Otago: population, economy, jobs, health, benefits and council finances

Otago is a region of New Zealand, number 7 of 16 by population. Otago had an estimated 253,900 residents at 30 June 2025, 4.8% of New Zealand's 5,324,700. Stats NZ describes this as a provisional estimate, It is 7th largest of 16 regions by population.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Otago: The economy of Otago produced NZ$19,269 million of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year ended March 2025, 4.5% of New Zealand's NZ$431,457 million. It is 6th largest of 14 regional economies, counting only regions that Stats NZ reports separately (Stats NZ marks the latest year as provisional).
• Health in Otago: Life expectancy at birth for males in Otago was 80.5 years in 2022-2024, compared with 80.1 years for New Zealand. It is joint 4th highest of 16 regions. In 2005-2007 it was 78.3 years, a change of +2.2 years.
• Poverty and living standards in Otago: 12,750 working-age people (aged 18 to 64) in Otago were receiving a main benefit in September 2026, down 0.5% from 12,819 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 Otago: Otago Regional Council had total operating income of NZ$135 million in the year ended June 2025 and total operating expenditure of NZ$133 million, an operating surplus of NZ$2.8 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.

How 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
• Manawatū-Whanganui 260,700
• 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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