Poverty and living standards in Auckland, New Zealand: official figures
135,495 people in Auckland were receiving a main benefit in September 2026: 82,644 on Jobseeker Support, 27,219 on Sole Parent Support and 23,355 on the Supported Living Payment (Ministry of Social Development, numbers rounded to base 3). This is 75 for every 1,000 residents. That is 4th lowest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
How has the number of people on benefits in Auckland changed?
The number of people receiving a main benefit in Auckland was 135,495 in September 2026, compared with 110,724 in September 2021 (+22%), according to the Ministry of Social Development.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow many people in Auckland are on Jobseeker Support?
46 in every 1,000 residents of Auckland were receiving Jobseeker Support in September 2026 (New Zealand: 41). That is 4th highest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow deprived is Auckland?
22.8% of people in Auckland lived in the two most deprived tenths of areas (deciles 9 and 10) of the New Zealand Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation at the 2023 Census, while 18.7% lived in the two least deprived tenths. That is 4th highest deprivation of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much rent do people pay in Auckland?
At the 2023 Census, 11.1% of renting households in Auckland paid $800 or more a week in rent and 18.5% paid under $300.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Auckland have no internet at home?
7.8% of people in Auckland did not have access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Auckland compares with other cities in New Zealand
People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents (September 2026)
Auckland ranks 6 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napier-Hastings | 92 |
| 4 | Lower Hutt | 88 |
| 5 | Christchurch | 77 |
| 6 | Auckland | 75 |
| 7 | Tauranga | 69 |
| 8 | Dunedin | 67 |
| 9 | Wellington | 54 |
People living in the two most deprived deciles (2023 Census)
Auckland ranks 4 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People living in the two most deprived deciles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton | 30.5% |
| 2 | Whangarei District | 30.4% |
| 3 | Napier-Hastings | 25.2% |
| 4 | Auckland | 22.8% |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | 21.3% |
| 6 | Dunedin | 19.7% |
| 7 | Christchurch | 15.6% |
More on Auckland: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in New Zealand
Sources
- Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand): Benefit Fact Sheets: Territorial Authorities (TA) data tables, September 2026, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9e82549b2b86…)
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Auckland Region (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8146e6612b8a…)
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Wellington City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c078d1c26a…)
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