Keep your eyes on survival rates

We keep a very close eye on the survival rates of New Zealand babies.  Every quarter, Statistics New Zealand sends us customised reports with updated infant mortality information presented by infant age, ethnicity and region of birth. As infant death rates decrease, obviously infant survival increases.

Mortality data allow us to monitor closely the twin goals of safe sleep work - survival and equality. On this page, we report post-perinatal mortality (PPNM) rates.  Post-perinatal infants are aged 7-364 days. PPNM includes all causes of death and not just sudden infant deaths or SUDI. PPNM rates are a good marker of impact on preventable infant deaths. We hope this survival watch is useful and motivating.

Updated to December 2023: 

The pattern of gradually reducing PPNM rates continues with a fall from 2.1 to 1.8/1000 live births over 2023. The decrease is mainly due to reduced Māori and Pacific rates and amounts to 16 babies. Remember, a fall of 0.1/1000 live births means 5-6 New Zealand babies a year. Your work counts. It counts as lives protected. Please, do keep watch here.  (Archived record)