Gisborne Population 2026

Gisborne has a population of 38,100, making it the #22 biggest city in 🇳🇿 New Zealand, located in Gisborne. Roughly 0.7% of New Zealand's population lives here. It is about 41× smaller than Auckland, the country's biggest city.

Location of Gisborne (capital Wellington shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

38,100

Rank in New Zealand

#22

Coordinates

38.65°S, 178.00°E

~10 m elevation · Pacific/Auckland

Distance to capital (Wellington)

402 km

250 miles, straight line

Cities near Gisborne

Whakatane18,602 people · ~118 km away
Napier66,400 people · ~133 km away
Hastings88,300 people · ~148 km away
Rotorua65,901 people · ~164 km away
Taupo27,000 people · ~167 km away
Tauranga161,000 people · ~193 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Gisborne?

Gisborne has a population of 38,100 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #22 biggest city in New Zealand.

What region is Gisborne in?

Gisborne is located in Gisborne, New Zealand.

Is Gisborne the capital of New Zealand?

No, the capital of New Zealand is Wellington, about 402 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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