New Zealand: South Island

Contents: South Island

Island

1,226,100 Population [2023] – estimate

1,256,700 Population [2025] – estimate

150,667km² Area

8.341/km² Density [2025]

Regions

The resident population of the Regional Council Areas on the South Island according to official estimates.

Name	Status	Population Estimate 1996-06-30	Population Estimate 2001-06-30	Population Estimate 2006-06-30	Population Estimate 2013-06-30	Population Estimate 2018-06-30	Population Estimate 2023-06-30	Population Estimate 2025-06-30
Canterbury	Regional Council Area	480,400	496,700	540,000	562,900	622,800	655,000	698,200	→
Marlborough	Regional Council Area	39,200	40,700	43,600	44,700	48,700	51,900	50,800	→
Nelson	Regional Council Area	41,200	42,900	44,300	48,700	52,700	54,500	54,300	→
Otago	Regional Council Area	189,300	188,300	199,800	208,800	235,000	246,000	253,900	→
Southland	Regional Council Area	99,000	93,300	93,200	96,000	100,500	102,400	104,800	→
Tasman	Regional Council Area	38,800	42,400	45,800	48,800	54,000	58,700	59,900	→
West Coast	Regional Council Area	33,200	31,100	32,100	33,000	32,400	32,700	34,700	→
South Island (Te Waipounamu)	Island	921,100	935,400	998,800	1,042,800	1,146,200	1,226,100	1,256,700

Contents: Settlements

The resident population of all urban areas and rural settlements on the South Island according to official estimates.

The Details icon links to further information about a selected place including its population structure (gender, age groups, age distribution).

