Region · Stats NZ · MBIE
Waikato in numbers
Waikato had an estimated 532,050 people at 30 June 2026, up 3.7% since the 2023 Census, 3rd of 16 regions for growth. Hamilton city is growing fastest (+4.8%); Thames-Coromandel district has −1.2%. 34% of households rent, at a median of $570 a week.
People, June 2026
532,050
+3.7% (+18,810) since the 2023 Census
Latest year
+0.9%
+4,630 people, June 2025 to June 2026
Median weekly rent
$570
Lower quartile $470, upper $650. 40,506 active bonds. MBIE, July 2026
Median full-time earnings
$1,518 a week
June 2026, +1.6% on the year
Employment rate
64.7%
Unemployment 5.2%, participation 68.2%. Employment +1.3 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 | 480,390 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 492,900 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 497,670 | +1% |
| 2022 | 500,850 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 513,240 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 522,930 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 527,420 | +0.9% |
| 2026 | 532,050 | +0.9% |
How Waikato households hold their homes
- 55% own their home
- 34% rent
- 11% held in a family trust
176,193 households, 2023 Census.
Districts in Waikato
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton city | 193,000 | +4.8% | +1% | 46% | $560 |
| Waikato district | 92,800 | +4.6% | +1.3% | 26% | — |
| Waipa district | 63,000 | +4.1% | +1.3% | 26% | — |
| Taupo district | 42,900 | +3.4% | +0.9% | 30% | — |
| Matamata-Piako district | 39,400 | +2.9% | +0.5% | 31% | — |
| Thames-Coromandel district | 31,900 | −1.2% | −0.6% | 22% | — |
| South Waikato district | 26,000 | +1.2% | +0.4% | 36% | — |
| Hauraki district | 22,200 | +1.8% | +0.5% | 28% | — |
| Ōtorohanga district | 10,850 | +2.8% | +0.5% | 35% | — |
| Waitomo district | 10,000 | +2.1% | +0.8% | 36% | — |
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.