National dwelling and household estimates are used for many purposes including planning, policy formation, business decisions, and as 'bottom lines' in the calculation of market coverage rates.
Key facts
At 31 December 2024, the estimated number of:
- private dwellings is 2,110,200
- households is 2,027,700.
Revised private dwelling estimates
Dwelling estimates are a measure of the private dwelling stock in Aotearoa New Zealand and include occupied and unoccupied private dwellings. This is the first release of private dwelling estimates based on the 2023 Census of Population and Dwellings.
From 31 March 2023, dwelling estimates and tenure proportions use the 2023 Census as a base. We have also revised quarterly dwelling estimates and tenure proportions back to March 2018. This is the usual revision that takes place from rebasing after each census.
| Quarter ended | Total private dwellings (original) | Owner-occupied (original) | Rented (original) | Provided free (original) | Total private dwellings (revised) | Owner-occupied (revised) | Rented (revised) | Provided free (revised) |
| Mar-18 | 1858200 | 1199300 | 595200 | 63700 | 1859000 | 1200600 | 595100 | 63300 |
| Jun-18 | 1866100 | 1204400 | 597700 | 63900 | 1865900 | 1207700 | 596100 | 62100 |
| Sep-18 | 1873300 | 1209100 | 600000 | 64200 | 1873900 | 1215700 | 597400 | 60900 |
| Dec-18 | 1879900 | 1213400 | 602200 | 64400 | 1881300 | 1223200 | 598500 | 59600 |
| Mar-19 | 1888100 | 1218600 | 604800 | 64700 | 1888000 | 1230300 | 599300 | 58400 |
| Jun-19 | 1895700 | 1223500 | 607200 | 65000 | 1896200 | 1238400 | 600700 | 57100 |
| Sep-19 | 1903400 | 1228500 | 609700 | 65200 | 1903900 | 1246200 | 601900 | 55800 |
| Dec-19 | 1911400 | 1233600 | 612200 | 65500 | 1911700 | 1254100 | 603000 | 54600 |
| Mar-20 | 1919800 | 1239100 | 614900 | 65800 | 1919800 | 1262200 | 604300 | 53300 |
| Jun-20 | 1928900 | 1245000 | 617800 | 66100 | 1928300 | 1270600 | 605700 | 52000 |
| Sep-20 | 1937600 | 1250600 | 620600 | 66400 | 1937600 | 1279500 | 607300 | 50700 |
| Dec-20 | 1945600 | 1255800 | 623200 | 66700 | 1946400 | 1288200 | 608800 | 49400 |
| Mar-21 | 1954000 | 1261200 | 625900 | 67000 | 1954500 | 1296400 | 610000 | 48100 |
| Jun-21 | 1963200 | 1267100 | 628800 | 67300 | 1963000 | 1304900 | 611400 | 46800 |
| Sep-21 | 1973500 | 1273800 | 632100 | 67600 | 1972400 | 1314000 | 613000 | 45400 |
| Dec-21 | 1983000 | 1279900 | 635200 | 68000 | 1982800 | 1323900 | 614900 | 44100 |
| Mar-22 | 1994300 | 1287200 | 638800 | 68300 | 1992400 | 1333200 | 616500 | 42700 |
| Jun-22 | 2006400 | 1295000 | 642700 | 68800 | 2004000 | 1343800 | 618700 | 41400 |
| Sep-22 | 2018100 | 1302600 | 646400 | 69200 | 2016200 | 1354900 | 621200 | 40100 |
| Dec-22 | 2029400 | 1309800 | 650000 | 69500 | 2028100 | 1365900 | 623500 | 38700 |
| Mar-23 | 2040500 | 1317000 | 653600 | 69900 | 2041500 | 1377100 | 626600 | 37800 |
| Jun-23 | 2052600 | 1324800 | 657500 | 70300 | 2052800 | 1382800 | 632000 | 38000 |
| Sep-23 | 2063200 | 1331700 | 660900 | 70700 | 2065100 | 1389100 | 637700 | 38200 |
| Dec-23 | 2072100 | 1337400 | 663700 | 71000 | 2075800 | 1394400 | 643000 | 38400 |
| Mar-24 | 2081100 | 1343200 | 666600 | 71300 | 2084800 | 1398500 | 647700 | 38600 |
| Jun-24 | 2089400 | 1348500 | 669200 | 71600 | 2093900 | 1402700 | 652500 | 38800 |
| Sep-24 | 2097100 | 1353500 | 671700 | 71900 | 2102400 | 1406300 | 657100 | 38900 |
| Dec-24 | 2110200 | 1409600 | 661500 | 39100 |
Revised household estimates
Household estimates remain on a 2018-base. These estimates are a measure of the number of private dwellings that are usually occupied. However, revised tenure proportions from the 2023 Census have been incorporated in the latest household estimates, resulting in revisions back to March 2018.