Name	Status	Region	Population Estimate 1996-06-30	Population Estimate 2001-06-30	Population Estimate 2006-06-30	Population Estimate 2013-06-30	Population Estimate 2018-06-30	Population Estimate 2023-06-30	Population Estimate 2025-06-30
Ahaura	Rural Settlement	West Coast	120	140	110	100	100	110	120	→
Akaroa	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	680	610	620	670	770	660	640	→
Alexandra	Small Urban Area	Otago	4,690	4,480	4,940	4,920	5,630	5,800	5,860	→
Allanton	Rural Settlement	Otago	220	240	260	260	310	350	370	→
Amberley	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,050	1,160	1,340	1,630	2,120	2,560	2,870	→
Amberley Beach	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	140	150	140	170	180	180	170	→
Anakiwa	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	160	170	190	180	180	170	170	→
Aramoana	Rural Settlement	Otago	70	80	90	90	110	130	130	→
Arrowtown	Small Urban Area	Otago	1,490	1,790	2,290	2,600	3,010	2,950	2,860	→
Arthur's Pass	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	90	70	70	60	50	40	30	→
Ashburton	Medium Urban Area	Canterbury	15,750	15,700	16,650	18,650	19,950	21,000	21,600	→
Ashley	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	270	310	310	340	380	400	410	→
Balclutha	Small Urban Area	Otago	4,280	4,250	4,210	4,050	4,190	4,400	4,460	→
Balfour	Rural Settlement	Southland	140	140	140	120	120	140	140	→
Bannockburn	Rural Settlement	Otago	150	180	320	390	500	570	580	→
Benhar	Rural Settlement	Otago	120	120	100	100	90	100	100	→
Birdling's Flat	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	80	110	150	150	200	250	240	→
Blackball	Rural Settlement	West Coast	370	310	320	290	280	300	310	→
Blenheim	Medium Urban Area	Marlborough	22,000	23,200	24,900	26,000	28,500	29,800	29,800	→
Bluff	Small Urban Area	Southland	2,140	2,000	1,850	1,860	1,840	1,830	1,840	→
Brighton	Small Urban Area	Otago	1,560	1,520	1,520	1,480	1,520	1,470	1,470	→
Brightwater	Small Urban Area	Tasman	1,310	1,510	1,880	1,860	2,190	2,330	2,330	→
Burnham Camp	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,530	1,200	1,350	1,250	1,280	850	900	→
Carters Beach	Rural Settlement	West Coast	310	280	310	340	340	350	340	→
Castle Hill	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	10	20	10	50	20	40	80	→
Cave	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	90	80	80	80	80	100	100	→
Cheviot	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	450	400	390	380	380	420	410	→
Christchurch	Major Urban Area	Canterbury	315,800	324,800	350,300	345,500	372,500	396,100	407,800	→
Clinton	Rural Settlement	Otago	360	330	300	290	300	280	280	→
Clyde	Small Urban Area	Otago	850	830	930	1,040	1,180	1,200	1,200	→
Coalgate	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	190	240	240	330	360	390	390	→
Collingwood	Rural Settlement	Tasman	210	200	220	250	280	310	310	→
Cromwell	Small Urban Area	Otago	2,760	2,840	3,860	4,500	5,840	7,060	7,470	→
Culverden	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	350	330	360	370	360	350	360	→
Cust	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	240	240	280	300	280	270	250	→
Darfield	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,560	1,870	2,080	2,570	2,890	3,360	3,590	→
Diamond Harbour (incl. Pūrau)	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,030	1,200	1,320	1,410	1,600	1,640	1,610	→
Dobson	Rural Settlement	West Coast	620	630	620	600	610	600	610	→
Doyleston	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	180	210	250	330	330	360	360	→
Dunedin	Major Urban Area	Otago	98,500	96,800	98,600	98,600	104,200	103,000	104,000	→
Dunsandel	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	360	380	400	460	450	440	490	→
Duntroon	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	100	110	90	80	100	100	100	→
Duvauchelle	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	150	180	170	220	180	220	210	→
Edendale	Rural Settlement	Southland	600	600	520	570	610	620	640	→
Ettrick	Rural Settlement	Otago	160	160	170	180	180	170	170	→
Fairlie	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	1,000	870	890	890	920	940	970	→
Fernside	Rural settlement	Canterbury	130	150	210	230	240	250	250	→
Fox Glacier	Rural Settlement	West Coast	220	240	340	280	300	190	220	→
Franz Josef	Rural Settlement	West Coast	210	220	300	350	500	390	440	→
Geraldine	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	2,380	2,370	2,470	2,560	2,930	3,090	3,070	→
Glenavy	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	130	130	120	210	200	250	270	→
Glenorchy	Rural Settlement	Otago	130	160	160	270	370	370	360	→
Glentunnel	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	130	120	140	160	170	180	170	→
Gloriavale	Rural Settlement	West Coast	240	300	370	530	630	480	480	→
