District · Otago
Queenstown-Lakes district in numbers
Queenstown-Lakes district had an estimated 53,700 people at 30 June 2026, up 4.3% (2,200 people) since the 2023 Census, 1st of 5 in Otago for growth. 37% of its 16,536 households rent, 44% own and 19% hold the home in a family trust (2023 Census). MBIE puts the median rent at $800 a week (July 2026).
People, June 2026
53,700
+4.3% (+2,200) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
+1.9%
+1,000 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Since 1996
+262.8%
Thirty years of Stats NZ estimates
Median weekly rent
$800
Lower quartile $600, upper $1,000. 5,334 active bonds. MBIE, July 2026
Median full-time earnings, Otago
$1,500 a week
June 2026. Regional, not district level
Employment rate, Otago
70.3%
Unemployment 3.6%, 2026 Q1. Regional survey estimate
Population, 1996 to 2026
Stats NZ estimated resident population at 30 June. Estimates after 2023 are provisional and built on the 2023 Census. Dark bars: first year, 2023 Census base, latest.
Population by year, 2019 to 2026
| 30 June | People | Change on the year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 44,600 | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 47,100 | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 47,300 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 47,700 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 51,500 | +8% |
| 2024 | 52,500 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 52,700 | +0.4% |
| 2026 | 53,700 | +1.9% |
How Queenstown-Lakes district households hold their homes
- 44% own their home
- 37% rent
- 19% held in a family trust
16,536 households, 2023 Census.
Nearby in Otago
Rents and bonds for Queenstown-Lakes district Otago in numbers