The household estimates will be rebased after work on the 2023-base family and household projections in 2026. The household estimates will include an allowance for households not counted by the 2023 Census, including those missed by census and households that were absent from their usual address on census night (either elsewhere in New Zealand or overseas).
Household estimates by tenure from March 2013 to December 2017 were revised to correct an error. This error was the result of incorrect tenure proportions being applied to the household estimates and does not impact the total household estimate. The largest revision is for June 2013, where the estimated number of:
- owner-occupied dwellings increased by 3,200 (0.3 percent)
- rented dwellings decreased by 8,100 (1.5 percent)
- provided free dwellings increased by 4,900 (8.7 percent).
The revision to the other impacted quarters (March 2013, and September 2013 to December 2017) is smaller, decreasing gradually over time. In December 2017, the revision increased the number of owner-occupied dwellings by 100, decreased the rented dwellings by 300, and increased the provided free dwellings by 200.
How we estimate the number of dwellings
The Census of Population and Dwellings is the basis for the dwelling estimates. In between each census, we update the estimates based on building consents, with an appropriate lag (currently 12 months) to allow for completion of the dwelling and weighted down to allow for consents that are not fulfilled and for dwellings that are demolished or destroyed. The tenure distribution (owner-occupied, rented, or provided free) is estimated based on the latest census data and historical trends. These post-censal estimates are subsequently revised when new census results become available.
New assumptions from March 2023 onward
The following assumptions apply to the private dwelling estimates from March 2023, and will be reviewed after the next census data (or other information) is available:
- The building consent lag is assumed to be 12 months (up from the previous assumption of nine months). This reflects an increasing average length of time from building consent to dwelling completion. This twelve-month lag applies to both dwelling and household estimates from June 2018.
- A weighting factor of 0.92 is applied to building consents. This is the average intercensal weighting factor observed between the 1991 and 2023 Censuses. It implies that for every 100 building consents at the national level, a net 92 private dwellings will be completed (12 months after consent).
- The tenure proportion for owner-occupied decreases each quarter while the rented proportion increases. The quarterly change is the difference between the 2023 Census owner-occupied proportion and the average of the owner-occupied proportion from 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses divided over 20 quarters. Provided free is held constant at the 2023 Census level. These tenure proportions apply to both dwelling and household estimates from March 2023.
| Quarter ended | Owner-occupied | Rented | Provided free |
| Mar-91 | 73.8 | 22.9 | 3.3 |
| Jun-91 | 73.6 | 23.1 | 3.3 |
| Sep-91 | 73.5 | 23.2 | 3.4 |
| Dec-91 | 73.3 | 23.3 | 3.4 |
| Mar-92 | 73.1 | 23.4 | 3.4 |
| Jun-92 | 73 | 23.5 | 3.5 |
| Sep-92 | 72.8 | 23.7 | 3.5 |
