Region · Stats NZ · MBIE
Southland in numbers
Southland had an estimated 104,650 people at 30 June 2026, up 1.8% since the 2023 Census, 7th of 16 regions for growth. Southland district is growing fastest (+4%); Gore district has −0.4%. 29% of households rent, at a median of $500 a week.
People, June 2026
104,650
+1.8% (+1,850) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
+0.4%
+450 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Median weekly rent
$500
Lower quartile $430, upper $550. 6,621 active bonds. MBIE, July 2026
Median full-time earnings
$1,464 a week
June 2026, +1.9% on the year
Employment rate
65.2%
Unemployment 5.3%, participation 68.8%. Employment −2.5 pp on a year ago. 2026 Q1
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 | 101,300 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 102,300 | +1% |
| 2021 | 101,400 | −0.9% |
| 2022 | 101,050 | −0.3% |
| 2023 | 102,800 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 104,000 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 104,200 | +0.2% |
| 2026 | 104,650 | +0.4% |
How Southland households hold their homes
- 59% own their home
- 29% rent
- 12% held in a family trust
40,176 households, 2023 Census.
Districts in Southland
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invercargill city | 57,700 | +1.1% | +0.2% | 28% | $510 |
| Southland district | 34,100 | +4% | +1.2% | 32% | — |
| Gore district | 12,850 | −0.4% | −0.4% | 25% | — |
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.