Pareora is described as a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand, and covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger
Fairview statistical area. Pareora had a population of 465 at the
2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (7.6%) since the
2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (4.0%) since the
2006 census. There were 180 households, comprising 240 males and 222 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female, with 105 people (22.6%) aged under 15 years, 87 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 219 (47.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 51 (11.0%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 86.5% European/
Pākehā, 16.8%
Māori, 5.2%
Pasifika, 1.3%
Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.0% had no religion, 24.5% were
Christian, 1.3% had
Māori religious beliefs and 1.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (4.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 138 (38.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 12 people (3.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 189 (52.5%) people were employed full-time, 45 (12.5%) were part-time, and 18 (5.0%) were unemployed. ==Education==