Poverty and living standards in Christchurch, New Zealand: official figures
32,235 people in Christchurch were receiving a main benefit in September 2026: 14,877 on Jobseeker Support, 4,917 on Sole Parent Support and 12,105 on the Supported Living Payment (Ministry of Social Development, numbers rounded to base 3). This is 77 for every 1,000 residents. That is 5th highest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
How has the number of people on benefits in Christchurch changed?
The number of people receiving a main benefit in Christchurch was 32,235 in September 2026, compared with 29,301 in September 2021 (+10%), according to the Ministry of Social Development.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow many people in Christchurch are on Jobseeker Support?
35 in every 1,000 residents of Christchurch were receiving Jobseeker Support in September 2026 (New Zealand: 41). That is 4th lowest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow deprived is Christchurch?
15.6% of people in Christchurch 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 21.9% lived in the two least deprived tenths. That is 3rd lowest deprivation of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much rent do people pay in Christchurch?
At the 2023 Census, 2.5% of renting households in Christchurch paid $800 or more a week in rent and 25.2% paid under $300.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Christchurch have no internet at home?
9.1% of people in Christchurch did not have access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Christchurch compares with other cities in New Zealand
People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents (September 2026)
Christchurch ranks 5 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Whangarei District | 100 |
| 3 | Napier-Hastings | 92 |
| 4 | Lower Hutt | 88 |
| 5 | Christchurch | 77 |
| 6 | Auckland | 75 |
| 7 | Tauranga | 69 |
| 8 | Dunedin | 67 |
People living in the two most deprived deciles (2023 Census)
Christchurch ranks 7 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People living in the two most deprived deciles |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Napier-Hastings | 25.2% |
| 4 | Auckland | 22.8% |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | 21.3% |
| 6 | Dunedin | 19.7% |
| 7 | Christchurch | 15.6% |
| 8 | Tauranga | 9.9% |
| 9 | Wellington | 5.5% |
More on Christchurch: 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: Christchurch City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d5b1addd1fc…)
- 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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