Ethnic identity
In the 2006 and 2013 censuses, people were asked to indicate the ethnic group or groups with which they identified. The numbers include those who indicated more than one group.
- Indian: 97,443 (2006); 143,520 (2013); 221,916 (2018)
- Pakistani: 2,049 (2006); 3,261 (2013); 6,135 (2018)
- Bangladeshi: 1,491 (2006); 1,623 (2013); 2,337 (2018)
- Indo-Fijian: 5,616 (2006); 10,929 (2013); 15,132 (2018)
Country of birth
The New Zealand census figures listed here show the number of residents born in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The numbers include Europeans born in these countries.
India
- 1881 census: 1,112 (‘Europeans’: 1,106; ‘Asiatics’: 6)
- 1901 census: 1,180 (‘Europeans’: 1,156; ‘Asiatics’: 24)
- 1951 census: 3,838
- 1976 census: 6,305
- 2001 census: 20,892
- 2006 census: 43,344
- 2013 census: 67,176
- 2018 census: 117,348
Pakistan
- 2006 census: 2,211
- 2013 census: 2,850
- 2018 census: 5,691
Bangladesh
- 2006 census: 1,437
- 2013 census: 1,476
- 2018 census: 2,559
‘Race aliens’
Between 1916 and 1966 the New Zealand census provided figures on ‘race aliens’ who were defined as people ‘not of European descent’. The census figures listed show those described as ‘Indians’ or ‘Hindus’.
- 1916 census: 181
- 1936 census: 1,200
- 1951 census: 2,425
- 1966 census: 6,843