Manawatū-Whanganui: population, economy, jobs, health, benefits and council finances
Manawatū-Whanganui is a region of New Zealand, number 6 of 16 by population. Manawatū-Whanganui had an estimated 260,700 residents at 30 June 2025, 4.9% of New Zealand's 5,324,700. Stats NZ describes this as a provisional estimate, It is 6th largest of 16 regions by population.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Manawatū-Whanganui: The economy of Manawatū-Whanganui produced NZ$17,146 million of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year ended March 2025, 4.0% of New Zealand's NZ$431,457 million. It is 7th largest of 14 regional economies, counting only regions that Stats NZ reports separately (Stats NZ marks the latest year as provisional).
- Health in Manawatū-Whanganui: Life expectancy at birth for males in Manawatū-Whanganui was 78.6 years in 2022-2024, compared with 80.1 years for New Zealand. It is joint 2nd lowest of 16 regions. In 2005-2007 it was 77.2 years, a change of +1.4 years.
- Poverty and living standards in Manawatū-Whanganui: 25,365 working-age people (aged 18 to 64) in Manawatū-Whanganui were receiving a main benefit in September 2026, up 0.2% from 25,323 a year earlier. The Ministry of Social Development counts Jobseeker Support, Sole Parent Support, Supported Living Payment and other main benefits.
- Government budget and revenue in Manawatū-Whanganui: Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council (Horizons) had total operating income of NZ$107 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$114 million, an operating deficit of NZ$7.1 million. As a regional council it does not run local roads, water or rubbish services, which belong to the district and city councils in the region.
Is the population of Manawatū-Whanganui growing?
In the year to 30 June 2025 the population of Manawatū-Whanganui grew by 0.2% (from 260,100 to 260,700, provisional estimates), compared with 0.7% growth for New Zealand. That growth rate is joint 7th lowest of 16 regions.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the median age in Manawatū-Whanganui?
The median age in Manawatū-Whanganui was 39.6 years at 30 June 2025 (provisional), against 38.2 for New Zealand. People aged 65 and over made up 20.1% of residents (52,400 people) and children aged 0-14 made up 18.9%.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people moved to Manawatū-Whanganui in 2025?
In the year to 30 June 2025, Manawatū-Whanganui had natural increase (births minus deaths) of 410. Net migration was 140 people (480 international and -340 between regions of New Zealand); negative numbers mean more people left than arrived. These are provisional Stats NZ estimates.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow regions are governed in New Zealand
Regional councils (11). Councillors elected for three years; the chair is elected by councillors. Environment, freshwater, regional transport, civil defence.
Every tier of government in New Zealand
Other regions of New Zealand
- Auckland 1,816,000
- Canterbury 698,200
- Wellington 543,400
- Waikato 532,100
- Bay of Plenty 351,500
- Otago 253,900
- Northland 201,100
- Hawke's Bay 179,700
- Taranaki 130,300
- Southland 104,800
- Tasman 59,900
- Nelson 54,300
- Gisborne 52,700
- Marlborough 50,800
- West Coast 34,700
Up a level: New Zealand · government and power in New Zealand · cities
Sources
- Stats NZ: Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2025 (GDP by region and industry; GDP per person by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cca1f2f77ec7…)
- Stats NZ: Labour market statistics: June 2026 quarter, Household Labour Force Survey Tables 3 and 6 (by regional council area), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 315f48f981cb…)
- Stats NZ: Local authority financial statistics: Year ended June 2025 (income and expenditure, by activity, financial position; nalafs-jun2025-tables-csv.csv), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b12af625c966…)
- Stats NZ: National and subnational period life tables: 2022-2024, Tables 1-3: life expectancy at birth by region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b1e80765f358…)
- Ministry of Social Development: Quarterly Benefit Fact Sheets: Regional Council tables, September 2026 (working-age recipients of main benefits), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2108068006a…)
- Stats NZ: Subnational population estimates: At 30 June 2025 (provisional), Tables 1, 3 and 5: regional council areas, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 001e8a896cfb…)
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