Statistics New Zealand describes Whirinaki as a rural settlement, which covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the larger
Puketapu-Eskdale statistical area. Whirinaki had a population of 462 in the
2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 75 people (19.4%) since the
2018 census, and an increase of 123 people (36.3%) since the
2013 census. There were 222 males and 243 females in 156 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as
LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 72 people (15.6%) aged under 15 years, 60 (13.0%) aged 15 to 29, 231 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 99 (21.4%) aged 65 or older. ==Notes==