| Dec-92 | 72.7 | 23.8 | 3.5 |
| Mar-93 | 72.5 | 23.9 | 3.6 |
| Jun-93 | 72.4 | 24 | 3.6 |
| Sep-93 | 72.2 | 24.2 | 3.6 |
| Dec-93 | 72 | 24.3 | 3.7 |
| Mar-94 | 71.9 | 24.4 | 3.7 |
| Jun-94 | 71.7 | 24.5 | 3.7 |
| Sep-94 | 71.6 | 24.6 | 3.8 |
| Dec-94 | 71.4 | 24.8 | 3.8 |
| Mar-95 | 71.3 | 24.9 | 3.8 |
| Jun-95 | 71.1 | 25 | 3.9 |
| Sep-95 | 70.9 | 25.1 | 3.9 |
| Dec-95 | 70.8 | 25.3 | 3.9 |
| Mar-96 | 70.6 | 25.4 | 4 |
| Jun-96 | 70.5 | 25.6 | 3.9 |
| Sep-96 | 70.4 | 25.8 | 3.9 |
| Dec-96 | 70.2 | 26 | 3.8 |
| Mar-97 | 70.1 | 26.1 | 3.8 |
| Jun-97 | 69.9 | 26.3 | 3.7 |
| Sep-97 | 69.8 | 26.5 | 3.7 |
| Dec-97 | 69.6 | 26.7 | 3.7 |
| Mar-98 | 69.5 | 26.9 | 3.6 |
| Jun-98 | 69.4 | 27.1 | 3.6 |
| Sep-98 | 69.2 | 27.3 | 3.5 |
| Dec-98 | 69.1 | 27.4 | 3.5 |
| Mar-99 | 68.9 | 27.6 | 3.5 |
| Jun-99 | 68.8 | 27.8 | 3.4 |
| Sep-99 | 68.6 | 28 | 3.4 |
| Dec-99 | 68.5 | 28.2 | 3.3 |
| Mar-00 | 68.4 | 28.4 | 3.3 |
| Jun-00 | 68.2 | 28.6 | 3.2 |
| Sep-00 | 68.1 | 28.7 | 3.2 |
| Dec-00 | 67.9 | 28.9 | 3.2 |
| Mar-01 | 67.8 | 29.1 | 3.1 |
| Jun-01 | 67.8 | 29 | 3.2 |
| Sep-01 | 67.7 | 29 | 3.3 |
| Dec-01 | 67.7 | 29 | 3.3 |
| Mar-02 | 67.6 | 29 | 3.4 |
| Jun-02 | 67.6 | 29 | 3.4 |
| Sep-02 | 67.5 | 29 | 3.5 |
| Dec-02 | 67.5 | 29 | 3.5 |
| Mar-03 | 67.4 | 29 | 3.6 |
| Jun-03 | 67.4 | 29 | 3.7 |
| Sep-03 | 67.3 | 29 | 3.7 |
| Dec-03 | 67.3 | 29 | 3.8 |
| Mar-04 | 67.2 | 28.9 | 3.8 |
| Jun-04 | 67.2 | 28.9 | 3.9 |
| Sep-04 | 67.1 | 28.9 | 3.9 |
| Dec-04 | 67.1 | 28.9 | 4 |
| Mar-05 | 67 | 28.9 | 4.1 |
| Jun-05 | 67 | 28.9 | 4.1 |
| Sep-05 | 66.9 | 28.9 | 4.2 |
| Dec-05 | 66.9 | 28.9 | 4.2 |
| Mar-06 | 66.8 | 28.9 | 4.3 |
| Jun-06 | 66.8 | 29 | 4.2 |
| Sep-06 | 66.7 | 29.1 | 4.2 |
| Dec-06 | 66.6 | 29.2 | 4.2 |
| Mar-07 | 66.5 | 29.3 | 4.2 |
| Jun-07 | 66.5 | 29.4 | 4.2 |
| Sep-07 | 66.4 | 29.5 | 4.2 |
| Dec-07 | 66.3 | 29.6 | 4.1 |
| Mar-08 | 66.2 | 29.6 | 4.1 |
| Jun-08 | 66.2 | 29.7 | 4.1 |
| Sep-08 | 66.1 | 29.8 | 4.1 |
| Dec-08 | 66 | 29.9 | 4.1 |
| Mar-09 | 65.9 | 30 | 4 |
| Jun-09 | 65.9 | 30.1 | 4 |
| Sep-09 | 65.8 | 30.2 | 4 |
| Dec-09 | 65.7 | 30.3 | 4 |
| Mar-10 | 65.6 | 30.4 | 4 |
| Jun-10 | 65.6 | 30.5 | 3.9 |
| Sep-10 | 65.5 | 30.6 | 3.9 |
| Dec-10 | 65.4 | 30.7 | 3.9 |
| Mar-11 | 65.3 | 30.8 | 3.9 |
| Jun-11 | 65.3 | 30.9 | 3.9 |
| Sep-11 | 65.2 | 31 | 3.9 |
| Dec-11 | 65.1 | 31.1 | 3.8 |
| Mar-12 | 65 | 31.2 | 3.8 |
| Jun-12 | 65 | 31.2 | 3.8 |
| Sep-12 | 64.9 | 31.3 | 3.8 |
| Dec-12 | 64.8 | 31.4 | 3.8 |
| Mar-13 | 64.7 | 31.5 | 3.7 |
| Jun-13 | 64.7 | 31.5 | 3.7 |
| Sep-13 | 64.7 | 31.6 | 3.7 |
| Dec-13 | 64.7 | 31.6 | 3.7 |
| Mar-14 | 64.7 | 31.6 | 3.7 |
| Jun-14 | 64.7 | 31.6 | 3.7 |
| Sep-14 | 64.7 | 31.7 | 3.6 |
| Dec-14 | 64.7 | 31.7 | 3.6 |
| Mar-15 | 64.7 | 31.7 | 3.6 |
| Jun-15 | 64.7 | 31.7 | 3.6 |
| Sep-15 | 64.6 | 31.8 | 3.6 |
| Dec-15 | 64.6 | 31.8 | 3.6 |
| Mar-16 | 64.6 | 31.8 | 3.6 |
| Jun-16 | 64.6 | 31.9 | 3.5 |
| Sep-16 | 64.6 | 31.9 | 3.5 |
| Dec-16 | 64.6 | 31.9 | 3.5 |
| Mar-17 | 64.6 | 31.9 | 3.5 |
| Jun-17 | 64.6 | 32 | 3.5 |
| Sep-17 | 64.6 | 32 | 3.5 |
| Dec-17 | 64.6 | 32 | 3.4 |
| Mar-18 | 64.6 | 32 | 3.4 |
| Jun-18 | 64.7 | 31.9 | 3.3 |
| Sep-18 | 64.9 | 31.9 | 3.2 |
| Dec-18 | 65 | 31.8 | 3.2 |
| Mar-19 | 65.2 | 31.7 | 3.1 |
| Jun-19 | 65.3 | 31.7 | 3 |
| Sep-19 | 65.5 | 31.6 | 2.9 |
| Dec-19 | 65.6 | 31.5 | 2.9 |
