Notes about use

People can identify with more than one ethnic group, and are counted for each ethnic group they identify with.

People identifying with more than one ethnic group

Ethnic group summaries show a comparison ethnic group. Please note that differences in outcomes between ethnic groups, such as housing quality and income, may be caused by differences in characteristics such as age structure and area of residence within New Zealand.

The default comparison shown is the total New Zealand population. This can be changed in the Search and compare box.

#summariesguide has more information about how to change the comparison ethnic group.

Comparing ethnic groups

About ethnic group summaries

Quick stats

Population

2023 Census

Median age

People born overseas

Overseas-born who arrived in New Zealand less than 10 years ago

People who speak more than one language

Median personal income of adults

Adults with a post-school qualification

Adults who own their home or hold it in a family trust

People with access to the internet

This section shows the number of people who identify with the &selection ethnic group, compared with the &comparison ethnic group (shown in a separate graph and table).

This data is for the census usually resident population count and the estimated resident population (ERP as at 30 June).

See the metadata tab to learn more about this data.

Data points with * in the table are confidential, not available, or not applicable.

The census usually resident population count is rated as very high quality. The census usually resident population count of New Zealand is a count of all people who usually live in, and were present in, New Zealand on census night. It excludes overseas visitors and New Zealand residents who were temporarily overseas on census night. #curpc has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Ethnicity is rated as high quality. #ethnicity has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

The census usually resident population count has had fixed random rounding applied to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not sum to totals.

#erp is based on the census usually resident population counts with additions for:

• usual residents who were temporarily overseas on census night (and therefore not counted in the census usually resident population count)

• net census undercount measured by post-enumeration surveys (eg #pes)

• population change between census night and the date of the estimate, from births, deaths, and migration (within New Zealand and to / from other countries).

Stats NZ publishes a number of different population counts, each using a different definition and methodology. #popuserguide has more information about different counts.

The estimated resident population labelled for the European ethnic group in this product is a grouping of the European and Other ethnic groups.

Māori population estimates for 2013 derived from the 2013 Census are an underestimate. #underestimation has more information about this. For revised annual national-level Māori ethnicity population estimates, see #infoshare (Population > Population Estimates).

Population of the &dynamic ethnic group, 1996–2023

This section shows the median age of people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Half of the people in the population are older than the median age, and half younger.

This data is for the census usually resident population count.

Age is rated as very high quality. #age has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Median age is calculated using single-year-of-age data. For categories with small populations, the median age reported may differ from that expected because of the effects of noise and rounding. Caution is advised when using median data in small populations.

Median age of population, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows four broad ‘life-cycle’ age groups for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Census data has had fixed random rounding applied to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not sum to totals.

Life-cycle age groups

Percentage of population by life-cycle age group, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows five-year age groups for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (bars on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (vertical lines on graph).

Five-year age groups

Percentage of population by five-year age group, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Gender

This section shows gender by ‘life-cycle’ age group for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Gender and age combinations are shown as a percentage of the total ethnic group population.

Gender is rated as high quality. #gender has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Data for 'another gender' should be used with caution when cross tabulated with lower levels of other census data such as low-level ethnic groups.

Gender and age

Percentage of population by age and gender, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Relationship status

This section shows the partnership status of people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

The term 'nfd' in the category 'Partnered, nfd' stands for not further defined. This is used when no more specific information about the type of partnership is available.

This data is for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over.

Partnership status in current relationship is rated as moderate quality. #partnership has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Due to data quality issues, civil union data is output as ‘partnered, nfd’ for partnership status in current relationship in the 2013 and 2018 Censuses. 

Partnership status in current relationship

Percentage of population by partnership status in current relationship, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2013–2023 Censuses

Births and deaths

• the number of live births registered for children in the &selection ethnic group

• the number of deaths registered for the &selection ethnic group.

A second graph and table shows the same for the &comparison ethnic group for comparison.

https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/births-and-deaths

This data is the number of births and deaths of people resident in New Zealand registered during a given period.

This data is the number of births and deaths of people resident in New Zealand registered during a given period. They may differ from statistics presented elsewhere that relate to all births and deaths registered in New Zealand or to births and deaths occurring during a given period.

#births and #deaths have more information about these variables.

Births and deaths data has been randomly rounded to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not add up to totals, and values for the same data may vary in different tables.

Number of births and deaths of the &dynamic ethnic group, year ended March 2001–2024

Number of children born

This section shows the average number of children born to sex-at-birth females in each five-year age group. This is shown for those who identify with the &selection ethnic group, (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

This data is for the sex-at-birth female census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over.

Number of children born is rated as high quality. #childrenborn has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

#sexatbirthmethods has more information about the sex at birth concept. The 2023 Census collected the sex at birth concept, while prior censuses collected information on the sex concept, with no further clarification of what that meant. Historical data in time-series tables will use results from the sex concept prior to the 2023 Census and should be interpreted with care.

