Demographics of Auckland

Demographics of Auckland
Population pyramid of Auckland in 2022
Population1,440,300 (2022)

The Auckland Region is New Zealand's most populous territorial authority and Auckland its most populous city. In the 2018 census, 1,571,718 persons declared themselves as residents of the region. In the 2023 census, the population increased with 1,656,486 persons declaring themselves as residents of the region. More recently, the estimated population of the Auckland Region in 2024 was 1,797,300.[1] The Auckland Region accounts for about one-third (33.4%) of New Zealand's population.[2][3] Auckland has a large multicultural mix, including the largest Polynesian population in the world.

While having strong natural population growth, Auckland also has significant external (from overseas) immigration partially offset by internal (within New Zealand) emigration.[4] During the decade up to 2011, approximately 50 people per day moved to Auckland, requiring an average of 21 new homes, and occupying in excess of one extra hectare of land.[5]

Ethnicity

Tāmaki Māori, the group of Māori iwi that are indigenous to Auckland, include Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāi Tai, Te Wai-o-Hua, Ngāti Te Ata and Te Kawerau-a-Maki, and the Ngāti Whātua hapū (sub-tribe) of Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei. Auckland also has a large urban Māori population.[6]

The proportion of Asians and other non-European immigrants has increased during the last decades due to immigration,[7] and the removal of restrictions directly or indirectly based on ethnicity. Immigration to New Zealand is heavily concentrated towards Auckland (partly for job market reasons). This strong focus on Auckland has led the immigration services to award extra points towards immigration visa requirements for people intending to move to other parts of New Zealand.[8]

The following table shows the ethnic profile of Auckland's population, as recorded in the 2006, 2013, 2018 and 2023 New Zealand censuses.[9] The substantial percentage drop of 'Europeans' in 2006 was mainly caused by the increasing numbers of people from this group choosing to define themselves as 'New Zealanders', as a result of a media campaign that encouraged people to give the response 'New Zealander' even though this was not one of the groups listed on the census form. In the 2013 census fewer Europeans identify themselves as 'New Zealander', leading to a significant increase of numbers in 'Europeans'.[10]

