Whakatane Population 2026

Whakatane has a population of 18,602, making it the #42 biggest city in 🇳🇿 New Zealand, located in Bay of Plenty. Roughly 0.4% of New Zealand's population lives here. It is about 83× smaller than Auckland, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

18,602

Rank in New Zealand

#42

Coordinates

37.96°S, 176.99°E

~11 m elevation · Pacific/Auckland

Distance to capital (Wellington)

416 km

258 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Bay of Plenty

City	Population	Rank in New Zealand
Tauranga	161,000	#6
Rotorua	65,901	#13

Cities near Whakatane

Rotorua65,901 people · ~68 km away
Tauranga161,000 people · ~78 km away
Taupo27,000 people · ~113 km away
Gisborne38,100 people · ~118 km away
Cambridge15,192 people · ~136 km away
Hamilton192,100 people · ~151 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Whakatane?

Whakatane has a population of 18,602 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #42 biggest city in New Zealand.

What region is Whakatane in?

Whakatane is located in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Is Whakatane the capital of New Zealand?

No, the capital of New Zealand is Wellington, about 416 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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