Region · Stats NZ · MBIE
Gisborne in numbers
Gisborne had an estimated 52,400 people at 30 June 2026, up 0.2% since the 2023 Census, 13th of 16 regions for growth. 37% of households rent, at a median of $618 a week.
People, June 2026
52,400
+0.2% (+100) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
+0.2%
+100 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Median weekly rent
$618
Lower quartile $520, upper $679. 3,129 active bonds. MBIE, July 2026
Median full-time earnings
$1,523 a week
June 2026, +0.2% on the year. Stats NZ publishes Gisborne/Hawkes Bay Regions together
Employment rate
63.5%
Unemployment 4.8%, participation 66.7%. Employment −0.6 pp on a year ago. 2026 Q1 (Gisborne, Hawke's Bay)
Population, 1996 to 2026
Estimated resident population at 30 June, the sum of the region’s districts. Dark bars: first year, 2023 Census base, latest.
Population by year, 2019 to 2026
| 30 June | People | Change on the year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 50,300 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 51,400 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 51,700 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 51,800 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 52,300 | +1% |
| 2024 | 52,600 | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 52,300 | −0.6% |
| 2026 | 52,400 | +0.2% |
How Gisborne households hold their homes
- 53% own their home
- 37% rent
- 10% held in a family trust
17,124 households, 2023 Census.
Districts in Gisborne
Each district below is a Stats NZ territorial authority, grouped under its main region; the region total is their sum. Tap a name for its own page.
| District | People, June 2026 | Since 2023 Census | Latest year | Households renting | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gisborne district | 52,400 | +0.2% | +0.2% | 37% | $618 |
Median rent is shown where MBIE publishes the district on its own; otherwise see the region figure above. Earnings and employment are regional council estimates, not district figures.