Ethnic groups of Auckland by census [11]
Ethnicity 2006 census 2013 census 2018 census 2023 census
Number % Number % Number % Number %
European 700,158 56.5 789,306 59.3 841,386 53.5 825,144 49.8
   European (not further defined) 9,162 0.7 10,668 0.8 12,381 0.8 7,107 0.4
   New Zealand European 611,898 49.4 696,963 52.3 738,567 47.0 726,822 43.9
   British and Irish 35,070 2.8 35,379 2.7 39,249 2.5 37,875 2.3
   Dutch 7,785 0.6 7,995 0.6 7,920 0.5 7,917 0.5
   Greek 489 <0.1 492 <0.1 597 <0.1 642 <0.1
   Polish 705 0.1 792 0.1 1,059 0.1 1,164 0.1
   South Slav 3,819 0.3 3,531 0.3 3,708 0.2 3,957 0.2
   Italian 1,071 0.1 1,398 0.1 2,046 0.1 2,427 0.1
   German 4,224 0.3 4,782 0.4 6,135 0.4 5,919 0.4
   Australian 8,637 0.7 7,062 0.5 8,688 0.6 8,268 0.5
   Other European 30,906 2.5 36,909 2.8 43,458 0.8 49,992 3.0
Māori 137,304 11.1 142,767 10.7 181,194 11.5 203,544 12.3
Pacific peoples 177,948 14.4 194,958 14.6 243,966 15.5 275,079 16.6
   Pacific peoples (not further defined) 267 <0.1 378 <0.1 1,296 0.1 870 0.1
   Samoan 87,840 7.1 95,916 7.2 118,503 7.5 135,708 8.2
   Cook Islands Māori 34,788 2.8 36,810 2.8 46,668 3.0 52,671 3.2
   Tongan 40,140 3.2 46,971 3.5 62,403 4.0 72,534 4.4
   Niuean 17,667 1.4 18,555 1.4 23,088 1.5 25,542 1.5
   Tokelauan 1,848 0.1 1,959 0.1 2,406 0.2 2,604 0.2
   Fijian 5,850 0.5 8,493 0.6 11,202 0.7 12,987 0.8
   Other Pacific peoples 4,755 0.4 5,841 0.4 7,485 0.5 9,699 0.6
Asian 234,279 18.9 307,233 23.1 442,674 28.2 518,178 31.3
   Asian (not further defined) 1,143 0.1 2,025 0.2 5,850 0.4 5,373 0.3
   Southeast Asian (not further defined) 324 <0.1 774 0.1 3,366 0.2 4,323 0.3
   Filipino 9,822 0.8 20,502 1.5 32,850 2.1 48,186 2.9
   Cambodian 3,372 0.3 4,185 0.3 4,386 0.3 5,232 0.3
   Vietnamese 3,174 0.3 4,386 0.3 6,324 0.4 8,955 0.5
   Other Southeast Asian 8,574 0.7 11,310 0.8 13,527 0.9 16,524 1.0
   Chinese 98,418 7.9 118,233 8.9 171,309 10.9 194,484 11.7
   Indian 74,460 6.0 106,329 8.0 154,824 9.9 175,794 10.6
   Sri Lankan 5,049 0.4 6,903 0.5 9,987 0.6 13,239 0.8
   Japanese 5,289 0.4 6,720 0.5 8,463 0.5 8,754 0.5
   Korean 21,354 1.7 21,984 1.7 25,038 1.6 27,270 1.6
   Other Asian 5,562 0.4 7,218 0.5 11,100 0.7 16,431 1.0
Middle Eastern/Latin American/African 18,558 1.5 24,945 1.9 35,838 2.3 44,718 2.7
   Middle Eastern 10,710 0.9 12,854 1.0 17,088 1.1 19,797 1.2
   Latin American 3,090 0.2 5,820 0.4 11,163 0.7 15,741 1.0
   African 4,800 0.4 6,303 0.5 7,737 0.5 9,402 0.6
Other 100,110 8.1 15,639 1.2 16,746 1.1 15,144 0.9
Total people stated 1,239,054 1,331,427 1,571,718 1,656,486
Not elsewhere included 65,907 5.1 84,123 5.9 0 0.0 0 0.0
Ethnic groups by Auckland local board area, 2023 census[12]
Local board area European Maori Pacific Asian MELAA Other
Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. %
Rodney 66,204 84.9 9,453 11.4 3,324 4.3 7,341 9.4 945 1.2 1,038 1.3
Hibiscus and Bays 86,598 75.9 8,169 7.2 2,790 2.4 23,436 20.6 2,505 2.2 1,278 1.1
Upper Harbour 37,794 49.1 4,713 6.1 2,418 3.1 34,983 45.5 2,778 3.6 825 1.1
Kaipatiki 49,785 56.5 8,328 9.4 5,835 6.6 30,669 34.8 3,180 3.6 960 1.1
Devonport-Takapuna 38,493 66.4 3,603 6.2 1,695 2.9 16,842 29.0 1,812 3.1 573 1.0
Henderson-Massey 54,420 43.6 22,629 18.1 27,629 22.2 39,546 31.7 3,564 2.9 1,227 1.0
Waitākere Ranges 37,737 70.0 7,452 13.8 7,104 13.2 9,405 17.4 1,347 2.5 555 1.0
Great Barrier 1,122 89.7 285 22.8 27 2.2 21 1.7 9 0.7 18 1.4
Waiheke 8,061 88.0 1,125 12.3 333 3.6 417 4.6 471 5.1 96 1.0
Waitemata 48,819 59.9 6,876 8.4 4,725 5.8 25,692 31.5 3,903 4.8 642 0.8
Whau 30,522 37.6 8,913 11.0 16,050 19.7 34,332 42.2 2,832 3.5 603 0.7
Albert-Eden 56,025 58.0 8,322 8.6 8,343 8.6 31,953 33.1 3,342 3.5 765 0.8
Puketapapa 18,261 32.1 3,795 6.7 8,931 15.7 28,701 50.4 2,610 4.6 414 0.7
Orakei 56,937 68.4 5,316 6.4 3,072 3.7 22,215 26.7 2,790 3.4 753 0.9
Maungakiekie-Tamaki 32,973 42.2 11,013 14.1 20,190 25.9 23,370 29.9 2,319 3.0 573 0.7
Howick 58,503 38.1 9,717 6.3 12,339 8.0 80,565 52.5 4,332 2.8 2,070 1.3
Mangere-Otahuhu 14,466 18.4 13,302 16.9 47,463 60.4 15,408 19.6 804 1.0 282 0.4
Otara-Papatoetoe 12,678 14.6 13,749 15.8 42,381 48.7 30,792 35.4 855 1.0 333 0.4
Manurewa 24,213 24.5 24,858 25.2 39,450 39.9 27,249 27.6 2,091 2.1 525 0.5
Papakura 26,213 36.7 17,811 24.6 14,811 20.5 24,732 34.2 1,257 1.7 651 0.9
Franklin 64,986 77.0 14,019 16.6 6,129 7.3 10,509 12.5 969 1.1 966 1.1
Total 825,144 49.8 203,544 12.3 275,079 16.6 518,178 31.3 44,718 2.7 15,144 0.9

