Life tables show death and survivorship rates at each age of life. The life tables in this release are based on death rates during a specific period. Subnational life tables show death and survivorship rates at each age of life by defined geographic areas.
Key facts
Based on death rates in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2022-2024, period life expectancy at birth:
- was 80.1 years for males and 83.5 years for females
- increased by 0.2 years for males and showed no change for females, only a slight increase since 2017-2019 and the smallest five-yearly increase since the 1960s
- indicated a smaller difference between males and females compared with 2017-2019.
Based on death rates in subnational areas in 2022-2024, period life expectancy at birth:
- was highest in the Tasman region for both males and females (82.8 and 85.7 years, respectively)
- was highest in the least deprived areas of New Zealand.
Contents
- Smallest increase in life expectancy since 1960s
- Life expectancy at birth increases for Māori while stalls for most other ethnic groups
- Lower death rates and higher life expectancy over longer term
- Death rates by age
- Regional life expectancies - Tasman region has the highest
- Māori life expectancy highest in Tasman region
- Territorial authority and Auckland local board area life expectancy - Queenstown-Lakes and Selwyn districts have the highest
- Life expectancy lowest in the most deprived parts of New Zealand
- More information on life tables
- Summary of changes of NZ period life tables 2022-2024
- Life tables based on sex
- Caution advised when comparing with the 2012-2014 life tables
Smallest increase in life expectancy since 1960s
Life expectancy at birth for the total population barely increased between 2017─2019 and 2022─2024. Between these time periods, there was a small increase for male life expectancy at birth from 80.0 to 80.1 years, but female life expectancy at birth remained at 83.5 years. This follows a small increase between 2012-2014 and 2017-2019 (0.5 years for males and 0.3 years for females).
These increases were the smallest since the 1960s when:
- male life expectancy at birth dropped by 0.2 years between 1960-1962 and 1965-1967
- female life expectancy at birth increased by 0.3 years between 1965-1967 and 1970-1972.
Increases in life expectancy were highest in the late 1980s to early 2000s (averaging increases of 1.7 years for males and 1.3 years for females every five years).
| Time period | Male | Female |
| 1950-1952 | 67.2 | 71.3 |
| 1955-1957 | 68 | 73 |
| 1960-1962 | 68.4 | 73.8 |
| 1965-1967 | 68.2 | 74.3 |
| 1970-1972 | 68.5 | 74.6 |
| 1975-1977 | 69 | 75.5 |
| 1980-1982 | 70.4 | 76.4 |
| 1985-1987 | 71.1 | 77.1 |
| 1990-1992 | 72.9 | 78.7 |
| 1995-1997 | 74.4 | 79.7 |
| 2000-2002 | 76.3 | 81.1 |
| 2005-2007 | 78 | 82.2 |
| 2012-2014 | 79.5 | 83.2 |
| 2017-2019 | 80 | 83.5 |
| 2022-2024 | 80.1 | 83.5 |
Life expectancy at birth increases for Māori while stalls for most other ethnic groups
Gains in life expectancy at birth stalled or dropped between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024 for all ethnic groups except for both Māori males and females, and 'European or Other' males.
As a result of changes in death rates, life expectancy at birth for males in 2022-2024, compared with 2017-2019, was:
- 80.1 years (up 0.2 years) for the population as a whole
- 81.3 years (up 0.3 years) for those who identify with a 'European or Other' ethnicity
- 73.7 years (up 0.2 years) for those who identify with Māori ethnicity
- 74.9 years (down 0.5 years) for those who identify with a Pacific ethnicity
- 85.0 years (down 0.1 years) for those who identify with an Asian ethnicity.
Life expectancy at birth for females in 2022-2024, compared with 2017-2019, was:
- 83.5 years (no change) for the population as a whole
- 84.4 years (down 0.1 years) for those who identify with a 'European or Other' ethnicity
- 78.0 years (up 0.9 years) for those who identify with Māori ethnicity
- 78.9 years (down 0.2 years) for those who identify with a Pacific ethnicity
- 87.6 years (down 0.3 years) for those who identify with an Asian ethnicity.
Over the long term, death rates have declined across all ages. Lower death rates within an age group result in that age group making positive contributions, or increases, to life expectancy at birth, and vice versa. Between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024, there were fewer decreases in age-specific death rates than between previous life table periods, particularly for females. For example, between 2005-2007 and 2012-2014, age-specific death rates decreased across most ages for the total female population, compared with only half of ages between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024. However, for females identifying with Māori ethnicity, there were decreases in age-specific death rates at most ages between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024.
| | Total male | Total female | 'European or Other' male | 'European or Other' female | Māori male (old classification) | Māori female (old classification) | Māori male (new classification) | Māori female (new classification) | Pacific male | Pacific female | Asian male | Asian female |
| 1950-1952 | 67.2 | 71.3 | 54 | 55.9 | ||||||||
| 1955-1957 | 68 | 73 | 57.2 | 58.7 | ||||||||
| 1960-1962 | 68.4 | 73.8 | 59 | 61.4 | ||||||||
| 1965-1967 | 68.2 | 74.3 | 61.4 | 64.8 | ||||||||
| 1970-1972 | 68.5 | 74.6 | 61 | 65 | ||||||||
| 1975-1977 | 69 | 75.5 | 63.3 | 67.7 | ||||||||
| 1980-1982 | 70.4 | 76.4 | 65.1 | 69.5 | ||||||||
| 1985-1987 | 71.1 | 77.1 | 67.4 | 72.3 | ||||||||
| 1990-1992 | 72.9 | 78.7 | 68 | 73 | ||||||||
| 1995-1997 | 74.4 | 79.7 | 66.6 | 71.3 | ||||||||
| 2000-2002 | 76.3 | 81.1 | 69 | 73.2 | ||||||||
| 2005-2007 | 78 | 82.2 | 79.3 | 83.2 | 70.4 | 75.1 | 73.2 | 77.4 | 83.2 | 86.4 | ||
| 2012-2014 | 79.5 | 83.2 | 80.5 | 84.1 | 73 | 77.1 | 74.5 | 78.7 | 84.4 | 87.2 | ||
| 2017-2019 | 80 | 83.5 | 81 | 84.5 | 73.4 | 77.1 | 75.4 | 79 | 85.1 | 87.9 | ||
| 2022-2024 | 80.1 | 83.5 | 81.3 | 84.4 | 73.7 | 78.0 | 74.9 | 78.9 | 85.0 | 87.6 |
Lower death rates and higher life expectancy over longer term
Over the long term, life expectancy has increased for all ethnic populations. However, over the last five years, death rates increased at some ages, and life expectancy stalled or decreased for some ethnic populations.
Death rates decreased between 2005-2007 and 2022-2024 at almost all ages. As a result, life expectancy at birth for males in 2022-2024, compared with 2005-2007, increased to:
- 80.1 years (up 2.1 years) for the population as a whole
- 81.3 years (up 2.0 years) for those who identify with a 'European or Other' ethnicity
- 73.7 years (up 3.3 years) for those who identify with Māori ethnicity
- 74.9 years (up 1.7 years) for those who identify with a Pacific ethnicity
- 85.0 years (up 1.8 years) for those who identify with an Asian ethnicity.
Life expectancy at birth for females in 2022-2024, compared with 2005-2007, increased to:
- 83.5 years (up 1.3 years) for the population as a whole
- 84.4 years (up 1.2 years) for those who identify with a 'European or Other' ethnicity
- 78.0 years (up 2.9 years) for those who identify with Māori ethnicity
- 78.9 years (up 1.5 years) for those who identify with a Pacific ethnicity
- 87.6 years (up 1.2 years) for those who identify with an Asian ethnicity.
Death rates by age
The total population life tables are characterised by relatively high death rates in the first year of life (infant deaths - about 5 deaths per 1,000 live births). Death rates then decrease as age increases, reaching their lowest among children aged six to ten years. Death rates then substantially increase from around 20 years. For people aged in their late 60s, there is about 1 death per 100 people. For those in their late 80s, there is about 1 death per 10 people. Rates are generally higher for males than females.
