Demographics of Auckland explained

Place:	Auckland
Caption:	Population pyramid of Auckland in 2022
Size Of Population:	1,440,300 (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 – an increase of 156,178 people or 11.0% since the 2013 census. The Auckland Region accounts for about one-third (33.4%) of New Zealand's population.^[1] ^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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 Whatua hapu (sub-tribe) of Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei. Auckland also has a large urban Māori population.^[5]

The proportion of Asians and other non-European immigrants has increased during the last decades due to immigration,^[6] 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.^[7]

The following table shows the ethnic profile of Auckland's population, as recorded in the 2006, 2013 and 2018 New Zealand censuses.^[8] 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'.^[9]

Ethnicity	2006 census		2013 census		2018 census
Ethnicity	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
European	700,158	56.5	789,306	59.3	841,386	53.5
European (not further defined)	9,162	0.7	10,668	0.8	12,381	0.8
New Zealand European	611,898	49.4	696,963	52.3	738,567	47.0
British and Irish	35,070	2.8	35,379	2.7	39,249	2.5
Dutch	7,785	0.6	7,995	0.6	7,920	0.5
Greek	489	<0.1	492	<0.1	597	<0.1
Polish	705	0.1	792	0.1	1,059	0.1
South Slav	3,819	0.3	3,531	0.3	3,708	0.2
Italian	1,071	0.1	1,398	0.1	2,046	0.1
German	4,224	0.3	4,782	0.4	6,135	0.4
Australian	8,637	0.7	7,062	0.5	8,688	0.6
Other European	30,906	2.5	36,909	2.8	43,458	0.8
Māori	137,304	11.1	142,767	10.7	181,194	11.5
Pacific peoples	177,948	14.4	194,958	14.6	243,966	15.5
Pacific peoples (not further defined)	267	<0.1	378	<0.1	1,296	0.1
Samoan	87,840	7.1	95,916	7.2	118,503	7.5
Cook Islands Māori	34,788	2.8	36,810	2.8	46,668	3.0
Tongan	40,140	3.2	46,971	3.5	62,403	4.0
Niuean	17,667	1.4	18,555	1.4	23,088	1.5
Tokelauan	1,848	0.1	1,959	0.1	2,406	0.2
Fijian	5,850	0.5	8,493	0.6	11,202	0.7
Other Pacific peoples	4,755	0.4	5,841	0.4	7,485	0.5
Asian	234,279	18.9	307,233	23.1	442,674	28.2
Asian (not further defined)	1,143	0.1	2,025	0.2	5,850	0.4
Southeast Asian (not further defined)	324	<0.1	774	0.1	3,366	0.2
Filipino	9,822	0.8	20,502	1.5	32,850	2.1
Cambodian	3,372	0.3	4,185	0.3	4,386	0.3
Vietnamese	3,174	0.3	4,386	0.3	6,324	0.4
Other Southeast Asian	8,574	0.7	11,310	0.8	13,527	0.9
Chinese	98,418	7.9	118,233	8.9	171,309	10.9
Indian	74,460	6.0	106,329	8.0	154,824	9.9
Sri Lankan	5,049	0.4	6,903	0.5	9,987	0.6
Japanese	5,289	0.4	6,720	0.5	8,463	0.5
Korean	21,354	1.7	21,984	1.7	25,038	1.6
Other Asian	5,562	0.4	7,218	0.5	11,100	0.7
Middle Eastern/Latin American/African	18,558	1.5	24,945	1.9	35,838	2.3
Middle Eastern	10,710	0.9	12,854	1.0	17,088	1.1
Latin American	3,090	0.2	5,820	0.4	11,163	0.7
African	4,800	0.4	6,303	0.5	7,737	0.5
Other	100,110	8.1	15,639	1.2	16,746	1.1
Total people stated	1,239,054		1,331,427		1,517,718
Not elsewhere included	65,907	5.1	84,123	5.9	0	0.0