Gore	Small Urban Area	Southland	8,460	8,010	7,930	7,910	8,150	8,290	8,310	→
Gore Bay	Rural settlement	Canterbury	30	30	30	20	20	10	10	→
Governors Bay	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	670	760	860	850	910	910	900	→
Granity	Rural Settlement	West Coast	300	230	200	220	180	190	190	→
Greymouth	Small Urban Area	West Coast	8,760	8,150	8,410	8,320	8,230	8,440	8,610	→
Grovetown	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	290	320	310	310	360	390	390	→
Haast	Rural Settlement	West Coast	60	60	60	50	90	90	100	→
Hampden	Rural Settlement	Otago	310	310	300	310	350	410	410	→
Hanmer Springs	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	600	700	750	890	1,030	1,120	1,090	→
Harihari	Rural Settlement	West Coast	290	270	270	250	240	250	250	→
Harwood	Rural Settlement	Otago	230	220	220	210	230	240	240	→
Havelock	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	540	520	550	520	610	670	640	→
Hawarden	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	200	210	200	230	230	240	240	→
Hāwea Flat	Rural Settlement	Otago	110	110	290	430	570	610	600	→
Herbert	Rural Settlement	Otago	120	120	120	110	100	110	110	→
Hinds	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	250	260	300	300	300	330	350	→
Hokitika	Small Urban Area	West Coast	3,660	3,330	3,350	3,270	3,160	3,350	3,420	→
Hope	Small Urban Area	Tasman	720	740	830	860	890	860	840	→
Hororata	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	120	140	170	190	210	230	230	→
Invercargill	Large Urban Area	Southland	48,200	45,400	45,700	46,900	49,300	50,300	51,200	→
Kaiapoi	Medium Urban Area	Canterbury	8,530	9,830	10,900	9,890	12,200	13,350	13,700	→
Kaikōura	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	2,290	2,190	2,270	2,050	2,300	2,340	2,350	→
Kainga	Rural settlement	Canterbury	450	460	460	460	470	460	480	→
Kaitangata	Rural Settlement	Otago	880	810	830	770	770	830	860	→
Kaiteriteri	Rural Settlement	Tasman	210	290	310	360	360	470	490	→
Kakanui	Rural Settlement	Otago	390	380	380	360	410	430	440	→
Kaka Point	Rural Settlement	Otago	260	220	210	230	230	230	230	→
Kaniere	Rural Settlement	West Coast	410	400	450	500	510	560	570	→
Karamea	Rural Settlement	West Coast	470	460	430	380	360	450	460	→
Karitāne	Rural Settlement	Otago	450	400	350	370	410	430	430	→
Kennington	Rural Settlement	Southland	140	120	120	130	120	120	120	→
Kingston	Rural Settlement	Otago	80	70	130	210	310	410	420	→
Kirwee	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	400	470	650	820	1,010	1,160	1,200	→
Kūmara	Rural Settlement	West Coast	320	330	320	310	290	310	320	→
Kurow	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	420	380	340	310	370	350	360	→
Lake Hāwea (Lake Hawea Village)	Small Urban Area	Otago	270	350	580	840	1,270	2,090	2,500	→
Lake Hood	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	40	40	80	220	380	460	520	→
Lake Roxburgh Village	Rural Settlement	Otago	110	80	70	80	80	90	90	→
Lawrence	Rural Settlement	Otago	550	470	440	420	460	510	510	→
Leeston	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,300	1,270	1,370	1,600	2,290	2,340	2,470	→
Leithfield	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	270	340	410	570	600	660	650	→
Leithfield Beach	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	350	370	390	420	410	420	410	→
Ligar Bay	Rural Settlement	Tasman	80	140	120	120	130	140	150	→
Lincoln	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	2,440	2,450	2,940	4,070	6,850	11,150	12,100	→
Little River	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	240	270	250	310	310	310	300	→
Luggate	Rural Settlement	Otago	140	160	200	290	490	650	680	→
Lumsden	Rural Settlement	Southland	580	520	480	470	570	530	530	→
Lyttelton	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	3,120	3,050	3,100	2,900	3,100	3,220	3,220	→
Maheno	Rural Settlement	Otago	140	120	140	110	130	110	120	→
Mākikihi	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	80	70	70	80	90	90	90	→
Malvern Hills - Whitecliffs	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	110	110	120	160	180	220	220	→
Manapōuri	Rural Settlement	Southland	190	220	270	200	220	270	270	→
Māpua	Small Urban Area	Tasman	800	1,080	1,200	1,270	1,530	1,660	1,680	→
Mārahau	Rural Settlement	Tasman	190	280	190	210	240	260	260	→
Marlborough Ridge	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	30	40	80	170	230	320	340	→
Mataura	Small Urban Area	Southland	1,990	1,790	1,610	1,560	1,700	1,660	1,670	→
Methven	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,130	1,210	1,440	1,780	1,860	2,070	2,170	→
Middlemarch	Rural Settlement	Otago	210	190	170	160	160	150	150	→
Milford Huts	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	50	50	50	60	70	60	60	→