Age contributions to differences in life expectancy
We can determine how each age group contributes to differences in longevity, either between periods or between populations. The following sections show how mortality differences in each age group contribute to differences in life expectancy at birth.
Age does not contribute equally to life expectancy at birth, with the youngest ages contributing more to the overall life expectancy of that population group. Furthermore, the amount that death rates at each age contribute to life expectancy differ between time periods or population groups.
Lower death rates within an age group result in that age group making positive contributions, or increases, to life expectancy at birth. Conversely, higher death rates within an age group will negatively contribute to, or reduce, life expectancy.
Differences in death rates and life expectancy reflect several interrelated factors, including health and socioeconomic factors.
Mortality data and statistics, published by Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, has more information on cause of death data as Stats NZ does not collect information on this.
Lower death rates for people in their seventies and eighties increases life expectancy
Life expectancy at birth increased by 0.2 years (about 2 months) for males and remained about the same for females (a decrease of 0.5 months), between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024.
Lower death rates for males aged in their seventies and eighties contributed the most to the small gain in male life expectancy at birth between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024, increasing it by just under two months combined. However, higher death rates for males aged under one year and those aged 90 years and over (90+) made the largest negative contribution to life expectancy at birth, reducing male life expectancy at birth by about 0.5 months each.
Lower death rates for females aged in their seventies and eighties also contributed the most to gains in female life expectancy at birth between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024, increasing it by about 0.5 months. However, higher death rates for females aged in their sixties and those aged 90+ made a negative contribution to life expectancy at birth, by about 0.5 months and 1 month, respectively.
| Age groups (years) | Male | Female |
| 0 | -0.52 | -0.04 |
| 1-9 | 0.23 | 0.28 |
| 10-19 | 0.48 | 0.24 |
| 20-29 | 0.3 | -0.15 |
| 30-39 | 0.49 | 0.19 |
| 40-49 | -0.07 | -0.18 |
| 50-59 | 0.08 | -0.21 |
| 60-69 | -0.19 | -0.48 |
| 70-79 | 0.8 | 0.53 |
| 80-89 | 0.89 | 0.31 |
| 90+ | -0.55 | -1.03 |
Life expectancy at birth for people identifying with Māori ethnicity increased by 0.2 years (about 3 months) for males and by 0.9 years (11 months) for females, between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024.
Lower death rates for Māori males aged 1-69 years contributed to the increase in life expectancy at birth, with males in their fifties contributing the most (just over 1 month out of the overall 3 months of gain). However, slightly higher death rates among infants and those aged 70+ years meant those ages made a negative contribution to life expectancy at birth.
Lower death rates for Māori females aged 50-79 years contributed the most towards the increased life expectancy at birth for Māori females, with these age groups combined contributing about 9 months to the overall 11-month gain. Slightly higher death rates among infants and those aged 90+ years meant those ages made a negative contribution to life expectancy at birth.
| Age group (years) | Male | Female |
| 0 | -0.58 | -0.56 |
| 1-9 | 0.32 | 0.22 |
| 10-19 | 0.8 | 0.69 |
| 20-29 | 0.99 | 0.53 |
| 30-39 | 1 | 0.56 |
| 40-49 | 0.33 | 0.24 |
| 50-59 | 1.2 | 1.25 |
| 60-69 | 0.21 | 3.27 |
| 70-79 | -0.64 | 4.69 |
| 80-89 | -0.36 | 0.79 |
| 90+ | -0.45 | -1.31 |
Increased death rates contribute to lower Pacific and Asian life expectancy
Death rates increased for people identifying with a Pacific ethnicity between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024 at most ages. Ages where death rates generally decreased between these periods included people aged 3-16 years and for those in their thirties, and females in their late seventies to early eighties.
These small increases in death rates resulted in small decreases in life expectancy at birth between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024 for people identifying with a Pacific ethnicity (down 0.5 years for males and 0.2 years for females).
