Perceived health

Waikato progress indicators – Tupuranga Waikato
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Waikato Progress Indicators - Tupuranga Waikato

Image - man grocery shopping PERCEIVED HEALTH

WPI - down arrow   WORSENING TREND

Perceived levels of overall health for people living in the Waikato region are lower in 2024 compared with 2006.

This indicator is people’s self-rated general health status in the Waikato region according to the Quality of Life Survey results.

Why is this indicator important?

Self-reported health status is a key measure of subjective wellbeing and has been found to be linked to actual health outcomes. Measuring people’s perceptions of their health provides us with useful information which can be included with other measures to help us to plan for current and future support systems and other resources in our region.

Perceived health

Waikato Progress Indicators - Perceived health graph

Year Per cent with good, very good or excellent health
2006 90
2016 84
2018 79
2020 79
2022 80
2024 74

Note: 2006-2022 results relate to a question about "overall health", whereas the 2024 WPI result is the average of four items relating to "physical health", "mental health", "spiritual health" and "relationship health".

What is this indicator telling us? 

  • Compared to 2006, Waikato regional survey respondents in 2024 were less likely to rate their overall health positively (74% compared to 90% in 2006).
  • Across the Waikato region in 2024:
    • The percentage of people who rated their overall health positively ranged from 62% for Waitomo district respondents up to 84% for Thames-Coromandel district respondents.
  • According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics, when asked ‘How is your health in general?’, 86% of people in New Zealand reported to be in good health, much more than the OECD average of 68% and one of the highest scores across the OECD.

DATA SOURCE AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Indicator is the percentage of respondents who report their self-rated general health status to be good, very good or excellent. Data are from the Quality of Life Survey. The 2006-2022 results relate to a question about "overall health", whereas the 2024 WPI result is the average of four items relating to "physical health", "mental health", "spiritual health" and "relationship health".

Update details: Waikato regional results are available for 2006, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024.

Customised data request requirements: Quality of Life data.

DATA AVAILABILITY – OTHER THAN WAIKATO REGION:

Territorial Authority (TA) disaggregation: Yes

Other regions: Yes

New Zealand: No (from 2022 in the 8-cities questionnaire, physical and mental health are measured but not 'overall health').

Other countries/ Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): secondary statistics from OECD Wellbeing Report: Health – Key findings.