Roots | 98 |
9 | Pulses | 34 |
10 | Other | 31 |
Major Cause of Death
Cardiovascular diseases was a major cause of death in New Zealand with 11188 registered deaths (in year 2016) i.e. 35% of total deaths. Overall Cardiovascular diseases, Cancers and Dementia were the highest types of death causes in New Zealand.
- We see the maximum number of deaths is seen in age group 70+ with 23689 deaths (year 2016).
- 47.19% kids below age 5 years die because of Neonatal disorders.
- Cancers, Road accidents and Suicide are the major cause of death in kids aged 5 - 14 years.
- Cancers, Suicide and Cardiovascular disease are the major cause of death in people aged 14 - 49 years.
- Cancers, Cardiovascular diseases and Diabetes, blood, and endocrine diseases are the major cause of death in people aged over 50 years.
- Overall, it's observed that 51% of people aging over 50 years die because of Cancers.


Major Risk Factors of Death
- Three Major factors of death in New Zealand are High blood pressure, Smoking and High body-mass index (obesity). Every year around 12 people die due to High blood pressure.
- Low birth weight and Child wasting are the major risk factor of kids death aging under 5 years.
- Alcohol use and High body-mass index (obesity) are the major risk factors of death of people aging between 5 to 14 years.
- Alcohol use, Smoking and High body-mass index (obesity) are the death risk factors of people aging between 15 to 49 years.
- Smoking, High body-mass index (obesity) and High blood pressure are the major death risk factors of people aging between 50 to 69 years.
- High blood pressure is the major death risk factors for people aging more than 70 years.

Cancer Analysis
1.75% of New Zealand population was suffering from cancer i.e. 98477 people (average of years 2011-2016). Highest number of cancer patients deaths were recorded due to Colon & rectum cancer (Count : 1530) and Breast cancer was also concerning with 755 deaths in a year. In last few years it has been observed that, people suffering from Pancreatic cancer have 5% of survival chance.New Zealand was really successful in diagnosing Testicular cancer where 99% of people were cured.Highest number of cancer patients i.e. 43496 people were of age group 50-69 year olds.In 2016, 14432 were suffering from Colon & rectum cancer out of which 1530 people were dead. This means 10.6% death rate of people suffering from Colon & rectum cancer. This below data represents major cancer types in New Zealand and number of deaths due to particular cancer types :
- 1.75 % of New Zealand population is suffering from cancer
- Highest number of deaths were registered due to Colon & rectum cancer
- Testicular cancer was most cured cancer in New Zealand
- Colon & rectum cancer got lowest survival rate

Tables (Appendix)
Cause of Death | Number of Deaths | % of Total Deaths |
---|---|---|
Dementia | 2691 | 8.46% |
Cardiovascular diseases | 11188 | 35.19% |
Kidney disease | 755 | 2.37% |
Respiratory disease | 2172 | 6.83% |
Liver disease | 265 | 0.83% |
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease | 1793 | 5.64% |
Digestive disease | 707 | 2.22% |
Hepatitis | 3 | 0.01% |
Cancers | 9809 | 30.85% |
Parkinson's disease | 258 | 0.81% |
Fire | 24 | 0.08% |
Malaria | 0 | 0% |
Drowning | 49 | 0.15% |
Homicide | 56 | 0.18% |
HIV/AIDS | 9 | 0.03% |
Drug disorder | 70 | 0.22% |
Tuberculosis | 16 | 0.05% |
Road incidents | 355 | 1.12% |
Maternal deaths | 7 | 0.02% |
Neonatal deaths | 126 | 0.4% |
Alcohol disorder | 55 | 0.17% |
Natural disasters | 0 | 0% |
Diarrheal diseases | 65 | 0.2% |
Road incidents | 355 | 1.12% |
Suicide | 536 | 1.69% |
Digestive disease | 707 | 2.22% |
Lower respiratory infections | 740.05636492 | 2.33% |
Kidney disease | 755 | 2.37% |
Diabetes, blood and endocrine disease | 1793 | 5.64% |
Respiratory disease | 2172 | 6.83% |
Dementia | 2691 | 8.46% |
Cancers | 9809 | 30.85% |
Cardiovascular diseases | 11188 | 35.19% |