Non-melanoma skin cancer

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

Please note that custom mortality data releases beyond 2020 are not yet available because data on external causes of death is not yet complete enough. For more information on the Mortality Data Collection, visit the Health New Zealand–Te Whatu Ora website.

UV radiation exposure is a risk factor for non-melanoma skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) refers to all types of skin cancer that are not melanoma. The two most common varieties of NMSC are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). There is strong evidence that excessive UV exposure is a risk factor for both types [1].

Although NMSCs are common, they are rarely fatal [2]. BCC and SCC are not included in the New Zealand skin cancer registry, making it difficult to determine the impact these conditions have in New Zealand beyond mortality [2]. An investigation in Auckland estimated that 78,000–87,000 cases of invasive NMSC occurred across New Zealand in 2016, based on 2008 data [3].

195 New Zealanders died from non-melanoma skin cancer in 2020

In 2020, 195 people died from NMSC in New Zealand. The age-standardised mortality rate was 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people. The rate has fluctuated over time between 1.3 and 2.0 deaths per 100,000 people (Figure 1).

In 2020 the NMSC mortality rate for men was 2.7 per 100,000 (95%CI 2.3–3.3), compared to 0.7 per 100,000 for females (95%CI 0.7–1.1). Males have consistently had higher mortality rates than females over the period monitored.

NMSC mortality rates increase with age. In 2019–20, the rate for the 85+ year age group was roughly four times greater than the 75-84 year age group.

In 2011–20, NMSC mortality rates in the European/Other ethnic group (1.9 deaths per 100,000, 95%CI 1.8–2.0) were nearly four times greater than the next most affected ethnic group, Māori (0.5 deaths per 100,000, 95%CI 0.3–0.8).

Figure 1: Non-melanoma skin cancer mortality, all ages, 2001–2020 (age-standardised rate per 100,000)

Note: A new surveillance report for non-melanoma skin cancer mortality will be published once 2021 data is available from the NZ Mortality Collection. In the meantime, the key findings from the 2020 data are above, and a full report for data up until 2019 is available at the top of this page. The trends in the 2019 report are consistent with the 2020 data.

Information about the data

Source: Health New Zealand – 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.  

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 the metadata at the top of this page.