Death rates also increased for people identifying with an Asian ethnicity between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024 at most ages. Ages where death rates generally decreased between these periods included most ages 3-16 years and 30-50 years for both males and females, along with death rates for males aged 51-70 years and females aged in their late eighties to early nineties.
These small increases in death rates between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024 resulted in small decreases in life expectancy at birth for people identifying with an Asian ethnicity (down 0.1 years for males and 0.3 years for females).
Narrowing difference between male and female life expectancy
Males generally experience higher death rates than females across all ages. As a result, life expectancy at birth was 3.3 years higher for females than for males in 2022-2024. However, the difference has narrowed over the last five decades, from 6.4 years in 1975-1977 and 4.8 years in 2000-2002.
Nearly two-thirds of the male-female difference in 2022-2024 was due to higher male death rates at ages 60+ (around 2.1 years of the 3.3-year difference).
| Age group (years) | Percent of difference |
| 0 | 3 |
| 1-9 | 0.7 |
| 10-19 | 2.1 |
| 20-29 | 5.7 |
| 30-39 | 5.5 |
| 40-49 | 7 |
| 50-59 | 11.9 |
| 60-69 | 17.9 |
| 70-79 | 23 |
| 80+ | 23.1 |
Regional life expectancies - Tasman has the highest
In the 2022-2024 period, males and females in the Tasman region were estimated to have the highest life expectancy at birth (82.8 and 85.7 years, respectively) among the 16 regions. This was followed by Auckland (81.1 years for males and 84.3 years for females). The New Zealand period life expectancy at birth was 80.1 years for males and 83.5 years for females.
Life expectancy at birth was lowest in the Gisborne region (77.9 years for males and 81.5 years for females).
The regional trends seen in 2022-2024 have largely remained consistent over time. Regional life tables were first derived for 1990-1992, and since then, the Tasman region and/or the Auckland region have generally had the highest life expectancy, while the Gisborne region has continued to have the lowest. However, all regions have experienced increases in life expectancy since 1990-1992.
Life expectancy for less populated regions such as the West Coast has greater uncertainty (that is, wider intervals between the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles) than more populated regions like Auckland.
Subnational differences in life expectancy at birth reflect several interrelated factors, including health and socioeconomic factors.
Calculations for life tables are based on where someone lived at the time of death, which may not necessarily be where they spent most of their life.
| | Male |
| Tasman | 82.8 |
| Auckland | 81.1 |
| Wellington | 80.7 |
| Otago | 80.5 |
| Marlborough | 80.5 |
| Canterbury | 80.4 |
| Nelson | 80.4 |
| NEW ZEALAND | 80.1 |
| Taranaki | 79.6 |
| Bay of Plenty | 79.4 |
| Waikato | 79.2 |
| Southland | 79 |
| West Coast | 78.8 |
| Hawke's Bay | 78.8 |
| Northland | 78.6 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 78.6 |
| Gisborne | 77.9 |
| 82.1 | 83.4 |
|---|---|
| 80.9 | 81.3 |
| 80.4 | 80.9 |
| 80.2 | 80.9 |
| 79.9 | 81.1 |
| 80.2 | 80.7 |
| 79.8 | 81 |
| 80 | 80.2 |
| 79.1 | 80 |
| 79.1 | 79.7 |
| 78.9 | 79.4 |
| 78.6 | 79.5 |
| 78.1 | 79.5 |
| 78.4 | 79.2 |
| 78.3 | 79 |
| 78.3 | 78.9 |
| 77.2 | 78.5 |
| | Female |
| Tasman | 85.7 |
| Auckland | 84.3 |
| Wellington | 83.8 |
| Otago | 83.7 |
| Marlborough | 83.6 |
| Canterbury | 83.6 |
| Nelson | 83.6 |
| NEW ZEALAND | 83.5 |
| Taranaki | 83.2 |
| Bay of Plenty | 83.1 |
| Waikato | 82.7 |
| Southland | 82.5 |
| West Coast | 82.4 |
| Hawke's Bay | 82.5 |
| Northland | 82.2 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 82 |
| Gisborne | 81.5 |
| 85.1 | 86.4 |
|---|---|
| 84.1 | 84.5 |
| 83.5 | 84 |
| 83.4 | 84 |
| 83 | 84.1 |
| 83.3 | 83.8 |
| 83 | 84.1 |
| 83.4 | 83.5 |
| 82.8 | 83.6 |
| 82.8 | 83.4 |
| 82.5 | 83 |
| 82.1 | 83 |
| 81.7 | 83 |
| 82.1 | 82.8 |
| 81.9 | 82.6 |
| 81.7 | 82.3 |
| 80.9 | 82.1 |
Māori life expectancy highest in Tasman region
Among the 16 regions, life expectancy at birth for people identifying with Māori was highest for males and females in the Tasman region in 2022-2024 (80.5 and 84.0 years, respectively). For Māori males, it was lowest in the Northland region (72.4 years), but for Māori females it was lowest in both the Northland and Waikato regions (76.5 years). Waikato region had the second lowest life expectancy at birth for Māori males (72.5 years).