Millbrook	Rural Settlement	Otago	60	50	70	80	120	170	170	→
Millers Flat	Rural Settlement	Otago	120	110	100	90	90	90	90	→
Milton	Small Urban Area	Otago	2,230	2,130	2,110	2,110	2,200	2,150	2,120	→
Moana	Rural Settlement	West Coast	140	80	60	70	60	90	110	→
Moeraki	Rural Settlement	Otago	140	120	130	120	110	160	160	→
Mosgiel	Medium Urban Area	Otago	11,050	11,200	11,900	12,550	13,950	14,750	15,100	→
Mossburn	Rural Settlement	Southland	220	190	190	170	180	170	180	→
Motueka	Small Urban Area	Tasman	6,250	6,530	6,810	7,300	8,260	8,400	8,290	→
Motunau Beach	Rural settlement	Canterbury	60	70	60	30	30	30	30	→
Mount Somers	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	120	130	110	140	150	210	250	→
Mt Cook Village	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	290	250	220	210	230	160	160	→
Murchison	Rural Settlement	Tasman	510	500	470	450	480	550	540	→
Naseby	Rural Settlement	Otago	110	100	120	120	120	130	140	→
Nelson	Large Urban Area	Nelson	39,900	41,400	42,600	46,400	49,800	50,900	50,800	→
Ngākawau	Rural Settlement	West Coast	360	310	240	220	200	230	220	→
Ngākuta Bay	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	40	70	70	60	60	70	70	→
Nightcaps	Rural Settlement	Southland	410	350	320	300	310	300	310	→
Oamaru	Medium Urban Area	Otago	13,000	12,350	12,250	12,600	13,400	14,050	14,300	→
Oban	Rural Settlement	Southland	330	300	300	280	310	370	380	→
Ōhai	Rural Settlement	Southland	530	410	370	320	270	290	290	→
Ōkiwi Bay	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	60	80	100	80	70	80	80	→
Omakau	Rural Settlement	Otago	280	280	300	300	350	400	410	→
Ōmārama	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	370	280	230	280	300	360	370	→
Ōrarī	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	130	130	150	190	170	200	200	→
Ōtākou - Harington Point	Rural Settlement	Otago	200	190	170	170	200	190	190	→
Ōtautau	Rural Settlement	Southland	830	750	780	710	780	790	800	→
Otematata	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	370	250	190	190	190	190	190	→
Outram	Rural Settlement	Otago	660	640	670	740	800	930	960	→
Owaka	Rural Settlement	Otago	410	370	330	310	320	340	340	→
Oxford	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,530	1,640	1,780	2,010	2,280	2,270	2,250	→
Palmerston	Rural Settlement	Otago	1,010	920	930	920	980	1,070	1,080	→
Parapara	Rural Settlement	Tasman	90	100	90	90	100	100	100	→
Pareora	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	510	480	460	440	470	480	480	→
Pegasus	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	30	20	20	1,080	2,770	4,050	4,260	→
Picton	Small Urban Area	Marlborough	4,100	4,200	4,270	4,240	4,730	4,890	4,850	→
Pisa Moorings	Rural Settlement	Otago	40	60	160	360	590	940	980	→
Pleasant Point	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,270	1,200	1,220	1,340	1,430	1,450	1,470	→
Pōhara	Rural Settlement	Tasman	340	370	510	530	530	640	630	→
Pounawea	Rural Settlement	Otago	70	70	60	60	50	120	120	→
Prebbleton	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	970	1,050	2,080	2,910	4,680	5,600	5,750	→
Pūrākaunui	Rural Settlement	Otago	190	190	200	200	210	210	210	→
Queenstown (incl. Lake Hayes Estate, Jacks Point, Arthurs Point)	Medium Urban Area	Otago	8,130	9,430	12,350	15,100	22,400	27,600	29,000	→
Rai Valley	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	150	150	140	150	180	170	170	→
Rākaia	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	900	970	1,090	1,310	1,480	1,610	1,680	→
Ranfurly	Rural Settlement	Otago	870	750	720	680	740	790	770	→
Rangiora	Medium Urban Area	Canterbury	10,150	11,250	12,550	15,750	18,450	19,300	19,300	→
Rārangi	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	400	400	520	590	680	710	680	→
Reefton	Small Urban Area	West Coast	1,100	1,030	1,000	1,070	940	1,050	1,050	→
Renwick	Small Urban Area	Marlborough	1,800	1,890	2,020	2,320	2,480	2,490	2,470	→
Richmond	Medium Urban Area	Tasman	9,650	11,550	12,800	13,950	15,800	18,850	19,950	→
Riversdale	Rural Settlement	Southland	390	390	430	410	420	480	490	→
Riverton	Small Urban Area	Southland	1,890	1,720	1,580	1,500	1,680	1,710	1,700	→
Rīwaka	Rural Settlement	Tasman	640	650	640	680	790	770	740	→
Rolleston	Medium Urban Area	Canterbury	1,560	2,830	5,220	10,050	18,400	30,300	34,100	→
Ross	Rural Settlement	West Coast	390	320	300	300	290	310	330	→
Rotherham	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	80	90	100	120	140	150	150	→
Roxburgh	Rural Settlement	Otago	780	660	650	560	630	630	640	→
Ruby Bay	Rural Settlement	Tasman	550	610	640	710	790	810	810	→
Rūnanga	Small Urban Area	West Coast	1,430	1,340	1,260	1,270	1,220	1,190	1,200	→
Seddon	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	530	470	490	500	580	580	570	→
