The 2023 health and independence report provides a comprehensive overview of the state of public health in Aotearoa New Zealand for the 2023 calendar year. To do so, it combines up-to-date information on a range of measures that illustrate key trends and other factors affecting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. 

This annual Health and Independence Report contributes to the essential foundation of data that underpins the health system. 

2023 saw the health system consolidating changes that will enable health care to be nationally planned, regionally delivered and locally tailored. In 2023 the Ministry of Health published six strategies: an overarching New Zealand Health Strategy, and five additional strategies addressing health and wellbeing needs for specific population groups (Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people, rural health and women’s health). 

This report provides robust data to support the direction and monitoring of New Zealand's health system performance and of the recently introduced strategies.  The data also shows some New Zealanders are experiencing avoidable differences in health outcomes from the general population – particularly Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people, and those living in lower-income households or areas of high socioeconomic deprivation. Examples include lower life expectancy, higher rates of child poverty, lower self-rated health, higher rates of anxiety and depression, and higher rates of unmet need.

Key findings

• On 31 December 2023, the country was home to 5,305,600 people. This is a 2.8% increase from the year before.
• This population growth was primarily driven by provisional net migration.
• The Aotearoa New Zealand population is becoming more ethnically diverse: the 2018 Census counted over 160 different ethnicities.
• In addition to becoming increasingly diverse, the population is ageing. Currently 16.5% of the population is aged 65 years and over, projected to increase to 22.1% by 2043.
• Where people live can have a profound impact on health and wellbeing, with socioeconomic and environmental factors playing significant roles.
• Only 59.4% of disabled adults reported having good health compared with 90.2% of non-disabled adults.
• Poverty is a major cause of poor health. In 2023, three out of the nine measures of child poverty increased.