Wellington
Wellington is the national capital of New Zealand. Wellington had a population of 202,689 in 2023.
Who Wellington may suit
Relative profile scores use comparable published values. They are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Population and city profile
Derived from the published population and foreign-resident counts.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign residents | 69,690 people | 2026-07-292023 | Official sourceStats NZ place summary — Wellington City Source-backed value |
| Population | 210,800 people | 2026-07-16Aging | Official sourceEstimated resident population at 30 June 2025 Source-backed value · Wellington City territorial authority |
Housing
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings | 84,678 dwellings | 2026-07-162023 | Official sourceEstimated resident population at 30 June 2025 Source-backed value |
Cost of living
Practical estimates in July 2026 placed basic utilities for an 85 m² home at €175.63 per month, fixed internet at €47.5 per month, and an inexpensive restaurant meal at €12.3. A monthly estimate placed a mobile plan with at least 10 GB of data at €27 in July 2026. A monthly estimate placed a fitness-club membership at €35.15 in July 2026.
Published city cost observations. Some items come from the supplemental estimate lane and are not official statistics.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness club membership, monthly | 35.1515 EUR/month | 2026-07-26Fresh | Commercial estimateLebenshaltungskosten in Wellington Supplemental context |
| Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited | 47.5047 EUR/month | 2026-07-26Fresh | Commercial estimateLebenshaltungskosten in Wellington Supplemental context |
| Private kindergarten, monthly | 945.9663 EUR/month | 2026-07-26Fresh | Commercial estimateLebenshaltungskosten in Wellington Supplemental context |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 12.303 EUR | 2026-07-26Fresh | Commercial estimateLebenshaltungskosten in Wellington Supplemental context |
| Mobile plan, 10 GB | 26.7804 EUR/month | 2026-07-26Fresh | Commercial estimateLebenshaltungskosten in Wellington Supplemental context |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² home | 175.6268 EUR/month | 2026-07-26Fresh | Commercial estimateLebenshaltungskosten in Wellington Supplemental context |
Work and income
The unemployment rate was 3% in 2023.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 3 % | 2026-07-162023 | Official sourceEstimated resident population at 30 June 2025 Source-backed value · Wellington City territorial authority; labour force aged 15+ |
Climate and air quality
Monthly mean temperatures were 17.8°C in January and 9.8°C in July. Monthly precipitation was 60 mm in January and 109.7 mm in July. Annual PM2.5 was 8.21 µg/m³ at the end of 2020.
Published monthly climate normals for this city.
Published monthly climate normals for this city.
Published monthly climate normals for this city.
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 8.214 µg/m³ | 2026-07-262020 | Independent sourceWHO Ambient Air Quality Database V6.1 (update 2024) Source-backed value |
| Average daytime high by month | Jan 21 · Feb 21.2 · Mar 19.7 · Apr 17.3 · May 15.4 · Jun 13.2 · Jul 12.5 · Aug 13 · Sep 14.4 · Oct 15.8 · Nov 17.4 · Dec 19.6 °C | 2026-07-262020 | Independent sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV Source-backed value |
| Average night-time low by month | Jan 14.6 · Feb 14.8 · Mar 13.5 · Apr 11.7 · May 10.1 · Jun 8 · Jul 7.1 · Aug 7.6 · Sep 8.9 · Oct 10.1 · Nov 11.4 · Dec 13.5 °C | 2026-07-262020 | Independent sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV Source-backed value |
| Average temperature by month | Jan 17.8 · Feb 18 · Mar 16.6 · Apr 14.5 · May 12.7 · Jun 10.6 · Jul 9.8 · Aug 10.3 · Sep 11.6 · Oct 13 · Nov 14.4 · Dec 16.5 °C | 2026-07-262020 | Independent sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV Source-backed value |
| Average precipitation by month | Jan 60 · Feb 60.4 · Mar 66 · Apr 79.8 · May 88.4 · Jun 102.6 · Jul 109.7 · Aug 94.1 · Sep 79.9 · Oct 90.9 · Nov 74.7 · Dec 67.1 mm | 2026-07-262020 | Independent sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV Source-backed value |
| Average sunshine by month | Jan 231.8 · Feb 211.4 · Mar 204 · Apr 156.4 · May 133.1 · Jun 101.2 · Jul 121 · Aug 147.8 · Sep 164.4 · Oct 193.3 · Nov 211.7 · Dec 218 hours | 2026-07-262020 | Independent sourceWMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV Source-backed value |
Mobility and administration
Working from home accounted for 18.7% of commutes in 2023. Cycling accounted for 4.1% of commutes in 2023.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| G09 Bicycle Commute Share Pct | 4.1 % | 2026-07-162023 | Official sourceEstimated resident population at 30 June 2025 Source-backed value · Wellington City territorial authority; employed usual residents travelling to work |
Additional context
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| G09 Work From Home Share Pct | 18.7 % | 2026-07-162023 | Official sourceEstimated resident population at 30 June 2025 Source-backed value · Wellington City territorial authority; employed usual residents travelling to work |
| Median age | 34.9 years | 2026-07-162023 | Official sourceEstimated resident population at 30 June 2025 Source-backed value · Wellington City territorial authority; usual resident population |
Worked out from these numbers
Arithmetic on the published values above. Each one names what it assumed.
How international is the population?
33.1% of residents hold a foreign nationality — 69,690 people of 210,800 people. This counts nationality, not place of birth, so long-settled residents who naturalised are not in it.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
What is the unemployment rate in Wellington?
The unemployment rate is 3 %. Source: Estimated resident population at 30 June 2025, checked 2026-07-16.
Is the air quality good in Wellington?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 8.214 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is above the WHO guideline but within the EU limit. Source: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database V6.1 (update 2024), checked 2026-07-26.
How many people live in Wellington?
The published population is 210,800 people. Source: Estimated resident population at 30 June 2025, checked 2026-07-16.
How many foreign residents live in Wellington?
69,690 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Stats NZ place summary — Wellington City, checked 2026-07-29.
Sources
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.