Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
Summary
Each year, the New Zealand Ministry of Health releases national estimates of the prevalence of diabetes based on the Virtual Diabetes Register (VDR). The VDR monitors the prevalence of diabetes and supports national and local clinical quality improvements. This web tool presents both estimated numbers of people registered as having diabetes, as well as the estimated prevalence of diabetes per 1000 people, across different demographic groups in the population.
The data presented in this tool can be explored by year, ethnicity, sex, district health board of residence, deprivation quintile and age group.
View the Virtual Diabetes Register web tool.
Key findings from the 2020 Virtual Diabetes Register
- In 2020, about 277,800 people in Aotearoa New Zealand were estimated as having diabetes. The estimated rate of diabetes was 40.0 (95% CI: 39.8, 40.1) per 1000 population.
- Over the last ten years, there was a statistically significant increase in the estimated rate of diabetes, from 34.3 (95% CI: 34.2, 34.5) per 1000 population in 2011 to 40.0 (95% CI: 39.8, 40.1) per 1000 population in 2020.
- In 2020:
- the Pacific population had the highest estimated rate of diabetes (114.9 (95% CI: 113.8, 116.1) per 1000 Pacific population), followed by the Indian population (100.0 (95% CI: 98.7, 101.4) per 1000 Indian population) and the Māori population (67.7 (95% CI: 67.1, 68.4) per 1000 Māori population). The European or other population had the lowest estimated rate of diabetes (29.1 (95% CI: 29.0, 29.2) per 1000 European or other population)
- Counties Manukau District Health Board had the highest estimated rate of diabetes (68.5 (95% CI: 67.9, 69.1) per 1000 population), while Nelson Marlborough District Health Board had the lowest estimated rate of diabetes (24.6 (95% CI: 24.0, 25.2) per 1000 population)
- the estimated rate of diabetes increased with increasing deprivation quintile. Those living in the most deprived areas—deprivation quintile 5—had rates of diabetes 2.5 times higher than those living in the least deprived areas (deprivation quintile 5: 65.9 (95% CI: 65.4, 66.3) per 1000 population; deprivation quintile 1: 26.0 (95% CI: 25.7, 26.3) per 1000 population)
- the estimated diabetes rate of males (42.9 (95% CI: 42.7, 43.1) per 1000 population) was higher than that of females (37.3 (95% CI: 37.1, 37.5) per 1000 population).
Disclaimer
This web tool presents data to the latest year for which data is available for publication. We have quality checked the collection, extraction, and reporting of the data presented here. However, errors can occur. Please contact us through the Data Services team at the Ministry of Health if you have any concerns regarding any of the data or analyses presented here. The Ministry of Health makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor assumes legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or use of the information or data in this tool.
