Breast cancer in New Zealand

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in New Zealand

• Note: - The statistics on this page only include invasive diagnoses, where breast cancer cells have spread beyond the ducts or lobules of the breast. Numbers exclude ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
• Source: - Te Aho o Te Kahu – Cancer Control Agency

More than 3,700 New Zealanders are diagnosed with breast cancer every year

• Note: - Includes both women and men. Excludes secondary or recurrent diagnoses (first diagnosis only). Figure represents a 3-year average. This number (via Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register) may vary from Health New Zealand’s numbers due to differences in technical definitions, patient eligibility and other rules (e.g. diagnosis type).
• Source: - Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register

26 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year

• Note: These 26 cases are included in the total of 3,700 new diagnoses. Figure represents a 4-year average.
• Source: Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (Cancer data web tool) + Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register

10 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each day

• Note: Figure represents a 3-year average.
• Source: Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (New Zealand Cancer Registry) + Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register

Of the 10 women diagnosed each day, 1 will be Māori

• Note: Figure represents a 3-year average.
• Source: Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (New Zealand Cancer Registry)

Each year, around 400 women are diagnosed under the age of 45

• Note: Figure represents a 3-year average.
• Source: Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register

1 in 10 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives

• Source: World Health Organisation

More than 650 people die from breast cancer each year in New Zealand

• Note: Figure represents a 3-year average.
• Source: Te Aho o Te Kahu – Cancer Control Agency + Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (Cancer data web tool)

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for New Zealand women under the age of 65

• Source: Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (Mortality data web tool)
• Note: While Ministry of Health Mortality Data shows other higher-ranking causes (such as digestive cancers and heart disease), these are broad groupings that combine multiple distinct conditions. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death when comparing single, site-specific diseases.

Māori and Pacific women are at greater risk of dying from breast cancer:

Māori women are 33% more likely, and Pacific women are 52% more likely to die from breast cancer than other women.

• Source: 30,000 voices: Informing a better future for breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register 2003-2020

More than 36,000 people currently live with or have survived breast cancer in New Zealand

• Note: Based on patients in the Breast Cancer Foundation National Register who are still alive after diagnosis.
• Source: Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register

The 10-year survival rate is 95% if breast cancer is detected early by mammogram, or 85% if a symptom is found

• Source: 30,000 voices: Informing a better future for breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register 2003-2020

Over 30% of women who are eligible for free breast screening are not taking part

• Note: Applies to women aged 45 to 69 (soon to 74). Figure represents a 2-year average
• Source: Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (BreastScreen Aotearoa Coverage Report)

Last reviewed: October 2025