Measures like averages, medians, and other quantiles are calculated from unrounded counts, with input noise added to or subtracted from each contributing value during measures calculations. Averages and medians based on less than six units (e.g. individuals, dwellings, households, families, or extended families) are suppressed.

Average number of children born by age

Average number of children born to each sex-at-birth female, by age, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Life expectancy

This section shows the life expectancy at birth, by sex, for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Note that life expectancy data shown for the European ethnic group in this product is a grouping of the European and Other ethnic groups. These groups are combined because fewer people identify with the Other ethnic group in deaths data compared with census data, which would result in incorrect calculations.

https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/life-expectancy

This data is calculated using deaths data and the estimated resident population.

This data is calculated using deaths data and the estimated resident population based on sex. These are the median results produced for the New Zealand period life tables.

The life expectancies are estimates based on death rates during the years stated. If death rates continue to decrease then actual life expectancy will be higher.

Extra caution should be taken with comparisons to 2012–2014 period life tables, particularly for the Māori ethnic group due to apparent under-estimation of the Māori ethnic group suggested by revised Māori population estimates. The 2012–2014 period life tables were based on estimated death rates using the published estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2013. Following the availability of the estimated resident population at 30 June 2018, the revised Māori population estimates for 2006–2018 do not align with the June 2013 ERP due to an under-estimation of the Māori ethnic group in the June 2013 ERP.

#lifetables has more information about life expectancy data.

Life expectancy at birth by sex

Life expectancy at birth, by sex, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2005–2007 to 2017–2019

Population structure

Usual residence address

This section shows the regional council of usual residence for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (bars on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (vertical lines on graph).

Usual residence address is rated as high quality. #urarea has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Regional council area of usual residence

Percentage of population by regional council area of usual residence, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

This section shows the Auckland local board area of usual residence for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group, compared with the &comparison ethnic group.

Auckland local board area of usual residence is shown as a percentage of the total ethnic group population in New Zealand. As a result, for most ethnic groups the total of all categories will not add to 100 percent.

Auckland local board area of usual residence

Percentage of population by Auckland local board area of usual residence, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Population mobility

This section shows a summary of where people lived five years before the 2023 Census for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (bars on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (vertical lines on graph).

Usual residence five years ago is rated as high quality. #ur5ya has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Usual residence five years ago

Percentage of population by location of usual residence five years ago, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Location

Ethnicity

This section shows the number of ethnic groups specified by people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Number of ethnic groups

Percentage of population by number of ethnic groups they identify with, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2013–2023 Censuses

Birthplace

This section shows birthplace as a country or broad geographic area for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (bars on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (vertical lines on graph).

Birthplace is rated as high quality. #birthplace has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of population by birthplace, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

This section shows the percentage of each 'life-cycle' age group that were born overseas for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (bars on graph). The same is shown for the &comparison ethnic group for comparison (vertical lines on graph).

People born overseas by age

Percentage of population born overseas, by age, for the &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Years since arrival in New Zealand

This section shows the years since arrival in New Zealand for people who were born overseas and identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph). The same is shown for people who were born overseas and identify with the &comparison ethnic group for comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

This data is for the overseas-born census usually resident population count.

Years since arrival in New Zealand is rated as high quality. #yearssincearrival has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of overseas-born population by years since arrival in New Zealand, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Languages spoken

This section shows the languages spoken by people who identify with the &selection ethnic group, compared with the &comparison ethnic group.

People may speak more than one language and will be counted for each language they give as a response. As a result, the total of all categories may be more than 100 percent.

Languages spoken is rated as high quality. #language has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of population that speak each language, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows the number of languages spoken by people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Number of languages spoken

Percentage of population by number of languages spoken, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator

This section shows a summary of the LGBTIQ+ and not LGBTIQ+ populations for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group, compared with the &comparison ethnic group.

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator is rated as poor quality. #rainbow has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

The rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator is derived based on responses to questions on gender, sexual identity, and variations of sex characteristics as well as cisgender and transgender status.

The LGBTIQ+ category is derived where one or more of the following responses have been received:

• if a person has given a response that is coded to homosexual, bisexual, or sexual identity not elsewhere classified

• persons who know they were born with a variation of sex characteristics.

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator (level 1)

Percentage of population by rainbow / LGBTIQ+ status (level 1), &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

This section shows the detailed groupings within the LGBTIQ+ population for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

The rainbow / LGBTIQ+ categories are shown as a percentage of the total ethnic group population (that is, including the not LGBTIQ+ population).

People that are LGBTIQ+ may belong to more than one category, and will be counted for each category they give as a response. People of another gender are also counted in the transgender category.

