The statistical area of Karamu, which also includes Whakatu, covers 13.20 km2 (5.10 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,400 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 106 people per km2.
Historical population| Year | | |
|---|
| 2006 | 1,179 | — |
|---|
| 2013 | 1,218 | +0.47% |
|---|
| 2018 | 1,305 | +1.39% |
|---|
| 2023 | 1,371 | +0.99% |
|---|
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 13.29 km2.
Source: [8][9] |
Karamu had a population of 1,371 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 66 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 153 people (12.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 708 males and 663 females in 432 dwellings.[10] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 264 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 264 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 645 (47.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 198 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 67.2% European (Pākehā); 40.9% Māori; 7.2% Pasifika; 2.4% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.5%, Māori by 10.3%, Samoan by 1.3%, and other languages by 5.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 5.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, and 0.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 162 (14.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 600 (54.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 336 (30.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 96 people (8.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 591 (53.4%) full-time, 156 (14.1%) part-time, and 48 (4.3%) unemployed.[8]
