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Story: Russians, Ukrainians and Baltic peoples

Page 3: Facts and figures

Ethnic identity

In the New Zealand census, people were asked to indicate the ethnic group or groups with which they identified. The numbers include those who indicated more than one group.

  • Russian: 4,836 (2006); 5,979 (2013); 7,713 (2018)
  • Ukrainian: 672 (2006); 852 (2013); 1,281 (2018)

Country of birth

The New Zealand census figures listed here show the number of residents born in Russia, Ukraine or Baltic countries.

Russia

  • 1874 census: 109
  • 1901 census: 387

U.S.S.R.

  • 1951 census: 506
  • 1976 census: 892

Russia

  • 2001 census: 2,916
  • 2006 census: 4,578
  • 2013 census: 5,466
  • 2018 census: 7,776

Estonia

  • 1921 census: 8
  • 1951 census: 212
  • 1976 census: 191
  • 2001 census: 99
  • 2006 census: 105
  • 2013 census: 141
  • 2018 census: 246

Latvia

  • 1921 census: 14
  • 1951 census: 423
  • 1976 census: 400
  • 2001 census: 246
  • 2006 census: 261
  • 2013 census: 300
  • 2018 census: 375

Lithuania

  • 1921 census: 8
  • 1951 census: 184
  • 1976 census: 174
  • 2001 census: 111
  • 2006 census: 120
  • 2013 census: 189
  • 2018 census: 300

Ukraine

  • 2001 census: 840
  • 2006 census: 1,152
  • 2013 census: 1,353
  • 2018 census: 1,941
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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Russians, Ukrainians and Baltic peoples – Facts and figures, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/russians-ukrainians-and-baltic-peoples/page-3 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2024.