Local board area	European		Maori		Pacific		Asian				Other
+Ethnic groups by Auckland local board area, 2018 census^[10]
Local board area	Num.	%	Num.	%	Num.	%	Num.	%	Num.	%	Num.	%
Rodney	59,013	88.9	7,551	11.4	2,340	3.5	3,756	5.7	450	0.7	822	1.2
Hibiscus and Bays	84,057	80.8	6,735	6.5	2,205	2.1	16,626	16.0	1,551	1.5	1,206	1.2
Upper Harbour	34,746	55.3	3,210	5.1	1,530	2.4	24,867	39.6	1,887	3.0	897	1.4
Kaipatiki	51,633	58.5	7,680	8.7	5,379	6.1	29,034	32.9	2,718	3.1	1,149	1.3
Devonport-Takapuna	40,152	69.3	3,192	5.5	1,443	2.5	15,249	26.3	1,476	2.5	681	1.2
Henderson-Massey	57,633	48.7	20,319	17.2	24,771	20.9	32,523	27.5	3,087	2.6	1,416	1.2
Waitākere Ranges	38,823	74.5	6,621	12.7	6,093	11.7	7,275	14.0	936	1.8	642	1.2
Great Barrier	855	91.3	192	20.5	24	2.6	15	1.6	0	0.0	18	1.9
Waiheke	8,055	88.9	1,035	11.4	342	3.8	366	4.0	315	3.5	108	1.2
Waitemata	49,950	60.3	5,034	6.1	4,053	4.9	26,103	31.5	3,912	4.7	828	1.0
Whau	32,040	40.4	7,845	9.9	14,817	18.7	31,959	40.3	2,286	2.9	780	1.0
Albert-Eden	58,899	59.7	7,005	7.1	7,653	7.8	31,524	32.0	2,748	2.8	990	1.0
Puketapapa	19,356	33.6	3,462	6.0	8,775	15.2	28,266	49.1	2,163	3.8	510	0.9
Orakei	61,221	72.6	4,815	5.7	2,676	3.2	19,296	22.9	2,127	2.5	825	1.0
Maungakiekie-Tamaki	33,438	43.8	10,656	14.0	19,602	25.7	21,309	27.9	1,680	2.2	711	0.9
Howick	64,776	46.0	8,052	5.7	8,028	5.7	65,541	46.5	3,540	2.5	2,010	1.4
Mangere-Otahuhu	14,976	19.1	12,861	16.4	46,578	59.4	14,925	19.0	603	0.8	444	0.6
Otara-Papatoetoe	14,142	16.6	13,392	15.7	39,198	46.0	29,880	35.1	882	1.0	498	0.6
Manurewa	27,942	29.2	24,846	26.0	34,707	36.3	24,345	25.4	1,962	2.1	645	0.7
Papakura	28,305	49.1	15,438	26.8	9,750	16.9	13,497	23.4	918	1.6	588	1.0
Franklin	61,371	82.0	11,247	15.0	4,008	5.4	6,324	8.5	585	0.8	969	1.3

Country of birth

Birthplace of usually resident population, 2006–18 Census^[11]
Country	2006 census		2013 census		2018 census
Country	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
	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
	72,975	5.9	74,940	5.7	68,799	4.4
	28,446	2.3	39,087	3.0	44,658	2.9
	35,766	2.9	35,586	2.7	38,232	2.5
	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
	20,034	1.6	19,470	1.5	21,753	1.4
	17,208	1.4	18,117	1.4	20,913	1.3
	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
	8,961	0.7	7,851	0.6	7,443	0.5
	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
	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

Local board area	New Zealand		Australia		Pacific Islands		British Isles		Europe		North America		Asia		Middle East and Africa		Latin America and Other
+Birthplace by Auckland local board area, 2013 census^[12]
Local board area	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

Religion of usually resident population, 2001–13 Census^[13]
Religion	2001 census		2006 census		2013 census
Religion	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),^[14] 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).^[15] 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.^[16] This policy is contentious, as it naturally limits the uses of private land, especially the subdivision of urban fringe properties,^[17] by setting 'Metropolitan Urban Limits' in planning documents like the District Plan.^[18] 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.^[19]

Notes and References

Web site: Census in Auckland. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407092912/http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/planspoliciesprojects/reports/Pages/censusinaucklandhome.aspx. 2014-04-07.
Web site: Stats NZ archive website | Stats NZ.
Web site: New Zealand's population is drifting north - Population mythbusters . Statistics New Zealand . 22 June 2012 . 1 August 2015.
News: Auckland Council - History In The Making. March 2011. Our Auckland. Auckland Council. 5.
Web site: Taonui. Rāwiri. Tāmaki tribes. . Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 15 September 2016. 10 February 2015.
Web site: New Zealand — A Regional Profile — Auckland. Statistics New Zealand. 2007-10-03. 1999. 19–20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071025142501/http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7F0D2AFF-54F4-4CE9-BE7C-974597403FCB/0/Auckland.pdf . 2007-10-25.
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/4DAD508D-CC26-425A-A57B-D2AF557C8510/0/1003.pdf Residence in New Zealand
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
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
Web site: Ethnic group (detailed total response - level 3) by age and sex, for the census usually resident population count, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (RC, TA, SA2, DHB).. nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. 2020-03-03.
Web site: Birthplace (detailed), for the census usually resident population count, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (RC, TA, SA2, DHB). nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. 2020-03-03.
Web site: 2013 Census QuickStats about culture and identity – data tables. Statistics New Zealand. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140524102811/http://www.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/Census/2013%20Census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-culture-identity/tables.xls. 24 May 2014. 10 November 2016.
Web site: 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 . 24 January 2018.
http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/auckland-region/growth/can-we-stop-growth.cfm Can We Stop growth?
.Executive Summary (PDF) (from the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy document, ARC, November 1999. Retrieved 2007-10-14.)
From Urban Sprawl to Compact City: an analysis of Auckland's Urban Growth Management Strategies — Arbury, Joshua — MA Thesis, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Web site: Green belt under siege . Cumming, Geoff . 28 April 2007 . . 27 September 2011.
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/documents/growthstrategy/docs/Glossary.pdf Growth Strategy: Glossary and References
Web site: Vision | Ministry for Culture and Heritage . 2014-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413193738/http://www.mch.govt.nz/about-ministry/overview/vision . 2014-04-13 . dead .