| Ruby Bay | |
| Settlement Type: | Rural settlement |
| Coordinates: | -41.236°N 173.083°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Territorial authority |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tasman |
| Subdivision Type2: | Ward |
| Subdivision Name2: | Moutere-Waimea Ward |
| Seat Type: | Electorates |
| Leader Title: | Territorial Authority |
| Leader Name: | Tasman District Council |
| Leader Title1: | Mayor of Tasman |
| Leader Title2: | West Coast-Tasman MP |
| Leader Title3: | Te Tai Tonga MP |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.83 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode(s) |
| Postal Code: | 7005, 7173 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 03 |
Ruby Bay is a settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's upper South Island. It is located between Māpua and Tasman on Te Mamaku / Ruby Bay.[1] Ruby Bay was named after small 'rubies' (red chert) found within the moutere gravel.[2]
Ruby Bay is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 4.83km2[3] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Before the 2023 census, it was part of the larger Ruby Bay-Māpua SA2 statistical area.
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a smaller boundary, covering 2.96km2.[3] Using that boundary, Ruby Bay had a population of 678 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (9.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 123 people (22.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 249 households, comprising 327 males and 351 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female, with 105 people (15.5%) aged under 15 years, 66 (9.7%) aged 15 to 29, 330 (48.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 171 (25.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 95.1% European/Pākehā, 6.2% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.4% had no religion, 27.9% were Christian, 0.4% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 183 (31.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 75 (13.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 138 people (24.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 237 (41.4%) people were employed full-time, 93 (16.2%) were part-time, and 9 (1.6%) were unemployed.