Birth rates and death rates in New Zealand
New Zealand: Birth rates and death rates was 7.29 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
7.29
Change on year
down 9.1%
World rank
121st
of 236 countries
All-time high
9.6
in 1951
All-time low
6.46
in 2020
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in New Zealand, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 7.29 for birth rates and death rates in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.1% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in New Zealand peaked at 9.6 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 6.46, in 2020.
New Zealand ranks 121st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Birth rates and death rates in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.44 | — |
| 1951 | 9.6 | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 9.38 | -2.3% |
| 1953 | 8.88 | -5.3% |
| 1954 | 8.95 | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 8.9 | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 8.93 | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 9.25 | +3.5% |
| 1958 | 8.77 | -5.1% |
| 1959 | 8.97 | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 8.69 | -3.1% |
| 1961 | 8.86 | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 8.76 | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 8.71 | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 8.71 | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 8.59 | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 8.74 | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 8.36 | -4.3% |
| 1968 | 8.8 | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 8.56 | -2.7% |
| 1970 | 8.7 | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 8.4 | -3.4% |
| 1972 | 8.39 | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 8.38 | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 8.21 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 8.04 | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 8.07 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 8.22 | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 7.82 | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 8.04 | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 8.41 | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 7.93 | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 7.99 | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 8.04 | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 7.8 | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 8.38 | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 8.22 | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 8.31 | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 8.28 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 8.1 | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 7.78 | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 7.51 | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 7.66 | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 7.56 | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 7.43 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 7.56 | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 7.62 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 7.34 | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 6.94 | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 7.38 | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 6.96 | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 7.22 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 7.17 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 7.04 | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 7.03 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 6.63 | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 6.83 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 6.83 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 6.93 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 6.82 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 6.63 | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 6.97 | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 6.91 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 6.69 | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 6.94 | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 6.91 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 6.66 | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 6.99 | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 6.86 | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 6.89 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 6.46 | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 6.87 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 8.01 | +16.7% |
| 2023 | 7.29 | -9.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 7.29 is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.37, 87% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 7.29 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.87, 1.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.11 | 8.77 | 9.6 | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.68 | 8.36 | 8.86 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.23 | 7.82 | 8.7 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.15 | 7.8 | 8.41 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.48 | 6.94 | 7.78 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.95 | 6.63 | 7.22 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.85 | 6.63 | 6.99 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.16 | 6.46 | 8.01 | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 33 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.1187 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.018 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0291 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rates and death rates in New Zealand?
- Birth rates and death rates in New Zealand was 7.29 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6 in 1951.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.46 in 2020.
- How does New Zealand rank for birth rates and death rates?
- New Zealand ranks 121st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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