New Zealand Asthma Facts 2026
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, with an estimated 590,000 people, around 1 in 9 Kiwis, taking medication for asthma. New Zealand also has high rates of hospital admissions for asthma: there were 7,533 asthma hospitalisations of children aged 0-14 in 2023.
What is asthma?
Asthma is caused by inflammation and tightening of the thin muscle around the airways which makes it harder to breathe.
During an asthma flare-up, people commonly experience symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath or coughing.
When someone is experiencing these asthma symptoms, the airways become inflamed:
- Airways tighten up.
Inside the wall of each airway there is a thin layer of muscle. When it contracts, it makes the airway narrower. Reliever medicines work by relaxing these muscles in the airways.
- Airways thicken up.
The lining of the tubes gets swollen and inflamed, leaving less space to breathe through. Preventer medicines work by reducing the inflammation that causes the swelling.
- Airways fill up.
The inside of the tubes can get blocked by mucus. Preventer medicines reduce mucus.
All these can happen at the same time.
Our New Zealand Asthma Facts awareness campaign on 1-7 September 2026 has a clear message: Live better with asthma – manage your asthma well and improve your quality of life.
New Zealand asthma facts
• New Zealand has a high prevalence of asthma.
• 1 in 9 people in New Zealand have asthma.
• 590,000 New Zealanders take medications for asthma.
• 496,000 adults in New Zealand have asthma.
• 94,000 children in New Zealand have asthma.
• New Zealand has high rates of hospital admissions for asthma.
• 7,533 asthma hospitalisations of children aged 0-14 years in 2023*.
*Environmental Health Intelligence New Zealand surveillance report 2025
Posters
Sensitive Choice has developed a New Zealand Asthma Facts infographic poster. This poster is available in A4 and A3, and we encourage people to download and print these to help raise awareness about the prevalence of asthma in New Zealand.
Products and services for people with asthma and allergies
Sensitive Choice New Zealand helps 590,000 Kiwis live better with asthma and allergies by identifying products and services that are asthma and allergy aware.
Look for the Sensitive Choice blue butterfly which can be found on bedding, building products, cleaning agents, carpets, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, and more.
What is the Sensitive Choice blue butterfly?
Get involved
Sensitive Choice is inviting Kiwis to help raise awareness of the high prevalence of asthma in New Zealand by sharing our social media tiles between 1-7 September during our New Zealand Asthma Facts 2026 awareness campaign.
Sensitive Choice New Zealand social media accounts: