Poverty and living standards in Hamilton, New Zealand: official figures
19,650 people in Hamilton were receiving a main benefit in September 2026: 10,521 on Jobseeker Support, 4,296 on Sole Parent Support and 4,554 on the Supported Living Payment (Ministry of Social Development, numbers rounded to base 3). This is 102 for every 1,000 residents. That is the highest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
How has the number of people on benefits in Hamilton changed?
The number of people receiving a main benefit in Hamilton was 19,650 in September 2026, compared with 17,040 in September 2021 (+15%), according to the Ministry of Social Development.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow many people in Hamilton are on Jobseeker Support?
55 in every 1,000 residents of Hamilton were receiving Jobseeker Support in September 2026 (New Zealand: 41). That is 2nd highest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow deprived is Hamilton?
30.5% of people in Hamilton 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 13.2% lived in the two least deprived tenths. That is the highest deprivation of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much rent do people pay in Hamilton?
At the 2023 Census, 1.5% of renting households in Hamilton paid $800 or more a week in rent and 22.9% paid under $300.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Hamilton have no internet at home?
8.8% of people in Hamilton did not have access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Hamilton compares with other cities in New Zealand
People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents (September 2026)
Hamilton ranks 1 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton | 102 |
| 2 | Whangarei District | 100 |
| 3 | Napier-Hastings | 92 |
| 4 | Lower Hutt | 88 |
| 5 | Christchurch | 77 |
| 6 | Auckland | 75 |
| 7 | Tauranga | 69 |
People living in the two most deprived deciles (2023 Census)
Hamilton ranks 1 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 Hamilton: 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: Hamilton City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6a430eff0640…)
- 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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