Number of neonatal deaths by region in New Zealand
New Zealand: Number of neonatal deaths by region was 158 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of neonatal deaths by region in New Zealand, 1969–2024
Source: UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, number of neonatal deaths by region in New Zealand stood at 158. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal deaths by region in New Zealand peaked at 678 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 158, in 2024.
That places New Zealand 139th out of 195 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of neonatal deaths by region in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 678 | — |
| 1970 | 660 | -2.7% |
| 1971 | 669 | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 641 | -4.2% |
| 1973 | 590 | -8.0% |
| 1974 | 554 | -6.1% |
| 1975 | 501 | -9.6% |
| 1976 | 466 | -7.0% |
| 1977 | 432 | -7.3% |
| 1978 | 380 | -12.0% |
| 1979 | 358 | -5.8% |
| 1980 | 321 | -10.3% |
| 1981 | 301 | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 279 | -7.3% |
| 1983 | 268 | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 261 | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 253 | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 249 | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 251 | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 257 | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 258 | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 260 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 249 | -4.2% |
| 1992 | 238 | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 224 | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 208 | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 201 | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 198 | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 199 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 194 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 199 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 198 | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 194 | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 185 | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 187 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 187 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 178 | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 176 | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 186 | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 188 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 190 | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 201 | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 202 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 203 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 195 | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 187 | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 192 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 184 | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 180 | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 173 | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 174 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 167 | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 168 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 165 | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 162 | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 158 | -2.5% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 158 is above the median for high income countries, which is 155, 1.0× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 158 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 366.5, 43% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 678 | 678 | 678 | 1 |
| 1970s | 525.1 | 358 | 669 | 10 |
| 1980s | 269.8 | 249 | 321 | 10 |
| 1990s | 217 | 194 | 260 | 10 |
| 2000s | 186.9 | 176 | 198 | 10 |
| 2010s | 189.1 | 173 | 203 | 10 |
| 2020s | 164 | 158 | 168 | 5 |
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)
- 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 number of neonatal deaths by region in New Zealand?
- Number of neonatal deaths by region in New Zealand was 158 in 2024, according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 678 in 1969.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal deaths by region recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 158 in 2024.
- How does New Zealand rank for number of neonatal deaths by region?
- New Zealand ranks 139th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal deaths by region rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, UN Population Division), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of neonatal deaths by region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The estimated number of neonates – babies under 28 days old – who die each year.