| | Male |
| Tasman | 80.5 |
| Otago | 79.4 |
| Canterbury | 78.1 |
| West Coast | 76.8 |
| Marlborough | 76.3 |
| Southland | 76.1 |
| Nelson | 75.3 |
| Wellington | 75.3 |
| Taranaki | 75.2 |
| Auckland | 74 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 73.9 |
| NEW ZEALAND | 73.7 |
| Bay of Plenty | 73 |
| Gisborne | 72.9 |
| Hawke's Bay | 72.7 |
| Waikato | 72.5 |
| Northland | 72.4 |
| 77.5 | 83.7 |
|---|---|
| 77.8 | 81.2 |
| 77.2 | 79 |
| 74.2 | 80 |
| 74 | 78.6 |
| 74.6 | 77.6 |
| 73.3 | 77.8 |
| 74.5 | 76 |
| 74 | 76.5 |
| 73.5 | 74.6 |
| 73.2 | 74.7 |
| 73.4 | 73.9 |
| 72.5 | 73.6 |
| 71.9 | 73.9 |
| 71.8 | 73.6 |
| 71.9 | 73 |
| 71.8 | 73.1 |
| | Female |
| Tasman | 84 |
| Otago | 83 |
| Canterbury | 81.8 |
| West Coast | 80.5 |
| Marlborough | 80 |
| Southland | 79.8 |
| Nelson | 79.2 |
| Wellington | 79.1 |
| Taranaki | 79 |
| Auckland | 78 |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 77.9 |
| NEW ZEALAND | 78 |
| Bay of Plenty | 77.1 |
| Gisborne | 76.9 |
| Hawke's Bay | 76.8 |
| Waikato | 76.5 |
| Northland | 76.5 |
| 81.2 | 87.1 |
|---|---|
| 81.4 | 84.7 |
| 80.9 | 82.6 |
| 78.1 | 83.6 |
| 78 | 82.2 |
| 78.4 | 81.3 |
| 77.2 | 81.5 |
| 78.4 | 79.8 |
| 77.9 | 80.3 |
| 77.5 | 78.5 |
| 77.1 | 78.6 |
| 77.8 | 78.2 |
| 76.5 | 77.6 |
| 76.1 | 77.9 |
| 75.9 | 77.5 |
| 76 | 77 |
| 75.9 | 77.1 |
| | Male |
| 1 (least deprived) | 84.5 |
| 2 | 83.2 |
| 3 | 82.7 |
| 4 | 82.3 |
| 5 | 82 |
| 6 | 80.2 |
| 7 | 79.4 |
| 8 | 78.2 |
| 9 | 76.3 |
| 10 (most deprived) | 73.5 |
| 84.2 | 84.7 |
|---|---|
| 83 | 83.5 |
| 82.4 | 82.9 |
| 82 | 82.5 |
| 81.7 | 82.2 |
| 80 | 80.5 |
| 79.1 | 79.6 |
| 78 | 78.5 |
| 76 | 76.6 |
| 73.2 | 73.8 |
| | Female |
| 1 (least deprived) | 87 |
| 2 | 85.9 |
| 3 | 85.4 |
| 4 | 85.2 |
| 5 | 85 |
| 6 | 83.4 |
| 7 | 82.8 |
| 8 | 81.9 |
| 9 | 80.2 |
| 10 (most deprived) | 77.9 |
| 86.7 | 87.2 |
|---|---|
| 85.7 | 86.2 |
| 85.2 | 85.6 |
| 85 | 85.4 |
| 84.8 | 85.3 |
| 83.2 | 83.6 |
| 82.6 | 83 |
| 81.7 | 82.2 |
| 79.9 | 80.4 |
| 77.7 | 78.2 |
More data
Use Infoshare to view and download time-series data for national and subnational period life tables.
