Reported suicide rates by age in New Zealand
New Zealand: Reported suicide rates by age was 17.02 deaths per 100,000 population in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
17.02 deaths per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 12.6%
World rank
3rd
of 110 countries
All-time high
26.66 deaths per 100,000 population
in 1997
All-time low
0.8699 deaths per 100,000 population
in 1964
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Reported suicide rates by age in New Zealand, 1950–2018
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 population.
Analysis
In 2018, reported suicide rates by age in New Zealand stood at 17.02 deaths per 100,000 population.
The figure is up 12.6% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported suicide rates by age in New Zealand peaked at 26.66 deaths per 100,000 population in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0.8699 deaths per 100,000 population, in 1964.
New Zealand ranks 3rd of 110 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reported suicide rates by age in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.99 deaths per 100,000 population | — |
| 1951 | 3.01 deaths per 100,000 population | -49.7% |
| 1952 | 4.47 deaths per 100,000 population | +48.4% |
| 1953 | 2.9 deaths per 100,000 population | -35.0% |
| 1954 | 1.4 deaths per 100,000 population | -51.7% |
| 1955 | 2.01 deaths per 100,000 population | +42.8% |
| 1956 | 1.25 deaths per 100,000 population | -37.6% |
| 1957 | 2.39 deaths per 100,000 population | +91.4% |
| 1958 | 4.04 deaths per 100,000 population | +68.7% |
| 1959 | 3.36 deaths per 100,000 population | -16.9% |
| 1960 | 3.27 deaths per 100,000 population | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 2.11 deaths per 100,000 population | -35.5% |
| 1962 | 2.48 deaths per 100,000 population | +17.4% |
| 1963 | 2.31 deaths per 100,000 population | -6.7% |
| 1964 | 0.8699 deaths per 100,000 population | -62.4% |
| 1965 | 2.49 deaths per 100,000 population | +186.1% |
| 1966 | 4.08 deaths per 100,000 population | +63.9% |
| 1967 | 2.42 deaths per 100,000 population | -40.7% |
| 1968 | 3.19 deaths per 100,000 population | +32.2% |
| 1969 | 5.12 deaths per 100,000 population | +60.1% |
| 1970 | 5.76 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.7% |
| 1971 | 5.67 deaths per 100,000 population | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 4.36 deaths per 100,000 population | -23.1% |
| 1973 | 6.81 deaths per 100,000 population | +56.2% |
| 1974 | 4.49 deaths per 100,000 population | -34.0% |
| 1975 | 6.71 deaths per 100,000 population | +49.5% |
| 1976 | 4.96 deaths per 100,000 population | -26.1% |
| 1977 | 8.39 deaths per 100,000 population | +69.0% |
| 1978 | 5.71 deaths per 100,000 population | -31.9% |
| 1979 | 7.29 deaths per 100,000 population | +27.7% |
| 1980 | 10.83 deaths per 100,000 population | +48.4% |
| 1981 | 5.55 deaths per 100,000 population | -48.7% |
| 1982 | 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 7.99 deaths per 100,000 population | +34.1% |
| 1984 | 8.3 deaths per 100,000 population | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 9.87 deaths per 100,000 population | +18.9% |
| 1986 | 12.6 deaths per 100,000 population | +27.7% |
| 1987 | 11.83 deaths per 100,000 population | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 17.79 deaths per 100,000 population | +50.4% |
| 1989 | 19.47 deaths per 100,000 population | +9.4% |
| 1990 | 15.13 deaths per 100,000 population | -22.3% |
| 1991 | 15.65 deaths per 100,000 population | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 15.71 deaths per 100,000 population | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 14.65 deaths per 100,000 population | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 20.82 deaths per 100,000 population | +42.1% |
| 1995 | 21.97 deaths per 100,000 population | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 21.81 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 26.66 deaths per 100,000 population | +22.2% |
| 1998 | 23.99 deaths per 100,000 population | -10.0% |
| 1999 | 17.68 deaths per 100,000 population | -26.3% |
| 2000 | 15.36 deaths per 100,000 population | -13.1% |
| 2001 | 15.49 deaths per 100,000 population | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 13.94 deaths per 100,000 population | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 17.26 deaths per 100,000 population | +23.8% |
| 2004 | 16.64 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 14.7 deaths per 100,000 population | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 19.45 deaths per 100,000 population | +32.3% |
| 2007 | 12.83 deaths per 100,000 population | -34.0% |
| 2008 | 17.36 deaths per 100,000 population | +35.3% |
| 2009 | 17.02 deaths per 100,000 population | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 15.82 deaths per 100,000 population | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 18.91 deaths per 100,000 population | +19.5% |
| 2012 | 24.09 deaths per 100,000 population | +27.4% |
| 2013 | 17.6 deaths per 100,000 population | -26.9% |
| 2014 | 12.18 deaths per 100,000 population | -30.8% |
| 2015 | 18 deaths per 100,000 population | +47.7% |
| 2016 | 13.82 deaths per 100,000 population | -23.2% |
| 2017 | 15.11 deaths per 100,000 population | +9.3% |
| 2018 | 17.02 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.08 deaths per 100,000 population | 1.25 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.99 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.83 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.8699 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.12 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.02 deaths per 100,000 population | 4.36 deaths per 100,000 population | 8.39 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.02 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.55 deaths per 100,000 population | 19.47 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.41 deaths per 100,000 population | 14.65 deaths per 100,000 population | 26.66 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.01 deaths per 100,000 population | 12.83 deaths per 100,000 population | 19.45 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.95 deaths per 100,000 population | 12.18 deaths per 100,000 population | 24.09 deaths per 100,000 population | 9 |
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 80 and above, female, per capita 0.024 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0184 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,678 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0.0005 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported suicide rates by age in New Zealand?
- Reported suicide rates by age in New Zealand was 17.02 deaths per 100,000 population in 2018, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reported suicide rates by age recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 26.66 deaths per 100,000 population in 1997.
- What is the lowest reported suicide rates by age recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8699 deaths per 100,000 population in 1964.
- How does New Zealand rank for reported suicide rates by age?
- New Zealand ranks 3rd out of 110 countries with data for 2018.
- Is reported suicide rates by age rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reported suicide rates by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported annual death rate from self-inflicted injuries per 100,000 people, based on the underlying cause listed on death certificates.