Economy, jobs and prices in Southland, New Zealand: official figures
The economy of Southland produced NZ$9,943 million of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year ended March 2025, 2.3% of New Zealand's NZ$431,457 million. It is 4th smallest of 14 regional economies, counting only regions that Stats NZ reports separately (Stats NZ marks the latest year as provisional).
What is GDP per person in Southland?
GDP per person in Southland was NZ$95,061 in the year ended March 2025, against NZ$81,283 for New Zealand as a whole (above by NZ$13,778). That is the highest of 14 regions reported separately.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Southland growing?
GDP in Southland rose 9.8% in dollar value in the year to March 2025, compared with 3.3% for New Zealand. Over five years since March 2020 it changed by 48.7% (New Zealand 33.4%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the biggest industries in Southland?
The three largest industries by GDP in the year to March 2024 (the latest year Stats NZ publishes industry detail) were manufacturing (18.6%); agriculture (13.3%); health care and social assistance (6.4%). The shares are percentages of total GDP; Stats NZ counts owner-occupied housing as a separate industry, which is not in this list.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow important is farming to the economy of Southland?
Agriculture made up 13.3% of GDP in the year to March 2024 (New Zealand 2.9%), and manufacturing 18.6% (New Zealand 8.3%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow big are health, government and construction in the economy of Southland?
Health care and social assistance made up 6.4% of GDP in the year to March 2024, public administration and safety 2.0% and construction 5.5% (New Zealand: 7.2%, 4.4% and 7.8%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Southland?
The unemployment rate in Southland was 4.7% in the June 2026 quarter, compared with 5.4% for New Zealand and 4.1% in the June 2025 quarter. That is 4th lowest of 10 areas that Stats NZ reports separately. These are survey estimates, not seasonally adjusted (as is the national figure used here); the sampling error is about 2.3 percentage points.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat percentage of people are employed in Southland?
Southland had an employment rate of 66.5% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 66.5%; June 2025 69.3%). The employment rate is the share of people aged 15 and over who have a job. That is 4th highest of 10 areas.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people are employed in Southland?
About 56,800 people in Southland were employed and 2,800 unemployed in the June 2026 quarter, out of a working-age population (aged 15+) of 85,500. Figures are Household Labour Force Survey estimates in thousands, rounded to 100.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Southland?
The labour force participation rate in Southland was 69.7% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 70.4%). Participation is the share of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. That is joint 4th lowest of 10 areas.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the underutilisation rate in Southland?
The underutilisation rate in Southland was 10.4% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 13.4%). It counts people who are unemployed, want more hours, or want work but are not looking, as a share of the extended labour force. That is the lowest of 10 areas.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Southland compares with other regions
GDP, year ended March 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Southland ranks 11 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP, year ended March 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$12,580m |
| 9 | Northland | NZ$11,645m |
| 10 | Taranaki | NZ$11,088m |
| 11 | Southland | NZ$9,943m |
| 12 | Marlborough | NZ$4,249m |
| 13 | Gisborne | NZ$3,093m |
| 14 | West Coast | NZ$2,687m |
GDP per person, year ended March 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Southland ranks 1 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, year ended March 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southland | NZ$95,061 |
| 2 | Wellington | NZ$94,438 |
| 3 | Auckland | NZ$89,521 |
| 4 | Taranaki | NZ$85,095 |
| 5 | Marlborough | NZ$83,484 |
| 6 | Canterbury | NZ$79,852 |
| 7 | West Coast | NZ$77,650 |
GDP growth, year to March 2025 (dollar value) (2025)
Southland ranks 1 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP growth, year to March 2025 (dollar value) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southland | 9.8% |
| 2 | West Coast | 8.1% |
| 3 | Waikato | 6.2% |
| 4 | Northland | 5.9% |
| 5 | Bay of Plenty | 5.4% |
| 6 | Canterbury | 5.3% |
| 7 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 5.1% |
Unemployment rate, June 2026 quarter (2026 Q2)
Southland ranks 7 of 10, highest first. Survey estimate for the ten regions reported separately; Gisborne/Hawke's Bay and Tasman/Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast are reported as combined areas and not ranked.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, June 2026 quarter |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Waikato | 5.5% |
| 5 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 5.3% |
| 6 | Wellington | 4.9% |
| 7 | Southland | 4.7% |
| 8 | Taranaki | 4.6% |
| 9 | Canterbury | 3.6% |
| 10 | Otago | 3.6% |
Employment rate, June 2026 quarter (2026 Q2)
Southland ranks 4 of 10, highest first. Survey estimate for the ten regions reported separately.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, June 2026 quarter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellington | 71.3% |
| 2 | Canterbury | 69.0% |
| 3 | Otago | 68.4% |
| 4 | Southland | 66.5% |
| 5 | Auckland | 66.4% |
| 6 | Bay of Plenty | 66.3% |
| 7 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 66.0% |
Underutilisation rate, June 2026 quarter (2026 Q2)
Southland ranks 10 of 10, highest first. Survey estimate for the ten regions reported separately.
| Rank | Region | Underutilisation rate, June 2026 quarter |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Taranaki | 13.4% |
| 5 | Bay of Plenty | 13.2% |
| 6 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 13.0% |
| 7 | Wellington | 12.9% |
| 8 | Canterbury | 11.7% |
| 9 | Otago | 11.4% |
| 10 | Southland | 10.4% |
More on Southland: overview · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · New Zealand
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…)
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