Sefton	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	200	210	240	240	210	260	270	→
Selwyn Huts	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	60	60	60	60	90	90	90	→
Sheffield and Waddington	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	270	310	270	310	350	350	350	→
Southbridge	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	690	740	760	900	940	1,030	1,090	→
Spencerville	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	210	330	620	560	560	590	600	→
Spring Creek	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	510	540	590	560	590	550	540	→
Springfield	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	210	220	220	240	330	330	330	→
Springston	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	300	320	380	530	550	540	540	→
St Andrews	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	190	180	180	190	200	190	190	→
St Arnaud	Rural Settlement	Tasman	70	90	80	110	120	130	130	→
Stirling	Rural Settlement	Otago	340	320	330	320	330	310	320	→
Taieri Mouth	Rural Settlement	Otago	170	180	180	200	260	330	350	→
Tai Tapu	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	350	350	340	500	560	620	630	→
Tākaka	Small Urban Area	Tasman	1,250	1,220	1,170	1,280	1,380	1,430	1,440	→
Takamatua	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	100	90	120	140	120	120	110	→
Tapanui	Rural Settlement	Otago	900	860	760	730	800	810	800	→
Tapawera	Rural Settlement	Tasman	350	320	340	320	350	350	350	→
Tasman	Rural Settlement	Tasman	370	350	400	460	550	670	700	→
Te Ānau	Small Urban Area	Southland	1,870	1,970	2,000	2,070	2,670	2,850	2,920	→
Tekapō (Lake Tekapo Town)	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	300	310	330	370	590	580	620	→
Temuka	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	4,240	4,250	4,340	4,400	4,600	4,700	4,760	→
The Pines Beach	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	480	480	510	370	340	330	330	→
Timaru	Medium Urban Area	Canterbury	27,000	26,600	26,700	27,200	28,300	29,100	29,300	→
Tuamarina	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	210	220	270	220	240	250	240	→
Tuatapere	Rural Settlement	Southland	760	700	590	570	550	560	560	→
Twizel	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,220	1,050	1,080	1,230	1,600	1,720	1,790	→
Waiau	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	280	260	260	270	260	270	270	→
Waihola	Rural Settlement	Otago	260	270	280	360	410	520	550	→
Waikaia	Rural Settlement	Southland	90	110	120	130	140	110	110	→
Waikari	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	290	280	260	280	270	290	290	→
Waikouaiti	Small Urban Area	Otago	1,190	1,120	1,120	1,150	1,230	1,280	1,310	→
Waikuku	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	80	90	110	120	170	150	160	→
Waikuku Beach	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	740	830	920	980	1,050	1,100	1,090	→
Waimangaroa	Rural Settlement	West Coast	290	230	230	250	230	220	210	→
Waimate	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	3,530	3,290	3,370	3,390	3,580	3,620	3,610	→
Waipara	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	260	260	270	280	330	340	340	→
Waipōpō	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	80	70	90	80	90	80	70	→
Wairau Valley	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	140	150	180	210	240	240	240	→
Waitati - Doctors Point	Rural Settlement	Otago	540	510	520	520	590	600	590	→
Wakefield	Small Urban Area	Tasman	1,470	1,620	2,050	2,390	2,510	2,740	2,730	→
Wallacetown	Rural Settlement	Southland	710	650	630	700	730	730	750	→
Wānaka	Medium Urban Area	Otago	2,600	3,450	5,280	6,820	10,250	12,600	13,200	→
Ward	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	110	120	100	110	80	80	80	→
Warrington	Rural Settlement	Otago	420	410	440	460	500	560	560	→
West Melton	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	170	220	230	700	2,090	2,470	2,700	→
Westport	Small Urban Area	West Coast	4,980	4,530	4,620	4,850	4,520	4,590	4,600	→
Winchester	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	240	270	270	280	270	270	260	→
Winton	Small Urban Area	Southland	2,240	2,150	2,140	2,270	2,400	2,510	2,560	→
Woodbourne	Rural Settlement	Marlborough	940	720	700	420	610	520	520	→
Woodbury	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	70	60	80	100	110	120	120	→
Woodend	Small Urban Area	Canterbury	1,670	2,390	2,780	2,890	2,910	4,720	5,470	→
Woodend Beach	Rural Settlement	Canterbury	180	190	200	260	270	230	230	→
Woodlands	Rural Settlement	Southland	310	290	260	270	290	340	350	→
Wyndham	Rural Settlement	Southland	670	600	540	570	590	610	620	→

Source: Statistics New Zealand / Te Tari Tatau.

Explanation: Settlements in 2025 boundaries. Population estimates for 2023 and later are based on the results of the 2023 census.