There were 13,636 male deaths compared with 12,912 female deaths.
Males have consistently higher mortality rates at all ages compared with females.
Figures prior to 1991 are based on the de facto population concept. Crude death rates are not a good indicator of trends in mortality because they are affected by changes in the age structure of the population. For example, because the majority of deaths occur at the older ages, one would expect the crude death rate to increase as the population ages. However, the crude death rate does not show significant reductions in mortality at these older ages and older people are living far longer than ever before. Life tables are therefore used to give a more accurate description of the patterns of mortality for the New Zealand population.