New Zealand: Health System Overview - World Health Systems Facts

Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births), 2023: 7
Under-five mortality rate (per 1000 live births), 2024: 4.7
Neonatal mortality rate (per 1000 live births), 2024: 2.7
New HIV infections (per 1000 uninfected population), 2024: <0.1
Tuberculosis incidence (per 100 000 population), 2024: 7.9
Probability of dying from any of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease between age 30 and exact age 70 (%), 2021: 10.3%
Suicide mortality rate (per 100,000 population), 2021: 11.9
Adolescent birth rate (per 1000 women aged 15-19 years), 2016-2025: 11.0
Adolescent birth rate (per 1000 women aged 10-14 years), 2016-2025: 0.1
Universal Health Coverage: Service coverage index, 2023: 89
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) immunization coverage among 1-year-olds (%), 2024: 89%
Measles-containing-vaccine second-dose (MCV2) immunization coverage by the locally recommended age (%), 2024: 87%
Pneumococcal conjugate 3rd dose (PCV3) immunization coverage among 1-year olds (%), 2024: 60%
Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization coverage estimates among primary target cohort (9-14 years old girls) (%), 2024: 52%
Density of medical doctors (per 10,000 population), 2017-2024: 37.72
Density of nursing and midwifery personnel (per 10,000 population), 2017-2024: 131.24
Density of dentists (per 10,000 population), 2017-2024: 5.17
Density of pharmacists (per 10,000 population), 2016-2024: 7.4
Domestic general government health expenditure (GGHE-D) as percentage of general government expenditure (GGE) (%), 2023: 19.21%
Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 years (%), 2023: 12.4%

Source: World health statistics 2026: Monitoring health for the SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals. Tables of health statistics by country and area, WHO region and globally (last accessed May 13, 2026). Geneva: World Health Organization; 2026. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Population (in thousands), 2023: 5,173
Annual Population Growth Rate (%), 2023: 0.8%
Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023: 82 years
Share of Urban Population (%), 2023: 87%
Annual Growth Rate of Urban Population (%), 2020-2030: 0.9%
Net Migration Rate (per 1,000 population), 2023: 4.1
Under-Five Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births), 2022: 5
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births), 2022: 4
Neonatal Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births), 2022: 2
Mortality Rate Among Children Aged 5-14 Years (per 1,000 children aged 5), 2022: 1
Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000 live births), 2020: 4
Lifetime Risk of Maternal Death (1 in x), 2020: 1 in 13,316
Immunization for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (%), 2023
– Percentage of live births who received bacilli Calmette-Guérin (vaccine against tuberculosis): 99%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine: 99%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine: 99%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of the polio vaccine: 97%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine: 98%
– Percentage of children who received the second dose of measles-containing vaccine as per national schedule: 99%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine: 97%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine: 97%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received the last dose of rotavirus vaccine as recommended: 97%
– Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: 97%
Adolescent Birth Rate (Births Per 1,000 Adolescent Girls and Young Women), 2017-2023
– Aged 10-14: 0
– Aged 15-19: 11
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Per Capita (Current US$), 2015-2023: $48,528
Government Expenditure on Health as % of GDP, 2015-2023: 7.7%
Government Expenditure on Health as % of Government Budget, 2015-2023: 18.6%

Notes: Under-five mortality rate – Probability of dying between birth and exactly 5 years of age, expressed per 1,000 live births.
Infant mortality rate – Probability of dying between birth and exactly 1 year of age, expressed per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal mortality rate – Probability of dying during the first 28 days of life, expressed per 1,000 live births.
Mortality rate (children aged 5 to 14 years) – Probability of dying at age 5–14 years expressed per 1,000 children aged 5.
Maternal mortality ratio – Number of deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes per 100,000 live births during the same time period (modelled estimates).
Lifetime risk of maternal death – Lifetime risk of maternal death takes into account both the probability of becoming pregnant and the probability of dying as a result of that pregnancy, accumulated across a woman’s reproductive years (modelled estimates).
BCG – Percentage of live births who received bacilli Calmette-Guérin (vaccine against tuberculosis).
DTP1 – Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine.
DTP3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine.
Polio3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of the polio vaccine.
MCV1 – Percentage of surviving infants who received the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine.
MCV2 – Percentage of children who received the second dose of measles-containing vaccine as per national schedule.
HepB3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
Hib3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine.
Rota – Percentage of surviving infants who received the last dose of rotavirus vaccine as recommended.
PCV3 – Percentage of surviving infants who received three doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Protection at birth (PAB) – Percentage of newborns protected at birth against tetanus with tetanus toxoid.
Adolescent birth rate – Number of births per 1,000 adolescent girls and young women aged 10–14 and 15–19.
Share of household income – Percentage of income received by the 20 per cent of households with the highest income, by the 40 per cent of households with the lowest income and by the 20 per cent of households with the lowest income.
Gini Coefficient – Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.
Palma Index of income inequality – Palma index is defined as the ratio of the richest 10% of the population’s share of gross national income divided by the poorest 40%’s share.
GDP per capita (current US$) – GDP per capita is gross domestic product divided by midyear population. GDP is the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or for depletion and degradation of natural resources. Data are in current US dollars.
Government revenue as percentage of GDP – Revenue is cash receipts from taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales. Grants are also considered as revenue but are excluded here.
Government expenditure – General government final consumption expenditure (formerly general government consumption) includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). It also includes most expenditures on national defence and security, but excludes government military expenditures that are part of government capital formation.

Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World – Statistical Compendium. UNICEF, Nov. 20, 2024.

“The health system in Aotearoa New Zealand is predominantly publicly financed, with around 80% health spending sourced through general taxation [3]. The public/private mix of financing varies between different services. Most hospital services do not incur fees for patients, but most residents contribute co-payments for primary health care services and pharmaceuticals [4]. Most hospital services are directly provided by public organisations. Community-based health services, including general practice, pharmacy, home care and health promotion services, are predominantly provided by private organisations [5]. Since the mid-1990s, Māori and Pacific health providers have increased their role in the delivery of community-based health and social services for their under-served communities [6,7].”

Source: Tim Tenbensel, Jacqueline Cumming, Esther Willing, The 2022 restructure of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system: Will it succeed in advancing equity where others have failed?, Health Policy, Volume 134, 2023, 104828, ISSN 0168-8510, doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104828.

“There are five key principles of the Pae Ora Act that guide the planning and delivery of publicly-funded health services [20]:

“• equity
“• engagement with Māori, other population groups and other people to meet needs and aspirations
“• opportunities for Māori to exercise decision-making authority on matters of importance to Māori
“• the provision of choice of quality services, including those that reflect mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), and
“• a population health approach which addresses the wider determinants of health.

“Alongside these legislative priorities, the Health System Transition Unit identified five ‘system shifts’ as objectives of the reforms [21]:

“1. The health system will reinforce Te Tiriti principles and obligations.
“2. Everyone will be able to access a comprehensive range of support in their local communities to help them stay well.
“3. Everyone will have equitable access to high-quality emergency or specialist care when they need it.
“4. Digital services will provide more people with the care they need in their homes and communities.
“5. Health and care workers will be valued and well-trained for the future health system.

“The Ministry of Health remains the lead advisor on health, with strategy and policy, Māori health, evidence and research, regulation, and performance management roles continuing as before. But the Ministry no longer has responsibility for disability policy (see below) and no longer directly funds health services. A new Public Health Agency has also been created and embedded within the Ministry of Health.”

“The Ministry of Health remains the lead advisor on health, with strategy and policy, Māori health, evidence and research, regulation, and performance management roles continuing as before. But the Ministry no longer has responsibility for disability policy (see below) and no longer directly funds health services. A new Public Health Agency has also been created and embedded within the Ministry of Health.

“Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority) is an independent Crown Entity, allowing it to act independently, although its board of five-to-eight members is appointed by government. Whoever chairs the Te Aka Whai Ora Board is also appointed to the Board of Te Whatu Ora. The objectives of Te Aka Whai Ora are to ensure that planning and service delivery respond to the aspirations and needs of Māori; promote Māori health; and prevent, reduce, and delay the onset of ill-health for Māori. Its roles are to provide policy and strategy advice; to monitor the delivery and performance of the publicly funded health sector in relation to Māori health; and to jointly develop and implement the New Zealand Health Plan with Te Whatu Ora. It has funding to commission kaupapa Māori services (services aligning with Māori values and practices) and it can also own and operate its own services.

“Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) has been established as a Crown Agent, requiring it to give effect to government policy when directed by the responsible Minister. The 20 DHBs [District Health Boards] were also subject to ministerial authority, although this was counterbalanced by having the majority of Board members chosen through local elections. In practice, however, citizens and community members had little influence over DHBs [22]. Te Whatu Ora’s governance board of between five and eight people is appointed by the Minister of Health. Te Whatu Ora takes over the DHBs’ responsibility for planning of publicly funded health services, and delivery of a wide range of hospital and related services, and public health services. It commissions primary and community care services from a wide range of for-profit and non-profit provider organisations and has a key role in workforce planning.”

World Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems and policies in the US and sixteen other OECD member nations.

Page last updated June 30, 2026 by Doug McVay, Editor.