Region · Stats NZ · MBIE
Marlborough in numbers
Marlborough had an estimated 50,300 people at 30 June 2026, down 1% since the 2023 Census, 16th of 16 regions for growth. 26% of households rent, at a median of $585 a week.
People, June 2026
50,300
−1% (−500) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
−0.6%
−300 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Median weekly rent
$585
Lower quartile $485, upper $613. 2,598 active bonds. MBIE, July 2026
Median full-time earnings
$1,472 a week
June 2026, +4.5% on the year. Stats NZ publishes Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough/West Coast Regions together
Employment rate
65%
Unemployment 4.6%, participation 68.1%. Employment −1.9 pp on a year ago. 2026 Q1 (Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast)
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 | 49,100 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 50,800 | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 50,800 | 0% |
| 2022 | 50,500 | −0.6% |
| 2023 | 50,800 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 50,900 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 50,600 | −0.6% |
| 2026 | 50,300 | −0.6% |
How Marlborough households hold their homes
- 62% own their home
- 26% rent
- 12% held in a family trust
19,587 households, 2023 Census.
Districts in Marlborough
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlborough district | 50,300 | −1% | −0.6% | 26% | $585 |
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.