Country of birth

Birthplace of usually resident population, 2006–18 Census[13]
Country 2006 census 2013 census 2018 census
Number % Number % Number %
New Zealand 777,942 63.0 805,356 60.9 904,905 58.4
China 54,519 4.4 65,385 4.9 96,540 6.2
India 30,747 2.5 43,410 3.3 71,358 4.6
England 72,975 5.9 74,940 5.7 68,799 4.4
Fiji 28,446 2.3 39,087 3.0 44,658 2.9
Samoa 35,766 2.9 35,586 2.7 38,232 2.5
South Africa 24,630 2.0 30,612 2.3 36,759 2.4
Philippines 9,069 0.7 18,621 1.4 30,237 2.0
Australia 20,250 1.6 19,590 1.5 21,903 1.4
South Korea 20,034 1.6 19,470 1.5 21,753 1.4
Tonga 17,208 1.4 18,117 1.4 20,913 1.3
Malaysia 8,424 0.7 9,459 0.7 11,607 0.7
United States 5,931 0.4 7,272 0.5 8,988 0.6
Sri Lanka 4,503 0.4 5,841 0.4 8,529 0.6
Cook Islands 10,374 0.8 9,183 0.7 8,259 0.5
Hong Kong 5,844 0.5 5,109 0.4 8,061 0.5
Scotland 8,961 0.7 7,851 0.6 7,443 0.5
Taiwan 7,485 0.6 6,378 0.5 7,113 0.5
Japan 4,158 0.3 4,959 0.4 6,279 0.4
Vietnam 3,264 0.3 3,978 0.3 5,859 0.4
Germany 3,588 0.3 4,164 0.3 5,253 0.3
Other countries 80,208 6.5 88,185 6.7 115,791 7.5
Total people stated 1,234,317 1,322,535 1,571,718
Not elsewhere included 70,641 5.4 93,015 6.6 22,476 1.5
Birthplace by Auckland local board area, 2013 census[14]
Local board area New Zealand Australia Pacific Islands British Isles Europe North America Asia Middle East and Africa Latin America and Other
Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. % Num. %
Rodney 39,678 77.8 936 1.8 540 1.1 5,763 11.3 1,098 2.2 549 1.1 1,272 2.5 1,092 2.1 90 0.2
Hibiscus and Bays 53,805 63.0 1,476 1.7 624 0.7 13,443 15.7 2,574 3.0 912 1.1 5,499 6.4 6,717 7.9 321 0.4
Upper Harbour 27,525 54.1 699 1.4 762 1.5 4,296 8.4 1,260 2.5 438 0.9 11,562 22.7 4,140 8.1 168 0.3
Kaipatiki 45,189 58.1 1,251 1.6 2,358 3.0 5,991 7.7 2,238 2.9 648 0.8 15,936 20.5 3,711 4.8 432 0.6
Devonport-Takapuna 32,226 60.5 1,113 2.1 522 1.0 5,919 11.1 1,728 3.2 759 1.4 8,598 16.1 2,073 3.9 315 0.6
Henderson-Massey 64,248 64.2 1,230 1.2 10,536 10.5 4,698 4.7 2,232 2.2 501 0.5 13,293 13.3 2,931 2.9 399 0.4
Waitākere Ranges 31,902 70.6 756 1.7 2,265 5.0 4,806 10.6 1,284 2.8 498 1.1 2,454 5.4 1,038 2.3 186 0.4
Great Barrier 663 81.3 21 2.6 3 0.4 72 8.8 21 2.6 18 2.2 9 1.1 9 1.1 0 0.0
Waiheke 5,442 70.3 213 2.8 69 0.9 1,107 14.3 321 4.1 195 2.5 174 2.2 147 1.9 75 1.0
Waitemata 37,689 53.1 1,539 2.2 1,644 2.3 5,190 7.3 2,763 3.9 1,323 1.9 17,589 24.8 2,190 3.1 1,092 1.5
Whau 54,834 54.5 1,584 1.2 3,153 11.4 5,379 4.4 1,899 1.5 966 0.5 18,618 23.5 2,085 2.9 465 0.4
Albert-Eden 54,834 61.6 1,584 1.8 3,153 3.5 5,379 6.0 1,899 2.1 966 1.1 18,618 20.9 2,085 2.3 465 0.5
Puketapapa 24,192 48.3 513 1.0 5,274 10.5 1,773 3.5 645 1.3 270 0.5 15,507 31.0 1,683 3.4 204 0.4
Orakei 49,224 65.4 1,815 2.4 1,230 1.6 6,621 8.8 2,679 3.6 1,083 1.4 9,633 12.8 2,526 3.4 513 0.7
Maungakiekie-Tamaki 38,955 60.8 798 1.2 8,211 12.8 2,496 3.9 1,263 2.0 429 0.7 10,164 15.9 1,449 2.3 267 0.4
Howick 60,189 49.4 1,398 1.1 4,815 4.0 8,730 7.2 2,184 1.8 723 0.6 32,928 27.0 10,488 8.6 399 0.3
Mangere-Otahuhu 36,519 56.8 588 0.9 21,858 34.0 810 1.3 237 0.4 183 0.3 3,477 5.4 501 0.8 84 0.1
Otara-Papatoetoe 36,642 53.4 567 0.8 20,577 30.0 870 1.3 246 0.4 165 0.2 8,598 12.5 837 1.2 93 0.1
Manurewa 48,492 64.6 744 1.0 13,962 18.6 2,082 2.8 429 0.6 198 0.3 6,834 9.1 2,193 2.9 93 0.1
Papakura 32,337 76.5 555 1.3 2,463 5.8 1,950 4.6 429 1.0 174 0.4 3,162 7.5 1,107 2.6 105 0.2
Franklin 48,744 79.3 981 1.6 1,083 1.8 5,502 9.0 954 1.6 378 0.6 2,085 3.3 1,623 2.6 84 0.1

