Nelson's 2026 population is now estimated at 51,572. In 1996, the population of Nelson was 39,900. Nelson has grown by 225 in the last year, which represents a 0.44% annual change. These population values and projections come from New Zealand city estimate series 1996-2023 via CityPopulation official attribution and World Population Review Internal Projections .
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 1,536,416 | 0.99% |
| Christchurch | 410,972 | 1.24% |
| Wellington | 207,964 | -0.13% |
| Hamilton | 194,076 | 1.77% |
| Tauranga | 169,633 | 2.2% |
| Lower Hutt | 112,340 | 0.55% |
| Dunedin | 102,287 | -0.23% |
| Palmerston North | 80,984 | 0.2% |
| Hibiscus Coast | 72,288 | 3.29% |
| Napier | 67,430 | 0.62% |
| New Plymouth | 62,469 | 1.35% |
| Porirua | 61,388 | 0.82% |
| Rotorua | 57,947 | 0.32% |
| Whangarei | 56,546 | 0.62% |
| Nelson | 51,572 | 0.44% |
| Invercargill | 50,910 | 0.4% |
| Hastings | 50,276 | 0.79% |
| Upper Hutt | 45,189 | 0.74% |
| Whanganui | 43,200 | 0.63% |
| Gisborne | 38,794 | 0.87% |
| Rolleston | 35,204 | 5.13% |
| Queenstown | 31,283 | 4.26% |
| Pukekohe | 30,905 | 2.74% |
| Blenheim | 30,608 | 0.9% |
| Paraparaumu | 29,981 | 0.2% |
| Timaru | 29,591 | 0.56% |
| Taupo | 27,276 | 1.35% |
| Cambridge | 23,761 | 2.6% |
| Masterton | 23,052 | 1.42% |
| Ashburton | 21,656 | 1.03% |
| Levin | 20,992 | 1.63% |
| Richmond | 20,956 | 3.59% |
| Rangiora | 19,829 | 0.91% |
| Feilding | 17,831 | 1.01% |
| Whakatane | 17,207 | 0.6% |
| Havelock North | 15,558 | 0.67% |
| Mosgiel | 15,252 | 1.12% |
| Tokoroa | 14,533 | 0.42% |
| Oamaru | 14,455 | 0.95% |
| Wanaka | 14,261 | 4.22% |
| Te Awamutu | 14,253 | 1.2% |
| Kaiapoi | 14,091 | 1.81% |
| Waikanae | 13,905 | 1.5% |
| Lincoln | 12,954 | 5.12% |
| Hawera | 10,912 | 0.97% |
| Te Puke | 10,416 | 1.67% |
| Matamata | 10,148 | 2.62% |
| Morrinsville | 10,061 | 2.73% |
| Waiuku | 9,948 | 0.43% |
| Beachlands - Pine Harbour | 9,260 | 4.56% |
| Ngaruawahia | 8,844 | 2.43% |
| Kerikeri | 8,754 | 2.04% |
| Huntly | 8,657 | 0.57% |
| Greymouth | 8,569 | 0.52% |
| Kumeu - Huapai | 8,551 | 5.13% |
| Motueka | 8,485 | 0.33% |
| Gore | 8,375 | 0.34% |
| Waiheke West | 8,262 | 0.05% |
| Waitara | 7,940 | 1.16% |
| Cromwell | 7,911 | 3.86% |
| Kawerau | 7,750 | 0.48% |
| Warkworth | 7,606 | 3.4% |
| Pokeno | 7,587 | 5.13% |
| Thames | 7,155 | -0.62% |
| Stratford | 6,673 | 1.31% |
| Omokoroa | 6,506 | 5.12% |
| Whitianga | 6,468 | 1.75% |
| Tuakau | 6,370 | 2.3% |
| Carterton | 6,237 | 1.58% |
| Prebbleton | 6,237 | 3.66% |
| Katikati | 6,193 | 1.93% |
| Kaitaia | 6,104 | -0.03% |
| Waihi | 5,953 | 0.81% |
| Alexandra | 5,904 | 0.6% |
| Marton | 5,894 | 1.24% |
| Dannevirke | 5,670 | 0% |
| Woodend | 5,484 | 5.14% |
| Otaki | 5,416 | 1.63% |
| Ngongotaha | 5,370 | 0.83% |
| Dargaville | 5,190 | 0.52% |
| Taumarunui | 5,011 | 0.4% |
| Picton | 4,989 | 0.69% |
| Waipukurau | 4,917 | 0.94% |
| Te Aroha | 4,843 | 0.5% |
| Opotiki | 4,804 | -0.52% |
| Te Kuiti | 4,766 | 0.04% |
| Temuka | 4,761 | 0.42% |
| Wairoa | 4,746 | 0.04% |
| Pegasus | 4,705 | 5.12% |
| Kaikohe | 4,664 | -0.04% |
| Paeroa | 4,642 | 0.67% |
| Westport | 4,633 | 0.32% |
| Putaruru | 4,627 | 0.48% |
| Balclutha | 4,531 | 0.98% |
| Whangamata | 4,374 | 0.57% |
| Riverhead | 4,322 | 5.13% |
| Raglan | 4,085 | 2.18% |
| Kihikihi | 4,077 | 4.62% |
| Turangi | 4,055 | 1.58% |
| Inglewood | 4,041 | 1.28% |
| Te Kauwhata | 3,950 | 5.11% |
| Snells Beach | 3,948 | 1.36% |
| Helensville | 3,727 | 3.01% |
| Darfield | 3,678 | 3.05% |
| Waimate | 3,644 | 0.22% |
| One Tree Point | 3,544 | 5.13% |
| Foxton | 3,536 | 1.03% |
| Ashhurst | 3,507 | 1.83% |
| Hokitika | 3,469 | 1.17% |
| Otorohanga | 3,295 | 0.55% |
| Lyttelton | 3,294 | 0.76% |
| Geraldine | 3,190 | 1.08% |
| Mangawhai Heads | 3,183 | 5.12% |
| Featherston | 3,049 | 2.14% |
| Greytown | 3,027 | 2.26% |
| Ruakaka | 3,021 | 1.61% |
| Ohope | 2,997 | -1.12% |
| Te Anau | 2,964 | 1.33% |
| Pahiatua | 2,954 | 0.85% |
| Arrowtown | 2,915 | -0.38% |
| Wakefield | 2,888 | 1.76% |
| Amberley | 2,867 | 3.88% |
| Maraetai | 2,785 | 1.68% |
| West Melton | 2,730 | 3.37% |
| Waihi Beach - Bowentown | 2,650 | 0.38% |
| Winton | 2,578 | 0.9% |
| Renwick | 2,496 | 0.08% |
| Leeston | 2,371 | 0.47% |
| Oxford | 2,264 | -0.09% |
| Clive | 2,102 | 1.01% |
| Waitangi | 120 | -5.51% |