Auckland vs Canberra

Auckland leads Canberra by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 72 to 71. Auckland grades better on 7 measures, Canberra on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Auckland 72, Canberra 71
• OECD: Auckland 69, Canberra 73
• UN Tourism: Auckland 71, Canberra 73
• UNDRR: Auckland 62, Canberra 69

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Auckland 54, Canberra 75
• Economy and jobs: Auckland 75, Canberra 100
• Climate and hazards: Auckland 70, Canberra 75
• Water and environment: Auckland 69, Canberra 75
• Community and housing: Auckland 94, Canberra 50
• Access and continuity: Auckland 75, Canberra 67

Where Auckland is stronger

• Country disaster risk: 1.6 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 141 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Auckland Council, Waste Minimisation and Management Plan 2024, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 4.1 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Auckland Council / Auckland Economic Monitor & Stats NZ, YE March 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: -1 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (Infometrics / MBIE Tenancy Bond Database, Regional Economic Profile, Year to March 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 0.9 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (region figure) (AirDNA & Stats NZ 2023 Census, August 2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (Auckland Airport, KiwiRail Great Journeys NZ, Ports of Auckland, Waka Kotahi NZTA, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Regional Tourism New Zealand & Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, 2024). Grade 2/4.

Where Canberra is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 14 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (ACT Government / VisitCanberra (Tourism Research Australia International Visitor Survey), YE March 2023). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 95 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (ACT Government / Tourism Research Australia, 2023). Between 90 and 100: grade 2/4.
• Average length of stay: 2.5 nights per visitor (region figure) (ACT Government (Canberra.com.au / VisitCanberra), 2024). Between 2.2 and 2.8: grade 2/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 5.7 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 2.6 % of the labour force (region figure) (CRJO / economy.id (compiled from ABS Labour Force Survey & Small Area Labour Markets), Q1 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 71,934 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Economic diversity: 80.2 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (region figure) (id.community / Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Canberra Region Joint Organisation (CRJO) Industry Sector of Employment, 2024). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 96 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Annual Report 2024–25, 2023–24). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 21.8 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services - Tree canopy cover, 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• New Zealand: #25 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Australia: #4 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Auckland in full · Canberra in full

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