Non-melanoma skin cancer

This section provides statistics on non-melanoma skin cancer deaths in New Zealand.

204 New Zealanders died from non-melanoma skin cancer in 2018

In 2018, 204 people died from non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in New Zealand.  Males represented roughly two-thirds of these deaths (137 male deaths, compared with 67 female deaths).

NMSC mortality rates have increased from 2012 (1.5 per 100,000) to 2018 (2.0 per 100,000) (Figure 1).  Males had a consistently higher mortality rate than females over this time period.

Figure 1: Non-melanoma skin cancer mortality rate, by sex, 2001–2018 (age-standardised rate per 100,000)

Other characteristics of people affected by NMSC

1. Differences by age:

In 2017–18, NMSC mortality rates increased with age, with the 85+ year age group having the highest rates for both males (162.7 deaths per 100,000) and females (66.6 deaths per 100,000). These rates are roughly four times higher than those for the 75–84 year age group.

2. Differences by ethnic group:

In 2009–18, the age-standardised rate for the European/Other ethnic group (1.9 per 100,000) was almost four times that of the next most affected ethnic group, Māori (0.5 per 100,000). Rates for Asian and Pacific Peoples were not calculated due to low counts.

3. Differences by socioeconomic deprivation:

In 2014–18, males living in more deprived areas (NZDep2018 quintile 5) had higher NMSC mortality rates than males in less deprived areas (quintile 1). The same trend was not present for females.

4. Differences based on Urban/Rural classifications:

In 2013–17, NMSC mortality rates were highest in secondary urban areas of New Zealand. Rates in main urban, minor urban, and rural areas were all similar.

5. Differences between district health boards (DHBs):

In 2014–18, NMSC mortality rates in the Wairarapa DHB (3.4 per 100,000) and South Canterbury DHB (3.3 per 100,000) District Health Boards were higher than the national rate (1.7 per 100,000).

For more information and interactive figures relating to this data, view the interactive factsheet (also available at the top of this page).

Information about the data

Non-melanoma skin cancer deaths

Source: Ministry of Health – New Zealand Mortality Collection.
Definition: Non-melanoma skin cancer comprises all cancers classified as ICD-10 AM C44. Rates are per 100,000 people, and have been age-standardised to the WHO world standard population.  For more information, see Metadata

The New Zealand Cancer Registry does not require notification of non-melanoma skin cancers. For this reason, an indicator on non-melanoma skin cancer registrations is not possible.

For more information, see metadata (also available at the top of this page).