Christchurch โ UN urban centre population
Christchurch has a recorded base population of 260,804 for the UN urban centre definition (2025 annual estimate). UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects 2025; the moving counter uses UN 2025โ2026 annual growth, not new population observations.
At a glance
Separate UN urban-centre definition
Christchurch UN urban centre: 260,804 people (2025), equal to the displayed UN urban centre figure of 260,804. Separate GeoNames settlement record: 419,200; the UN value is smaller (different boundaries; GeoNames population date unavailable). UN WUP 2025 Degree of Urbanisation; not a municipal/province boundary. Association: name/country/coordinates matched; boundary relationship unverified. No containment claim is made.
Administrative units of Christchurch
15 administrative records listed; completeness not established. 15 of 15 population values available; population values and dates not independently verified.
Available-value subtotal: 125,536; not a reconciled total. Shares use the displayed UN urban centre denominator 260,804; mixed/unknown dates are not comparable. An em dash means missing, not zero.
| Unit | Population | Share | Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riccarton | 11,650 | 4.47% | Not independently verified |
| Parklands | 10,760 | 4.13% | Not independently verified |
| Avonhead | 10,240 | 3.93% | Not independently verified |
| Ilam | 10,100 | 3.87% | Not independently verified |
| Burnside | 9,810 | 3.76% | Not independently verified |
| Bryndwr | 9,760 | 3.74% | Not independently verified |
| Redwood | 8,500 | 3.26% | Not independently verified |
| Upper Riccarton | 7,990 | 3.06% | Not independently verified |
| Papanui | 7,900 | 3.03% | Not independently verified |
| Mairehau | 7,120 | 2.73% | Not independently verified |
| Somerfield | 7,070 | 2.71% | Not independently verified |
| Shirley | 6,990 | 2.68% | Not independently verified |
| Cashmere | 6,940 | 2.66% | Not independently verified |
| Merivale | 5,360 | 2.06% | Not independently verified |
| Addington | 5,346 | 2.05% | Not independently verified |
Comparable database records
Same definition label: UN urban centre. Dates/boundaries may still differ; this is not a harmonised international city ranking. Ratios use 260,804 as denominator.
| Place | Population | vs Christchurch |
|---|---|---|
| Novi Sad | 262,324 | +0.6% |
| Ulan-Ude | 262,433 | +0.6% |
| New Orleans | 258,413 | โ0.9% |
| Wuzhong | 258,383 | โ0.9% |
| Ensenada | 258,104 | โ1.0% |
About these numbers
Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects 2025. Reference: 2025 annual estimate. Live method: exponential projection from modelling anchor 2025-01-01 using UN 2025โ2026 annual growth (+0.14% per year). This anchor is a modelling convention, not an observed population date. Tiles, ranks and comparisons use the recorded base figure 260,804, not the ticking estimate. Country/world denominators are World Bank values and can differ in date and method from local/UN values. Ranks cover only records with the same definition label in this database, not all cities in the world.
What changed during your lifetime?
Turn these figures into a private, five-scene personal world story.
Which city boundary are you reading?
This page is a structured reference entry. Its sources, geographic definition and reference dates determine what the figures mean; it is not independent reporting about the causes of change. Read the accompanying explanation before comparing different places or vintages.