Economy, jobs and prices in Wellington, New Zealand: official figures
The median personal income of adults in Wellington was NZ$55,500 a year at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: NZ$41,500). That is the highest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
What is the median household income in Wellington?
The median household income in Wellington was NZ$134,500 a year in 2023, up from NZ$109,300 at the 2018 Census (New Zealand in 2023: NZ$97,000). That is the highest of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Wellington?
At the 2023 Census, 72.9% of people aged 15 and over in Wellington were employed (full-time or part-time) and the unemployment rate was 4.0% of the labour force (New Zealand: 64.6% employed and 4.4% unemployed). That is 2nd lowest unemployment of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many jobs are there in Wellington?
Stats NZ counted 167,900 employees working in Wellington in February 2025, which is 80 for every 100 residents. That is the most jobs per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Wellington?
There were 29,301 businesses (geographic units) in Wellington in February 2025, or 139 per 1,000 residents. That is the highest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Wellington?
The biggest industries for employed residents of Wellington at the 2023 Census were public administration and safety (19.4%), professional, scientific and technical services (15.7%), health care and social assistance (8.4%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Wellington work from home?
At the 2023 Census, 18.7% of employed residents of Wellington mainly worked at home on census day. That is the highest share of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many new homes are being built in Wellington?
Councils consented 409 new dwellings in Wellington in the year ended March 2026, compared with 442 the year before (1.9 per 1,000 residents). That is the fewest consents per resident of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Wellington?
The median weekly rent paid by households in Wellington was NZ$560 at the 2023 Census, up from NZ$440 in 2018 (New Zealand: NZ$450). That is the highest rent of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people own their home in Wellington?
58.6% of households in Wellington owned their home or held it in a family trust at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 66.0%). That is 2nd lowest home ownership of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many households in Wellington have no car?
15.2% of households in Wellington had no motor vehicle at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 6.3%). That is the highest share without a vehicle of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Wellington have internet access?
94.8% of people in Wellington had access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 90.5%). That is the highest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Wellington compares with other cities in New Zealand
Median personal income of adults (2023 Census)
Wellington ranks 1 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities with separate medians.
| Rank | City | Median personal income of adults |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | NZ$55,500 |
| 2 | Lower Hutt | NZ$47,800 |
| 3 | Auckland | NZ$44,700 |
| 4 | Hamilton | NZ$42,200 |
| 5 | Tauranga | NZ$42,100 |
| 6 | Christchurch | NZ$40,400 |
| 7 | Whangarei District | NZ$36,500 |
Unemployment rate (2023 Census)
Wellington ranks 8 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Auckland | 4.8% |
| 4 | Whangarei District | 4.6% |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | 4.4% |
| 6 | Napier-Hastings | 4.2% |
| 7 | Christchurch | 4.1% |
| 8 | Wellington | 4.0% |
| 9 | Tauranga | 4.0% |
Employees working in the area per 100 residents (February 2025)
Wellington ranks 1 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employees working in the area per 100 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | 80 |
| 2 | Christchurch | 57 |
| 3 | Hamilton | 55 |
| 4 | Napier-Hastings | 50 |
| 5 | Auckland | 48 |
| 6 | Tauranga | 46 |
| 7 | Dunedin | 46 |
Median weekly rent (2023 Census)
Wellington ranks 1 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities with separate medians.
| Rank | City | Median weekly rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | NZ$560 |
| 2 | Tauranga | NZ$550 |
| 3 | Auckland | NZ$540 |
| 4 | Hamilton | NZ$465 |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | NZ$450 |
| 6 | Whangarei District | NZ$420 |
| 7 | Christchurch | NZ$415 |
More on Wellington: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: 2023 Census place summaries and other area data: Wellington City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c078d1c26a…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.