Facts and figures
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in 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 $129.4 million [1]
- About 2,800 invasive melanomas are diagnosed, with estimated health care costs of $54.5 million [1]
- Over 4,000 people are found to have in-situ melanoma (melanoma that has not spread to other parts of the body) [2]
By 2025 the total cost of skin cancer treatment is expected to grow to $295 million. [1]
The following boxes summarise the latest figures from the Ministry of Health
Melanoma Reported (2019)
2,730 people
(1,481 males and 1,249 females)
67 Māori
(27 males and 40 females)
Skin Cancer Deaths (2019)
503 deaths from skin cancer
10 Māori
(7 males and 3 females)
Of these, 328 deaths were from melanoma and 175 deaths from other types of skin cancers
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.
[1] Gordon L. et al. (2022). Estimated Healthcare Costs of Melanoma and Keratinocyte Skin Cancers in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(6).
[2] Ministry of Health (2021). New Cancer Registrations 2019. Wellington: Ministry of Health.