Religion

Major religions in Auckland, 2013 Census
  1. Catholic 13.29 (13.1%)
  2. Anglican 9.1 (8.95%)
  3. Presbyterian 7.4 (7.28%)
  4. Other Christianity 17.77 (17.5%)
  5. Hinduism 4.75 (4.67%)
  6. Buddhism 2.53 (2.49%)
  7. Islam 2.41 (2.37%)
  8. Other religions 2.88 (2.83%)
  9. Undeclared 3.75 (3.69%)
  10. No religion 37.83 (37.2%)
Religion of usually resident population, 2001–13 Census[15]
Religion 2001 census 2006 census 2013 census !
Number % Number % Number %
Christian 604,713 56.98 636,405 52.96 615,936 47.56
    Catholic 153,678 14.48 169,881 14.14 172,110 13.29
    Anglican 147,993 13.94 141,522 11.78 117,843 9.10
    Presbyterian, Congregational and Reformed 110,490 10.41 109,539 9.12 95,892 7.40
    Christian (not further defined) 63,180 5.95 63,714 5.30 78,480 6.06
    Methodist 47,034 4.43 50,442 4.20 46,770 3.61
    Pentecostal 23,238 2.19 31,104 2.59 31,386 2.42
    Baptist 18,546 1.75 21,495 1.79 21,237 1.64
    Latter-day Saints 16,632 1.57 19,230 1.60 19,374 1.50
    Other Christian religions 32,796 3.09 37,560 3.13 39,240 3.03
Hindu 25,788 2.43 45,327 3.77 61,458 4.75
Buddhist 22,722 2.14 29,217 2.43 32,778 2.53
Islam/Muslim 15,318 1.44 23,688 1.97 31,158 2.41
Sikh 3,225 0.30 6,177 0.51 11,715 0.90
Māori Christian 14,481 1.36 14,574 1.21 11,649 0.90
    Ratana 12,585 1.19 12,438 1.04 10,122 0.78
    Ringatu 1,977 0.19 2,253 0.19 1,617 0.12
    Other Maori Christian religions 153 0.01 141 0.01 114 0.01
Spiritualism and New Age religions 4,854 0.46 5,907 0.49 5,238 0.40
Judaism/Jewish 3,132 0.30 3,315 0.28 3,099 0.24
Other religions 4,767 0.45 5,541 0.46 5,637 0.44
Total people with at least one religious affiliation 692,691 65.27 763,191 63.51 772,095 59.61
No religion 308,592 29.08 390,411 32.49 489,915 37.83
Object to answering 68,601 6.46 67,302 5.60 48,585 3.75

