autumn can produce heavy rain with high winds. Central parts of the region can receive up to of rainfall annually, while the eastern and western areas can receive up to . Demographics Bay of Plenty Region covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Bay of Plenty Region had a population of 308,499 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 40,758 people (15.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 51,120 people (19.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 110,919 households, comprising 150,366 males and 158,133 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 40.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 64,182 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 53,832 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 133,386 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 57,096 (18.5%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 73.6% European/Pākehā, 29.1% Māori, 3.5% Pacific peoples, 7.2% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.6, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.9% had no religion, 34.6% were Christian, 3.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% were Sikh, 1.1% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 43,086 (17.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 46,263 (18.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 35,295 people (14.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 114,264 (46.8%) people were employed full-time, 37,503 (15.4%) were part-time, and 10,926 (4.5%) were unemployed. The Bay of Plenty is the fifth-most populous region in New Zealand, accounting for % of the national population. The coast is dotted with several sizeable settlements, the largest of which is the conurbation of the city of Tauranga and its neighbour Mount Maunganui in the west. The town of Whakatāne is located in the centre of the coast. Other towns of note include Waihi Beach, Katikati, Maketu, Pukehina Beach and Ōpōtiki. Most of the population along the coast is concentrated in the western and central parts of the shore; the eastern part is sparsely populated hill country. The region has the third-highest regional population density in New Zealand,