COMMUNITY
Who lives in Auckland
Auckland and rest of New Zealand population growth
Auckland’s population distribution by age and gender (2023)
Auckland contains 33% of New Zealand’s population. Although ageing, it is more youthful than the rest of New Zealand.
One third of New Zealanders live in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and this is projected to increase in the future. The region’s estimated population was 1.74 million in 2023, and population growth had been slightly outpacing the rest of New Zealand before COVID-19.
Auckland’s population saw an unprecedented decline during the pandemic but grew again considerably in 2023. Overall, the region now has more people than it did pre-COVID.
Auckland’s population is younger than the rest of New Zealand’s, although like many western societies, it is ageing. Between 2018 and 2023, there was an increase in the population aged over 65, and a decrease in those under 10.
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An estimated 1,739,000 people lived in Auckland in 2023, 33% of the New Zealand population of 5,223,100.4
Auckland’s population grew by 2.8% from 2022 to 2023.
The strong population growth in 2023 was driven by record levels of net migration, and followed two years of unprecedented population decline primarily due to border closures.
Auckland’s net migration for the year to June 2023 was estimated to be 47,800, while natural population growth was 10,400.
The rest of New Zealand is less reliant on migration than Auckland.
4. Note that the StatsNZ Estimated Resident Population (ERP) is not directly comparable with the Census usually resident population count because of a number of adjustments.
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The median age of Aucklanders in 2023 is 35.9.
By comparison, New Zealand’s overall median age is 38.1, and Wellington’s is 37.9.
Auckland has a young population, but it is ageing.
In 2023, 19.2% of people in Auckland were 0-14 years old, and 13.3% were over 65.
In 2018, the corresponding values were 20.0% and 12.0%.
The number of people aged 65+ increased by over 30,000 from 2018–2023, while the number of people aged 0-9 decreased by 7000.
The proportion of Auckland’s population that is working age (67%) is higher than the rest of New Zealand (63%).
Sources: Population, population growth, population age and gender – Infometrics: Regional Economic Profile. Average population growth – Age breakdown – 2018 and 2023 Census (StatsNZ)
Ethnic diversity
Auckland region population – census count
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with 180+ ethnicities and over 40% of the population born overseas.
Population growth has primarily been driven by migration from Asia in recent decades. This was constrained during COVID due to border restrictions, with a resulting unprecedented decline in the population.
Auckland is the world’s largest Polynesian city, with New Zealand’s largest Māori population and over 275,000 Pacific peoples. Auckland’s Māori and Pacific population is relatively youthful compared to the rest of the country, and the region’s Māori and Pacific rangatahi (youth) will make up a larger proportion of the workforce in the future.
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Auckland is home to 180+ ethnicities, making it one of the most diverse cities in the world.
Over 40% of residents were born overseas, much higher than the rest of New Zealand (21%).
Over half of New Zealanders who are born overseas live in Auckland (despite Auckland accounting for only 33% of the total population).
There are over 275,000 Pacific peoples in Auckland, 17% of the total regional population.
Auckland’s Māori population now exceeds 200,000, 12% of the total regional population.
The largest non-European ethnic group in Auckland is Asian, with over 500,000 people. Chinese, Indian, Filipino and Korean are the biggest Asian communities.
The proportion of the population which is European is decreasing (from 59% to 50% from 2013 to 2023).
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Immigration from Asia, particularly China, India and the Philippines, has driven Auckland’s population growth in recent decades.
Net international migration was negative during COVID but recovered strongly to reach record levels in 2023 (47,800).
Māori and Pacific peoples are significant contributors to natural population growth, accounting for nearly half of births in Auckland over the last 5 years.
Auckland has been losing a net average of over 12,500 people per annum to regional New Zealand over the last five years. Data suggests this negative internal migration trend may go back as far as 2007.
The largest internal migration outflows are to Waikato and Northland. Those leaving Auckland tend to relocate in neighbouring regions.
Source: Ethnic diversity - 2018 and 2023 Census (StatsNZ). Population Dynamics - StatsNZ
Māori and Pacific communities
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has 62% of New Zealand’s Pacific population and is the largest Polynesian city in the world. It is also home to Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest Māori community, reflecting the culture, people, and values of whanaungatanga (kinship), manaakitanga (hospitality), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
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Māori hold a special place in the identity and life of Aotearoa New Zealand through a partnership between Māori and the Crown under Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti).
Auckland Council recognises 19 iwi authorities (mana whenua) in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Auckland is unique in New Zealand because the majority of its Māori population whakapapa to (identify with) iwi and hapū from outside the Auckland region. This is due to extensive migration of whānau to Auckland from rural areas over 60 years ago.
At 203,000, Auckland has New Zealand’s largest Māori population (23% of the total). The Māori population grew by over 22,000 between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses, and Māori account for over 12% of Auckland’s population.
Auckland’s Māori population is relatively young compared to other Aucklanders, with over half being under the age of 25. South Auckland, where around 45% of Māori in Auckland reside, has the youngest demographic make-up of any area in New Zealand.
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Auckland’s Pacific population now totals over 275,000 and grew by 31,000 between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. This represents the second largest increase across all major ethnic groupings.
Despite the absence of a detailed ethnic breakdown of 2023 Census data until later this year, we know from 2018 Census data that our Pacific population is very diverse, with large Samoan (49% of Pacific peoples in Auckland), Tongan (26%), Cook Islands Māori (19%), Niuean (9.5%), Fijian (4.5%), Tuvaluan (1.5%) and Tokelauan (1%) communities. There are also significant Kiribati (over 1400), Tahitian (over 1000) and Rotuman (over 600) communities in Auckland.
The proportion of Auckland’s Pacific population born in New Zealand continues to increase – from 56% in 2006 to 63% in 2018. This has no doubt increased further, with an average of over 5600 Pacific children born in Auckland per year from 2018-2023 – 27% of total births.
Auckland’s Pacific population is relatively young – over 50% are under the age of 25. South Auckland, where over 50% of Pacific peoples reside, has the youngest demographic make-up of any area in New Zealand.
Source: 2018 and 2023 Census (StatsNZ)
Auckland Economic Monitor
A summary of key economic information about the region
Auckland’s economy: What’s changed?
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Economic activity
Auckland’s economy is well-diversified - more than any other area of New Zealand - but it has a relative focus on high value service industries.
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Businesses
Auckland has around 225,000 businesses. They employ more people on average than the rest of the country.
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![The labour market]()
The labour market
Auckland’s workforce is large, diverse, and skewed toward high skilled workers.
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![Economic confidence]()
Economic confidence
Auckland’s consumer confidence is relatively low, reflecting the difficult economic conditions which exist today.
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![Visitor economy]()
Visitor economy
Auckland offers the first taste of New Zealand for many international visitors.
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![Community]()
Community
Auckland contains 33% of New Zealand’s population. Although ageing, it is more youthful than the rest of New Zealand.
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Emissions
Notwithstanding its GDP contribution of 37%, Auckland produced only 14% of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.
Deep dives
Cost of living
Inflation reached levels not seen since the 80s in 2022 and remains above historical levels.
Investment & trade
Auckland plays a significant role in the country’s investment and trade landscape.
Auckland’s industrial employment areas
Trends over the last two decades.