Clinton is a small town in South Otago, in New Zealand's South Island. Handy to the Catlins, Dunedin, Lawrence, Central Otago and Tapanui. It is located on State Highway 1 approximately halfway between Balclutha and Gore (the section of State Highway 1 between Clinton and Gore is known as "The Presidential Highway", after Bill Clinton and Al Gore, though the names are a coincidence), and the Main South Line railway passes through the town.

Clinton was named for Henry Pelham-Clinton, 5th Duke of Newcastle, former British Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Clinton town is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.72 km² (0.28 sq mi),^[1] and had an estimated population of 310 as of June 2023,^[3] with a population density of 431 people per km². It is part of the much larger Clinton statistical area.

Clinton had a population of 288 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (1.1%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 3 people (−1.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 117 households, comprising 147 males and 141 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female, with 48 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 51 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 120 (41.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 63 (21.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.3% European/Pākehā, 26.0% Māori, 2.1% Asian, and 4.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.2% had no religion, 32.3% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 1.0% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (6.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 93 (38.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 6 people (2.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 99 (41.2%) people were employed full-time, 42 (17.5%) were part-time, and 12 (5.0%) were unemployed.^[4]

Clinton School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[7][8] with a roll of 68 as of February 2024.^[9] The school was established in 1874.^[10]

Clinton railway station opened on 1 November 1877 and closed for passengers on 1 December 1970 and for goods in October 1990.^[11] It was 6.51 km (4.05 mi) east of Wairuna,^[12] 9.75 km (6.06 mi) west of Waiwera, 73 mi 18 ch (117.8 km) from Dunedin and 65 mi 43 ch (105.5 km) from Invercargill. The 4th class station^[13] had a refreshment room from 1880,^[14] which, included a bar^[15] and, like most rooms, had its marked crockery.^[16] The station and refreshment room burnt down in 1900,^[17] but was quickly rebuilt.^[18] The engine shed burnt down in 1921 and the station was again damaged by fire in 1982. The turntable was lengthened in 1939 and removed in 1969.^[13] In 1931 the station still had a refreshment room^[19] and employed a stationmaster and two clerks.^[20]