Subject category: Population
Group: Demography life expectancy
Group: Demography subnational life expectancy
Definitions and metadata
New Zealand life tables - DataInfo+ gives information about life tables including information about methods.
New Zealand subnational abridged period life tables - DataInfo+ gives general methodology used to produce this release.
More information on life tables
Period life expectancy indicates how much longer people will live on average if the death rates at each age, for a specific time period, remain constant throughout their lives. It reflects mortality patterns during a specific time period, and does not account for future changes. For example, based on death rates in 2022-2024, life expectancy at birth for males and females in New Zealand was 80.1 years and 83.5 years, respectively. However, if death rates continue to decrease over time, the actual lifespan of someone born today will be longer than this estimate.
The life table calculations use the estimated resident population at the mid-point of the period, that is, at 30 June 2023 for the 2022-2024 period. The population estimates for the period mid-point represent the most recent update of the estimated resident population following the most recent census and Post-enumeration Survey.
Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023 has more information on the latest estimates resident population.
Alternatively, cohort life tables measure the actual life expectancy experienced by people born in each year.
Deaths at the subnational level are based on the address recorded on the death registration, and may not necessarily represent where a person resided for most of their life.
Summary of changes of NZ period life tables 2022-2024
The methodology used to produce the 2022-2024 period life tables remains consistent with the approach outlined in New Zealand period life tables: Methodology for 2017-2019. However, several updates have been made across input data sources, data-specific methods, death rate estimation, and life table outputs.
New Zealand life tables - DataInfo+ has more information on these updates.
Changes to health boundaries
Life tables are now published for the new Health Districts introduced in 2023, which supersede the previous district health board (DHB) areas. While most DHB areas remain the same within the health district boundaries, Capital and Coast DHB and Hutt Valley DHB were combined into Capital, Coast and Hutt Health District.
Life table data based on DHB areas are available on request, email [email protected].
New Zealand life tables - DataInfo+ has more information on changes to health boundaries.
Life tables based on sex
Both deaths data and population estimates continue to be based on sex. Sex refers to a person's sex characteristics, such as their chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. A person's sex can change over the course of their lifetime and may differ from their sex recorded at birth.
National population estimates (2023-base) - DataInfo+ has more information on the use of sex and gender in population statistics.
Caution advised when comparing with the 2012-2014 life tables
The 2012-2014 period life tables were based on estimated death rates using the published estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2013. Following the release of the ERP at 30 June 2018, Māori population estimates for 2006-2018 were revised. These estimates do not align with the June 2013 ERP (based on the 2013 Census) due to an underestimation of the Māori ethnic group in the June 2013 ERP. For this reason, caution should be taken when comparing with the 2012-2014 period life tables, particularly for the Māori ethnic group.
Māori ethnic group population estimates 2006-18: Methods and results has more information about the revised population estimates.
Technical enquiries
Rebekah Hennessey
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04 931 4600
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Next release
Births and deaths: Year ended December 2025 (including abridged period life table) will be released in February 2026.
New Zealand cohort life tables: March 2026 update will be released in March 2026.
