New Zealand - Deaths





New Zealand: Deaths

Mnemonic DTH.INZL
Unit #, NSA
Adjustments Not Seasonally Adjusted
Quarterly 6.13 %
Data 2023 Q4 9,420
2023 Q3 10,035

Series Information

Source Statistics New Zealand
Release Vital Statistics
Frequency Quarterly
Start Date 3/31/1951
End Date 12/31/2023

New Zealand: Demographics

Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Births 2023 Q4 14,013 14,058 #, NSA Quarterly
Deaths 2023 Q4 9,420 10,035 #, NSA Quarterly
Population 2023 Q4 5,305,600 5,279,900 #, NSA Quarterly
Net Migration 2017 74,403 # Annual
Birth Rate 2016 12.65 13.27 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2016 6.64 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Release Information

Births data from 1991 onwards are based on live births registered in New Zealand by date of registration to mothers resident in New Zealand. Before 1991, births data are based on births registered in New Zealand to mothers resident in New Zealand and mothers visiting from overseas by date of registration. Birth data exclude late registrations under section 16 of the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act 1995. Section 16 births are those that were not registered in the ordinary way at the time the birth occurred.

Deaths data from 1991 onwards are based on deaths registered in New Zealand of New Zealand residents by date of registration. Before 1991, deaths data are based on deaths registered in New Zealand of New Zealand residents and people visiting from overseas by date of registration.

Births

Every live birth and stillbirth must be notified to a registrar by the hospital, doctor or midwife within 5 working days of the birth. A ‘birth notice’ (BDM9) or ‘birth schedule’ (BDM9A) includes the mother’s contact details, length of gestation and the baby’s weight.

By law, every guardian of a child born in New Zealand shall notify Births, Deaths and Marriages (a division of the Department of Internal Affairs), as soon as is reasonably practicable after the birth (this has been deemed by the Registrar-General to be within two months of the birth). However, a registrar can register a child up to 2 years after their birth. After 2 years the birth can only be registered by the Registrar-General (this is known as a ‘late birth’ or ‘section 16’ birth).

A 'Notification of Birth for Registration' form (BDM27) must be completed (generally by the parents) and forwarded to the registrars at Births, Deaths and Marriages (a division of the Department of Internal Affairs). Information from the BDM27 is then matched with information from the BDM9 form. If no BDM27 form is received, Births, Deaths and Marriages sends out a reminder notice based on the information from the BDM9. As of February 2004, a reminder is sent 28 days after the baby’s birth. A second reminder is sent after 60 days, if required.

Statistics New Zealand receives a monthly electronic file of birth registrations from Births, Deaths and Marriages. Statistics New Zealand is responsible for processing and publishing birth statistics derived from the birth registrations. Birth data are published quarterly and unless otherwise stated refers to births by date of registration not the date of birth.

Deaths

Under the provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1995, every death occurring in New Zealand must be registered. A 'Notification of Death for Registration' form (BDM28) must be completed (generally by the funeral director) and forwarded to the registrars at Births, Deaths and Marriages (a division of the Department of Internal Affairs) within three working days after the disposal of the body concerned.

Statistics New Zealand receives a monthly electronic file of registered deaths from Births, Deaths and Marriages which includes some but not all of the information collected on the BDM28. Statistics New Zealand has the responsibility for processing and publishing death statistics derived from the death registrations. Statistics New Zealand does not code all the information supplied by Internal Affairs. Death data are published quarterly and unless otherwise stated refers to deaths by date of registration not the date of death.

Data is revised each quarter when new data becomes available.