Hospital beds per 1,000 people in New Zealand
New Zealand: Hospital beds per 1,000 people was 2.51 per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in New Zealand, 1960–2023
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for hospital beds per 1,000 people in New Zealand is 2.51 per 1,000 people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hospital beds per 1,000 people in New Zealand peaked at 11.7 per 1,000 people in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.41 per 1,000 people, in 2009.
New Zealand ranks 79th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.7 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1970 | 10.8 per 1,000 people | -7.7% |
| 1980 | 10.2 per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1985 | 9.5 per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1990 | 8.5 per 1,000 people | -10.5% |
| 1991 | 7.4 per 1,000 people | -12.9% |
| 1992 | 7.1 per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 6.5 per 1,000 people | -8.5% |
| 1994 | 6.7 per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 6.2 per 1,000 people | -7.5% |
| 1996 | 6.1 per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 6.1 per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 6.2 per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 2.41 per 1,000 people | -61.1% |
| 2010 | 2.75 per 1,000 people | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 2.82 per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 2.83 per 1,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 2.78 per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 2.74 per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 2.7 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 2.72 per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 2.7 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 2.59 per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 2.54 per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 2.67 per 1,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 2.57 per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 2.51 per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.7 per 1,000 people | 11.7 per 1,000 people | 11.7 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 10.8 per 1,000 people | 10.8 per 1,000 people | 10.8 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 9.85 per 1,000 people | 9.5 per 1,000 people | 10.2 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.76 per 1,000 people | 6.1 per 1,000 people | 8.5 per 1,000 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.41 per 1,000 people | 2.41 per 1,000 people | 2.41 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.72 per 1,000 people | 2.54 per 1,000 people | 2.83 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.56 per 1,000 people | 2.5 per 1,000 people | 2.67 per 1,000 people | 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0305 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 0.6838 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0314 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hospital beds per 1,000 people in New Zealand?
- Hospital beds per 1,000 people in New Zealand was 2.51 per 1,000 people in 2023, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 11.7 per 1,000 people in 1960.
- What is the lowest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.41 per 1,000 people in 2009.
- How does New Zealand rank for hospital beds per 1,000 people?
- New Zealand ranks 79th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is hospital beds per 1,000 people rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Hospital beds per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases beds for both acute and chronic care are included.