Region · Stats NZ · MBIE
Nelson in numbers
Nelson had an estimated 54,200 people at 30 June 2026, down 0.2% since the 2023 Census, 15th of 16 regions for growth. 29% of households rent, at a median of $550 a week.
People, June 2026
54,200
−0.2% (−100) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
−0.2%
−100 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Median weekly rent
$550
Lower quartile $460, upper $620. 4,323 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 | 53,200 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 54,500 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 54,100 | −0.7% |
| 2022 | 53,900 | −0.4% |
| 2023 | 54,300 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 54,400 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 54,300 | −0.2% |
| 2026 | 54,200 | −0.2% |
How Nelson households hold their homes
- 62% own their home
- 29% rent
- 9% held in a family trust
20,571 households, 2023 Census.
Districts in Nelson
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson city | 54,200 | −0.2% | −0.2% | 29% | $550 |
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.