New Zealand skin cancer statistics
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand. New skin cancers total about 97,000 per year, compared to a total of around 25,000 for all other types of cancer (based on 2022 data). Our skin cancer rates are the highest in the world. In fact, the incidence of melanoma in New Zealand and Australia is around four times higher than in Canada, the US and the UK.
Skin cancer statistics in New Zealand
Dr Elizabeth Baird gives information on the risks of melanoma and other skin cancers in New Zealand compared with elsewhere.
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It is difficult to know exactly how many people in New Zealand develop basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas, as doctors aren’t required to report these figures. However, using data from cases confirmed by laboratory tests, and estimates of cases that are treated immediately, but are not sent off to be confirmed by a laboratory, it is estimated that there are around 90,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers per year (based on 2022 data). Research suggests that two in three New Zealanders will develop a non-melanoma skin cancer during their lifetime.
Beach cricket
Enjoying the outdoor lifestyle on the beach. New Zealanders are known for their outdoor lifestyle which contributes to skin cancer rates here.
Melanoma cases are reported. In 2022, there were 3,116 cases of melanoma in New Zealand. Malignant melanomas more frequently result in death (329 deaths in 2022). Just like other cancers, melanoma is more common in older people, but it is not just an ‘old person’s disease’ – in fact, it is one of the most common types of cancer for 25–44 year olds.
In New Zealand, more people die of skin cancers per year than from road accidents!
Why are our statistics so high?
Over 90% of skin cancers are attributed to excessive UV exposure in high UV environments like New Zealand. Non-malignant skin cancers are generally found on the exposed parts of the body (such as the face and forearms), and long-term frequent UV exposure is thought to be a predominant cause.
Why are UV levels high in New Zealand summer?
Dr Richard McKenzie outlines three main reasons why UV levels in New Zealand during summer are higher than at an equivalent latitude in the northern hemisphere during its summer.
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Malignant melanoma risk is linked with an individual’s UV exposure patterns as well as genetic characteristics, like fair skin. Light skin type, a large number of moles and excess sun exposure (particularly episodes of sunburn), especially in childhood and adolescence, are the major predictors of skin cancer risk.
Some reasons for New Zealand’s particularly high skin cancer statistics:
The strength of the UV radiation that New Zealand receives – our UV levels are 40% higher during summer than at corresponding latitudes in the northern hemisphere (NIWA research).
The low ozone levels – the ozone layer absorbs a good deal of UVB ultraviolet light from the Sun. Any decrease in the ozone layer (such as the ‘ozone hole’ over Antarctica) is expected to increase surface UVB levels. Excessive UVB exposure causes skin cancers such as basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. However, UVA, which is linked to melanoma, is not absorbed by ozone.
A significant proportion of the population has skin types that burn easily (due to our genetic heritage).
Our more outdoor lifestyle and tendency to ‘seek the sun’.
The importance of monitoring UV
Dr Richard McKenzie, Emeritus Researcher – Atmospheric Radiation at NIWA, Lauder, gives several reasons why it is important to monitor UV radiation in New Zealand.
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What is the cost of treatment?
Treatment of skin cancer is an expensive cost for our publicly funded health system. It is one of the most expensive cancers for the New Zealand health system, with estimates suggesting it will cost New Zealand over $689 million per year by 2049. The greatest cost, though, is the emotional cost to the skin cancer patient, their friends and family.
Related content
These related articles explain more about skin cancer, some of the risk factors and how skin cancer is diagnosed and treated.
Learn more about cancer and hear from a pathologist who diagnoses cancer in What is cancer.
Activity ideas
These activities below can help your students understand more about UV:
UV bead items – students design and make an item from UV beads that children could easily wear or carry to monitor their exposure to UV.
Investigating sunscreens – students use UV beads to investigate the effectiveness of different sunscreen lotions.
Investigating UV intensity – students use UV beads to investigate the intensity of UV rays in a range of different situations.
The face of melanoma – students examine the lifestyle factors that contribute to skin cancer and prepare information about skin cancer for a child or teenage audience.
Useful links
The SunSmart website is designed for students, teachers, schools and parents. It has information about UV, shade, hats, sunscreen, skin cancer and sun protection, as well as cross-curricula resources for teachers in the SunSmart Schools section.
Research in 2016 indicated that New Zealand has overtaken Australia as the world leader in invasive melanoma rates, find out more in this RNZ news story, which includes interviews. Research released in 2022 confirms that New Zealand has the world's highest death rate from melanoma in 2020.
This HealthMatch article, Top 20 skin cancer hot spots in the world and why they're on the list, explores the roles that personal, cultural, and global habits play in rates of skin cancer and what we can do to change them. It has useful graphs and a diagram showing how different UV rays penetrate skin layers.
See the statistical publications and data sets on cancer on the Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora website. The Cancer data web tool allows users to look at cancer data including melanoma diagnosis rates and death rates. It provides a number of filters including age, sex and ethnicity.
Visit the UV exposure section from the Environmental Health Indicators Programme, Massey University. It includes statistics about UV exposure in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how it can affect our health.