| Mar-20 | 65.7 | 31.5 | 2.8 |
| Jun-20 | 65.9 | 31.4 | 2.7 |
| Sep-20 | 66 | 31.3 | 2.6 |
| Dec-20 | 66.2 | 31.3 | 2.5 |
| Mar-21 | 66.3 | 31.2 | 2.5 |
| Jun-21 | 66.5 | 31.1 | 2.4 |
| Sep-21 | 66.6 | 31.1 | 2.3 |
| Dec-21 | 66.8 | 31 | 2.2 |
| Mar-22 | 66.9 | 30.9 | 2.1 |
| Jun-22 | 67.1 | 30.9 | 2.1 |
| Sep-22 | 67.2 | 30.8 | 2 |
| Dec-22 | 67.3 | 30.7 | 1.9 |
| Mar-23 | 67.5 | 30.7 | 1.9 |
| Jun-23 | 67.4 | 30.8 | 1.9 |
| Sep-23 | 67.3 | 30.9 | 1.9 |
| Dec-23 | 67.2 | 31 | 1.9 |
| Mar-24 | 67.1 | 31.1 | 1.9 |
| Jun-24 | 67 | 31.2 | 1.9 |
| Sep-24 | 66.9 | 31.3 | 1.9 |
| Dec-24 | 66.8 | 31.3 | 1.9 |
| Mar-25 | 66.7 | 31.4 | 1.9 |
| Jun-25 | 66.6 | 31.5 | 1.9 |
| Sep-25 | 66.5 | 31.6 | 1.9 |
| Dec-25 | 66.4 | 31.7 | 1.9 |
| Mar-26 | 66.3 | 31.8 | 1.9 |
| Jun-26 | 66.2 | 31.9 | 1.9 |
| Sep-26 | 66.1 | 32 | 1.9 |
| Dec-26 | 66.1 | 32.1 | 1.9 |
| Mar-27 | 66 | 32.2 | 1.9 |
| Jun-27 | 65.9 | 32.3 | 1.9 |
| Sep-27 | 65.8 | 32.4 | 1.9 |
| Dec-27 | 65.7 | 32.5 | 1.9 |
| Mar-28 | 65.6 | 32.6 | 1.9 |
| Jun-28 | 65.5 | 32.7 | 1.9 |
Owner-occupied dwellings revised up, while rented dwellings revised down
The rebasing to 2023 Census has resulted in a minor revision to the total estimated private dwellings (0.01 percent increase at June 2023). However, the revision is larger when broken down by tenure.
Our initial 2018-base estimates assumed that the proportion of dwellings that are owner-occupied and the proportion rented would stay the same as the 2018 Census proportions. This revision reflects the change in tenure ratios, by increasing the estimated number of owner-occupied dwellings (by 4.4 percent at June 2023) and reducing the number of rented dwellings (by 3.9 percent at June 2023).
Although small in number, the largest proportional revision was made to the dwellings that are provided free - these estimates have been revised down by 46 percent at June 2023. This reflects a large fall in the 2023 Census provided free proportion, compared with the 2018 Census.
Access data in Infoshare
Use Infoshare for quarterly dwelling and household estimates data:
Subject category: Population
Group: Demography dwelling and household estimates - DDE
There are six series for this data - as at quarter ended, mean quarter ended, and mean year ended, for both dwellings and households. Choose the series you wish to view, and then select the variables required (for the latest data, choose the top quarter shown). Tables can be downloaded/saved by choosing the relevant option under the 'Save table' drop-down box.
Definitions and metadata
Dwelling and household estimates - DataInfo+ gives information about dwelling and household estimates including information on the limitations of estimates.
Estimated private dwellings and households - DataInfo+ gives the general methodology used to produce New Zealand's private dwellings and household statistics, and related metadata.
Dwelling concepts - DataInfo+ provides definitions of terms used in this release.
Household concepts - DataInfo+ provides definitions of terms used in this release.
Population concepts - DataInfo+ provides definitions of terms used in this release.
Technical enquiries
Molly Jenkins
03 964 8931
[email protected]
ISSN 2382-0950
Next release
Dwelling and household estimates: March 2025 quarter will be released on 7 April 2025.