Due to data quality issues, data for the category 'persons who know they were born with a variation of sex characteristics’ has been restricted to the national level and is not available by ethnic group.

The rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator is derived based on responses to questions on gender, sexual identity, and variations of sex characteristics as well as cisgender and transgender status. All people of another gender are coded to transgender in the derivation of cisgender and transgender status, and as such are counted as both 'another gender' and 'transgender' in this data.

#vosc has more information on the data quality issues for variations of sex characteristics

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator (level 2)

Percentage of population by rainbow / LGBTIQ+ status (level 2), &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Religious affiliation

This section shows the religious affiliation of people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (bars on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (vertical lines on graph).

People may identify with multiple religions and will be counted within each religious affiliation they give as a response. As a result, the total across all categories may be more than 100 percent.

Religious affiliation is rated as high quality. #religion has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of population by religious affiliation, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Ethnicity, culture, and identity

Work and labour force status

This section shows the unemployment rate for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group, compared with the &comparison ethnic group (shown in a separate graph and table).

This data is from the Household Labour Force Survey.

https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/labour-market

This data is for the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) estimated working-age population.

This data is for the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) estimated working-age population, based on the national 'estimated resident population' adjusted to be consistent with the scope of the HLFS.

To be categorised as unemployed in New Zealand, a person must: 

• have been available in the previous week to start work 

• have been actively seeking work in the last four weeks or be due to start a new job in the next four weeks. 

Actively seeking means they go beyond browsing job vacancies in the local newspaper or on the internet. It means a person is taking action and applying for jobs or contacting employers. 

The unemployment rate is the proportion of people in the labour force (employed or unemployed) who are unemployed. 

#hlfs has more information about methods and definitions.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate (%) of the &dynamic ethnic group, year ended March 2009–2024

This section shows the underutilisation rate for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group, compared with the &comparison ethnic group (shown in a separate graph and table).

Labour underutilisation reflects the total number of people in the labour force who are not being fully utilised, as well as some who are outside of the labour force who can be considered additional ‘potential labour supply’. Underutilisation includes unemployed people, underemployed people, and the potential labour force.

The HLFS measure of underutilisation includes unemployed people, underemployed people, and the potential labour force. 

• have been available in the previous week to start work 

• have been actively seeking work in the last four weeks or be due to start a new job in the next four weeks. 

Underemployment in New Zealand is time-related underemployment, when a part-time employed individual wants to work more hours than they usually do and is available to do so. This can include wanting to move to full-time work or wanting more hours but to remain part-time. 

The potential labour force consists of people who are not in the labour force but can be considered ‘just outside it’. They meet two of the three criteria needed to be considered unemployed. Two main groups of individuals are in the potential labour force: 

1. unavailable jobseekers – people who were actively seeking work, were not available to have started work in the reference week, but would become available within a short subsequent period 

2. available potential jobseekers – people who are not actively seeking work but were available in the reference week and want a job (the ‘discouraged’ are included in this group). 

The underutilisation rate is the proportion of people in the extended labour force (employed, unemployed, or in the potential labour force) who are underutilised. 

Underutilisation rate

Underutilisation rate (%) of the &dynamic ethnic group, year ended March 2009–2024

This section shows the labour force participation rate for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group, compared with the &comparison ethnic group (shown in a second graph and table).

The labour force participation rate is people in the labour force as a percentage of the working-age population. The labour force includes anyone in the working-age population who is employed or unemployed.

Labour force participation rate

Labour force participation rate (%) of the &dynamic ethnic group, year ended March 2009–2024

This section shows the work and labour force status for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Work and labour force status is rated as moderate quality. #work has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

The percentage unemployed from census data differs from New Zealand's official unemployment rate reported by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS). In addition to different measurement methods and timing, the HLFS unemployment rate is expressed as a percentage of the labour force. The census work and labour force variable is expressed as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and over.

Percentage of population by work and labour force status, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows work and labour force status, by ‘life-cycle’ age group, for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Work and labour force status is shown as a percentage of each 'life-cycle' age group for the people in each ethnic group.

Work and labour force status by age

Percentage of population by age, by work and labour force status, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

This section shows work and labour force status, by gender, for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Work and labour force status is shown as a percentage of each gender for the people in each ethnic group.   

Work and labour force status by gender

Percentage of population by gender, by work and labour force status, &selection and &comparison ethnic groups, 2023 Census

Hours worked in employment per week

This section shows the hours worked in employment per week, by gender, for people who identify with the &selection ethnic group (columns on graph), compared with the &comparison ethnic group (horizontal lines on graph).

Hours worked is shown as a percentage of each gender for the people in each ethnic group.

This data is for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over.

Place and ethnic group summariesCompare: Chinese ethnic group with Māori ethnic group