Health in Wellington, New Zealand: official figures
Life expectancy at birth in Wellington was 82.1 years for males and 85.2 years for females in 2022-2024, compared with 81.6 and 84.5 in 2017-2019 (New Zealand 2022-2024: 80.1 and 83.5). That is the highest female life expectancy of 8 cities and districts covered on this site.
How many people smoke in Wellington?
4.2% of adults in Wellington were regular cigarette smokers at the 2023 Census, compared with 8.4% in 2018 (New Zealand 2023: 7.7%). That is the lowest smoking rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people with disabilities live in Wellington?
5.2% of people in Wellington were classed as disabled by the census disability indicator in 2023 (New Zealand: 6.0%). That is 2nd lowest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many babies are born in Wellington each year?
1,749 babies were born and 960 people died among residents of Wellington in the year ended March 2025, according to Stats NZ vital statistics.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many homes in Wellington are damp or mouldy?
23.0% of occupied homes in Wellington were reported as always or sometimes damp, and 16.1% had mould larger than an A4 page always or sometimes, at the 2023 Census (New Zealand: 18.1% damp). That is 2nd damplest of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Wellington compares with other cities in New Zealand
Female life expectancy at birth (2022-2024)
Wellington ranks 1 of 8, highest first. Napier-Hastings is left out because it is two separate territorial authorities.
| Rank | City | Female life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | 85.2 years |
| 2 | Tauranga | 84.5 years |
| 3 | Auckland | 84.3 years |
| 4 | Christchurch | 83.1 years |
| 5 | Lower Hutt | 83.1 years |
| 6 | Dunedin | 82.9 years |
| 7 | Whangarei District | 82.4 years |
Regular smokers among adults (2023 Census)
Wellington ranks 9 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | Regular smokers among adults |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lower Hutt | 8.2% |
| 4 | Hamilton | 7.9% |
| 5 | Christchurch | 6.9% |
| 6 | Auckland | 6.6% |
| 7 | Dunedin | 6.2% |
| 8 | Tauranga | 6.0% |
| 9 | Wellington | 4.2% |
People classed as disabled (2023 Census)
Wellington ranks 8 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | City | People classed as disabled |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lower Hutt | 6.5% |
| 4 | Christchurch | 6.3% |
| 5 | Hamilton | 6.2% |
| 6 | Napier-Hastings | 6.2% |
| 7 | Tauranga | 5.9% |
| 8 | Wellington | 5.2% |
| 9 | Auckland | 5.0% |
More on Wellington: overview · economy and jobs · 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…)
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