Napier Population 2026

Napier has a population of 66,400, making it the #12 biggest city in 🇳🇿 New Zealand, located in Hawke's Bay Region. Roughly 1.3% of New Zealand's population lives here. It is about 23× smaller than Auckland, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

66,400

Rank in New Zealand

#12

Coordinates

39.49°S, 176.91°E

~6 m elevation · Pacific/Auckland

Distance to capital (Wellington)

269 km

167 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Hawke's Bay Region

City	Population	Rank in New Zealand
Hastings	88,300	#11

Cities near Napier

Hastings88,300 people · ~17 km away
Taupo27,000 people · ~115 km away
Gisborne38,100 people · ~133 km away
Palmerston North90,500 people · ~147 km away
Rotorua65,901 people · ~161 km away
Whanganui49,200 people · ~167 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Napier?

Napier has a population of 66,400 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #12 biggest city in New Zealand.

What region is Napier in?

Napier is located in Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand.

Is Napier the capital of New Zealand?

No, the capital of New Zealand is Wellington, about 269 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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