Poverty and living standards in Wellington, New Zealand: official figures
11,298 people in Wellington were receiving a main benefit in September 2026: 6,909 on Jobseeker Support, 1,041 on Sole Parent Support and 3,147 on the Supported Living Payment (Ministry of Social Development, numbers rounded to base 3). This is 54 for every 1,000 residents. That is the lowest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
How has the number of people on benefits in Wellington changed?
The number of people receiving a main benefit in Wellington was 11,298 in September 2026, compared with 9,939 in September 2021 (+14%), according to the Ministry of Social Development.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow many people in Wellington are on Jobseeker Support?
33 in every 1,000 residents of Wellington were receiving Jobseeker Support in September 2026 (New Zealand: 41). That is 2nd lowest rate of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand) · saved copyHow deprived is Wellington?
5.5% of people in Wellington 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 35.6% lived in the two least deprived tenths. That is the lowest deprivation of 9 cities and districts covered on this site.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow much rent do people pay in Wellington?
At the 2023 Census, 18.4% of renting households in Wellington paid $800 or more a week in rent and 13.5% paid under $300.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people in Wellington have no internet at home?
5.2% of people in Wellington did not have access to the internet at home at the 2023 Census.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Wellington compares with other cities in New Zealand
People on a main benefit per 1,000 residents (September 2026)
Wellington ranks 9 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)
Wellington ranks 9 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 Wellington: 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: Wellington City (CSV export), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c078d1c26a…)
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