Pacific heart health statistics

Pacific Heartbeat focuses on the heart health needs of New Zealand’s Pasifika population. We take a look at the heart health statistics of Pacific people in NZ.

Heart disease in New Zealand

7000
More than 7000 Pacific people live with heart disease

175,000 people in New Zealand across all backgrounds live with heart disease. [1]

2 in 5
2 in 5 Pacific deaths from heart disease are between ages 35-65

Compared to one in ten deaths for non-Pacific, non-Maori New Zealanders. [1]

1.2x
Pacific people are 1.2x more likely to live with heart disease

than non-Pacific. [2]

2.4x
Pacific women are 2.4x more likely to experience heart failure

Compared to non-Pacific women in New Zealand. [3]

Heart disease in Pacific people

1 in 3
of all Pacific deaths are from CVD

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for Pacific people. [1]

372
Pacific people died from cardiovascular disease in 2016

60% of these deaths were premature (before age 75). [1]

1 in 3
of all Pacific men who died in 2016 died from CVD

That’s 233 Pacific men who died from CVD. [1]

1 in 4
of all Pacific women who died in 2016 died from CVD

That’s 139 women who died from CVD. [1]

Pacific health and fitness

1.5x
Pacific adults are 1.5x as likely to be smokers

than non-Pacific adults regardless of age and gender. Almost 1 in 4 Pacific adults were smokers in 2017/2018. [3]

2.27x
Pacific adults are 2.27x more likely to be affected by obesity

than non-Pacific adults. [3]

3.07x
Pacific children are 3.07x more likely to be affected by obesity

than non-Pacific children. [3]

0.91x
Pacific adults are 0.91 times as likely to be physically active

than non-Pacific adults. [3]

Sources

[1] Ministry of Health data tables 2016

[2] New Zealand Health Survey Māori

[3] NZ Health Survey 2017-18