Demographics
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The Invercargill City territorial authority covers 389.92 km2 (150.55 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 58,000 as of June 2025, with a population density of 149 people per km2. This comprises 51,200 people in the Invercargill urban area, 1,840 people in the Bluff urban area, and 4,960 people in the surrounding settlements and rural area.
Historical populationYearPop.±% p.a.200650,325—    201351,696+0.38%201854,204+0.95%202355,599+0.51%Source:
Population density in the 2023 census
Invercargill City had a population of 55,599 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,395 people (2.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3,903 people (7.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 27,255 males, 28,137 females and 210 people of other genders in 22,326 dwellings. 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 10,233 people (18.4%) aged under 15 years, 10,035 (18.0%) aged 15 to 29, 25,083 (45.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 10,251 (18.4%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 82.2% European (Pākehā); 19.4% Māori; 4.7% Pasifika; 7.6% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori language by 3.7%, Samoan by 0.8% and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 33.0% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.6%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 5,988 (13.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 25,002 (55.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 12,597 (27.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3,627 people (8.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 23,430 (51.6%) people were employed full-time, 6,246 (13.8%) were part-time, and 1,167 (2.6%) were unemployed.
Urban area[edit]
The Invercargill urban area covers 62.95 km2 (24.31 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 51,200 as of June 2025, with a population density of 813 people per km2.
Historical populationYearPop.±% p.a.201345,531—    201847,844+1.00%202348,987+0.47%Source:
Invercargill had a population of 48,987 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,143 people (2.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3,456 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 23,877 males, 24,930 females and 183 people of other genders in 19,752 dwellings. 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 9,048 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 9,120 (18.6%) aged 15 to 29, 21,783 (44.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 9,036 (18.4%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.4% European (Pākehā); 18.8% Māori; 4.9% Pasifika; 8.3% Asian; 1.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori language by 3.8%, Samoan by 0.8% and other languages by 8.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 33.4% Christian, 1.2% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.1%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 5,388 (13.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 21,870 (54.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 11,079 (27.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3,042 people (7.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 20,550 (51.5%) people were employed full-time, 5,400 (13.5%) were part-time, and 1,053 (2.6%) were unemployed.
