Quick facts
Auckland overview
Auckland (orange) and the other large cities of New Zealand
Auckland lies in New Zealand at 36.85°S, 174.76°E, about 43 m above sea level. The local time zone is Pacific/Auckland (UTC+13); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of New Zealand: the next largest cities are Christchurch (419,200), Wellington (381,900), Hamilton (192,100). Together, the three largest cities hold 44.3% of the national population.
The national capital, Wellington, is about 493 km away; the nearest large city is Hamilton, 114 km from Auckland.
New Zealand as a whole has a live population of 5,298,461 (+0.7% a year) and ranks #126 of 238 countries — see the New Zealand population page for the full statistics and the New Zealand atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Auckland
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Waikato Region | 114 km | 192,100 |
| Cambridge Waikato Region | 129 km | 15,192 |
| Whangarei Northland | 130 km | 50,900 |
| Tauranga Bay of Plenty | 155 km | 161,000 |
| Rotorua Bay of Plenty | 194 km | 65,901 |
Largest cities in New Zealand
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | Auckland | 1,547,200 |
| 2 | Christchurch | Canterbury | 419,200 |
| 3 | WellingtonCapital | Wellington Region | 381,900 |
| 4 | Hamilton | Waikato Region | 192,100 |
| 5 | Tauranga | Bay of Plenty | 161,000 |
| 6 | Dunedin | Otago | 132,800 |
| 7 | Palmerston North | Manawatu-Wanganui | 90,500 |
| 8 | New Plymouth | Taranaki Region | 90,100 |
| 9 | Hastings | Hawke's Bay Region | 88,300 |
| 10 | Napier | Hawke's Bay Region | 66,400 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Auckland?
Auckland has about 1,547,200 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Auckland the capital of New Zealand?
No. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington (381,900 people), about 493 km away. Auckland is the largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Auckland compared with the rest of New Zealand?
Its 1,547,200 residents are 29.2% of the 5,298,461 people living in New Zealand today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Auckland?
In New Zealand, at latitude -36.85 and longitude 174.76, 43 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Hamilton (114 km), Cambridge (129 km), Whangarei (130 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Auckland Population 2026 — New Zealand. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/new-zealand/auckland/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/new-zealand/auckland/">Auckland Population 2026 — New Zealand</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.