Future growth

Auckland is expecting substantial population growth via immigration and natural population increases (which contribute to growth at about one-third and two-thirds, respectively),[16] and is set to grow to an estimated 2 million inhabitants by 2050 (a compounded annual growth rate of 1.2% vs the 2013 number above).[17] This substantial increase in population will have a major impact on transport, housing and other infrastructure that is in many cases already considered under pressure. It is also feared by some organisations, such as the Auckland Regional Council, that urban sprawl will result from the growth and, as a result, that it is necessary to address this proactively in planning policy.

A 'Regional Growth Strategy' has been adopted that sees limits on further subdivision and intensification of existing use as its main sustainability measures.[18] This policy is contentious, as it naturally limits the uses of private land, especially the subdivision of urban fringe properties,[19] by setting 'Metropolitan Urban Limits' in planning documents like the District Plan.[20] According to the 2006 Census projections, the medium-variant scenario shows that the population is projected to continue growing, to reach 1.93 million by 2031. The high-variant scenario shows the region's population growing to over two million by 2031.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Loading..., Place and ethnic group summaries | Stats NZ". tools.summaries.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Census in Auckland". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Stats NZ archive website | Stats NZ".
  4. ^ "New Zealand's population is drifting north – Population mythbusters". Statistics New Zealand. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Auckland Council – History In The Making". Our Auckland. Auckland Council. March 2011. p. 5.
  6. ^ Taonui, Rāwiri (10 February 2015). "Tāmaki tribes". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  7. ^ "New Zealand — A Regional Profile — Auckland" (PDF). Statistics New Zealand. 1999. pp. 19–20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
  8. ^ Residence in New Zealand Archived 2007-06-14 at the Wayback Machine (PDF) (Page 8, from the Immigration New Zealand website. Accessed 2008-01-18.)
  9. ^ http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/data-tables/tables-about-a-place.aspx?request_value=24394&tabname=Culturaldiversity 2013 Census about a place: Auckland region, Cultural Diversity
  10. ^ http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-about-national-highlights/cultural-diversity.aspx 2013 Census QuickStats about national highlights
  11. ^ "Religious affiliation, ethnicity, and gender for the census usually resident population count, (RC, TALB, SA2, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Ethnicity (grouped total responses level 1), age, and gender for the census night population count, by census night address (RC, TALB, SA2, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". explore.data.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Birthplace (detailed), for the census usually resident population count, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (RC, TA, SA2, DHB)". nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  14. ^ "2013 Census QuickStats about culture and identity – data tables". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Religious affiliation (total responses) by age group and sex, for the census usually resident population count, 2001, 2006, and 2013 Censuses (RC, TA, AU)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  16. ^ Can We Stop growth? Archived 2007-10-12 at the Wayback Machine (from the ARC website)
  17. ^ .Executive Summary (PDF) (from the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy document, ARC, November 1999. Retrieved 2007-10-14.)
  18. ^ From Urban Sprawl to Compact City: an analysis of Auckland's Urban Growth Management Strategies Archived 2007-06-28 at the Wayback Machine — Arbury, Joshua — MA Thesis, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
  19. ^ Cumming, Geoff (28 April 2007). "Green belt under siege". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  20. ^ Growth Strategy: Glossary and References Archived 2007-06-14 at the Wayback Machine (PDF) (from the Auckland City Council).
  21. ^ "Vision | Ministry for Culture and Heritage". Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
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