Wakefield Rural had a population of 1,248 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 75 people (6.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 72 people (6.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 465 households. There were 654 males and 594 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 47.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 213 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 186 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 648 (51.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 198 (15.9%) aged 65 or older.
