Quick facts
Wellington overview
Wellington (orange) and the other large cities of New Zealand
Wellington lies in Wellington Region in New Zealand at 41.29°S, 174.78°E, about 31 m above sea level. The local time zone is Pacific/Auckland (UTC+13); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is smaller than Christchurch (419,200) and larger than Hamilton (192,100). The largest city in New Zealand is Auckland with 1,547,200 people.
The nearest large city is Blenheim, about 73 km away, followed by Masterton (82 km).
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 Wellington
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Blenheim Marlborough | 73 km | 29,800 |
| Masterton Wellington Region | 82 km | 28,900 |
| Levin Manawatu-Wanganui | 84 km | 19,789 |
| Nelson Nelson Region | 125 km | 54,400 |
| Palmerston North Manawatu-Wanganui | 125 km | 90,500 |
| Richmond Tasman District | 133 km | 19,950 |
| Whanganui Manawatu-Wanganui | 152 km | 49,200 |
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 Wellington?
Wellington has about 381,900 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Wellington the capital of New Zealand?
Yes — Wellington is the national capital of New Zealand.
How big is Wellington compared with the rest of New Zealand?
Its 381,900 residents are 7.2% of the 5,298,461 people living in New Zealand today. Auckland is larger with 1,547,200 people.
Where is Wellington?
In Wellington Region, New Zealand, at latitude -41.29 and longitude 174.78, 31 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Blenheim (73 km), Masterton (82 km), Levin (84 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Wellington Population 2026 — New Zealand. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/new-zealand/wellington/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/new-zealand/wellington/">Wellington 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.