Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in New Zealand
New Zealand: Mental health and substance use disorders deaths was 159.44 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in New Zealand, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, mental health and substance use disorders deaths in New Zealand stood at 159.44 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.6% on the previous year and up 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mental health and substance use disorders deaths in New Zealand peaked at 159.44 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 64.97 deaths, in 2000.
New Zealand ranks 106th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 64.97 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 89.43 deaths | +37.6% |
| 2002 | 103.18 deaths | +15.4% |
| 2003 | 93.58 deaths | -9.3% |
| 2004 | 101.84 deaths | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 107.15 deaths | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 86.12 deaths | -19.6% |
| 2007 | 107.98 deaths | +25.4% |
| 2008 | 113.48 deaths | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 125.5 deaths | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 123.31 deaths | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 139.39 deaths | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 136.06 deaths | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 107.98 deaths | -20.6% |
| 2014 | 133.89 deaths | +24.0% |
| 2015 | 135.7 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 143.41 deaths | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 150.3 deaths | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 144.76 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 150.05 deaths | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 149.59 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 159.44 deaths | +6.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 159.44 deaths is below the median for high income countries, which is 294.55 deaths, 54% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 159.44 deaths is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 56.89 deaths, 2.8× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 99.32 deaths | 64.97 deaths | 125.5 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 136.48 deaths | 107.98 deaths | 150.3 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 154.51 deaths | 149.59 deaths | 159.44 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 103 South Sudan 174.04 deaths compare
- 104 Cambodia 168.14 deaths compare
- 105 Tajikistan 167.7 deaths compare
- 107 Mali 154.94 deaths compare
- 108 Azerbaijan 149.09 deaths compare
- 109 Benin 140.99 deaths compare
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mental health and substance use disorders deaths in New Zealand?
- Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in New Zealand was 159.44 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mental health and substance use disorders deaths recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 159.44 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest mental health and substance use disorders deaths recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.97 deaths in 2000.
- How does New Zealand rank for mental health and substance use disorders deaths?
- New Zealand ranks 106th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mental health and substance use disorders deaths rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Mental health and substance use disorders deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from mental and substance use disorders in both sexes.