Facts and figures
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Most skin cancers are treated by your GP or skin specialist. A much smaller number need treatment at hospital.
Each year in Aotearoa New Zealand:
- An estimated 90,000 non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed, with an estimated health care cost of $454.58 million.
- About 2,800 invasive melanomas are diagnosed, with estimated health care costs of $140.56 million.
- Over 4,000 people are found to have in-situ melanoma (melanoma that has not spread to other parts of the body) which costs $314.02 million to treat.
By 2049, the total cost of skin cancer treatment is expected to grow to $689.7 million.
EHINZ Figures
Source: Environmental Health Intelligence NZ (EHINZ)
In 2022, 3,116 registrations of melanoma (excluding in-situ melanoma).
Please note, this does not provide the following:
- Numbers by sex
- Numbers of Māori cases.
In 2019, a total of 504 skin cancer deaths were reported (329 melanoma deaths, 175 non-melanoma deaths).
Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand Figures
Source: Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand Cancer Web Tool
In 2022, 3.095 invasive melanoma cases were reported. Of these, 1,668 were male, and 1,427 were female.
Please note this does not provide the following:
- Numbers of in-situ melanoma cases
- Numbers of Māori cases.
In 2022, a total of 535 skin cancer deaths were reported (317 melanoma deaths, 218 non-melanoma deaths).
Skin Cancer Strategy Figures
Source: Skin Cancer Primary Prevention and Early Detection Strategy 2024 - 2028
In 2021, 7,249 new cases of melanoma were reported (4,418 cases of in-situ melanoma and 2,831 cases of invasive melanoma).
Please note, this does not provide the following:
- Numbers of deaths
- Numbers by sex
- Numbers of Māori cases.
More New Zealanders die from melanoma than die on our roads. The good news is that most melanomas can be successfully treated by your doctor.