Our Residents

The population of Ashburton District is estimated to be 30,100, as at 30 June 2011. The last national census, carried out in 2006, showed Ashburton District to have the following demographic characteristics:

Population growth

The population of Ashburton District increased 7.6% over the census period, compared to New Zealand overall which grew by 7.8%. This is much higher growth than the previous census period, (1996– 2001), when the district’s population grew by just 1.1%. The current population growth makes Ashburton District one of the fastest growing rural districts in the country.

Population age

The median age in the Ashburton District is 39.8 years old, which is higher than New Zealand median age of 35.9 years.

– 16.3 percent of people in Ashburton District are aged 65 years and over, compared with 12.3 percent of the total New Zealand population

– 20.7 percent of people are aged less than 15 years of age in Ashburton District, compared with 21.5 percent for all of New Zealand

Ethnicity

82.2 percent of people in Ashburton District belong to the European ethnic group, compared with 67.6 percent of all New Zealanders.

– 6.1 percent of people in Ashburton District identify as Maori, compared with 14.6 percent of all New Zealanders

– 10.5 percent of people in Ashburton District were born overseas, compared with 22.9 percent for New Zealand as a whole

Ashburton District Forecast Population Growth

The district’s population has grown steadily over the past few years, driven primarily by local economic growth. Ashburton District’s population looks set to continue this growth, reversing earlier trends of low or no growth. The demographics of Ashburton District are changing, and they are expected to change further in the future.