Invercargill Central is the central business district and central suburb of Invercargill, in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand.

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Invercargill Central
Suburb
Downtown Invercargill
Coordinates: 46.412970°S 168.347416°E / -46.412970; 168.347416
Country	New Zealand
City	Invercargill
Local authority	Invercargill City Council
Area [1]
• Land	396 ha (979 acres)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Total	1,510
Airports	Invercargill Airport
Hospitals	Southern Cross Hospital Invercargill

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West Plains	Avenal	Windsor
Invercargill Airport	Invercargill Central	Richmond
(New River Estuary)	Kew	Appleby

It has an estimated population of 1,510 as of June 2023.^[2] Invercargill Central is the only area in Southland to contain commercial high rise buildings, which are the most southerly tall buildings in the world.^[3]

Invercargill Central statistical area covers 9.18 km² (3.54 sq mi), but this includes Invercargill Airport, which has an area of 5.22 km² (2.02 sq mi) but no resident population, so the populated part of Invercargill Central covers 3.96 km² (1.53 sq mi)^[1] This part had an estimated population of 1,510 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 381 people per km².

Invercargill Central had a population of 1,365 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 240 people (21.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 210 people (18.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 462 households, comprising 777 males and 591 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.31 males per female. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 126 people (9.2%) aged under 15 years, 420 (30.8%) aged 15 to 29, 627 (45.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 195 (14.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 60.9% European/Pākehā, 14.7% Māori, 2.6% Pasifika, 27.5% Asian, and 4.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 36.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 41.3% had no religion, 36.7% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 5.3% were Hindu, 2.9% were Muslim, 2.4% were Buddhist and 4.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 285 (23.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 231 (18.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $16,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 84 people (6.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 396 (32.0%) people were employed full-time, 216 (17.4%) were part-time, and 114 (9.2%) were unemployed.^[4]

Invercargill Middle School is a state contributing primary school for years 1 to 6^[5] with a roll of 138 students as of February 2024.^[6] The school opened in 1873 as Invercargill Grammar School, became Invercargill District High School and then Invercargill Central School, and adopted the current name in 1885.^[7]

St Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic school for year 1 to 8^[8] with a roll of 150 students. The school has a continuous history from 1882 and traces its origins to the late 1860s.^[9]

The Southern Institute of Technology's three Invercargill campuses are located in Invercargill Central.^[10]