Quick facts
Christchurch overview
Christchurch (orange) and the other large cities of New Zealand
Christchurch lies in Canterbury in New Zealand at 43.53°S, 172.63°E, about 14 m above sea level. The local time zone is Pacific/Auckland (UTC+13); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Auckland (1,547,200) and larger than Wellington (381,900). The largest city in New Zealand is Auckland with 1,547,200 people; the capital, Wellington, has 381,900.
The national capital, Wellington, is about 305 km away; the nearest large city is Rolleston, 21 km from Christchurch.
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 Christchurch
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Rolleston Canterbury | 21 km | 34,100 |
| Rangiora Canterbury | 26 km | 19,300 |
| Ashburton Canterbury | 83 km | 21,600 |
| Timaru Canterbury | 146 km | 29,300 |
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 Christchurch?
Christchurch has about 419,200 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Christchurch the capital of New Zealand?
No. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington (381,900 people), about 305 km away. Christchurch is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Christchurch compared with the rest of New Zealand?
Its 419,200 residents are 7.9% of the 5,298,461 people living in New Zealand today. Auckland is larger with 1,547,200 people.
Where is Christchurch?
In Canterbury, New Zealand, at latitude -43.53 and longitude 172.63, 14 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Rolleston (21 km), Rangiora (26 km), Ashburton (83 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Christchurch Population 2026 — New Zealand. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/new-zealand/christchurch/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/new-zealand/christchurch/">Christchurch 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.