Levin (/ləˈvɪn/; Māori: Taitoko) is the largest town and seat of the Horowhenua District, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located east of Lake Horowhenua, around 95 km north of Wellington and 50 km southwest of Palmerston North.

The town has a population of 19,800 (June 2023),^[2] making it the 30th largest urban area in New Zealand, and third largest in Manawatū-Whanganui behind Palmerston North and Whanganui.

Levin is a service centre for the surrounding rural area, and a centre for light manufacturing.

To the west of the main town lies Lake Horowhenua, which covers some 3.9 sq/km. It is currently undergoing regeneration.

Levin is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a medium urban area and covers 22.91 km² (8.85 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 19,800 as of June 2023, with a population density of 864 people per km².

Before the 2023 census, Levin had a smaller boundary, covering 22.43 km² (8.66 sq mi).^[1] Using that boundary, Levin had a population of 17,679 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,422 people (8.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,707 people (10.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 7,062 households, comprising 8,346 males and 9,324 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female, with 3,336 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 2,988 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 6,651 (37.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 4,698 (26.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 77.0% European/Pākehā, 25.4% Māori, 8.4% Pasifika, 5.2% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.6% had no religion, 39.4% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,293 (9.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 4,332 (30.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 897 people (6.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 5,277 (36.8%) people were employed full-time, 1,719 (12.0%) were part-time, and 768 (5.4%) were unemployed.^[8]

Levin lies on State Highway 1, which forms the town's main street, Oxford Street. State Highway 57 forms the eastern boundary of the town, and meets State Highway 1 between Levin and the Ohau River, Wellington.

Levin is on the North Island Main Trunk with a station used by the Capital Connection long distance commuter train between Wellington and Palmerston North.^[21] It is also served by 8 InterCity buses a day each way.^[22]

Buses run for shoppers to Waikanae on Tuesdays and Thursdays^[23] and on Fridays to Shannon, Foxton Beach, Foxton and Waitarere Beach.^{[24][dead link]} A commuter bus runs via Foxton to Palmerston North.^[23]

There are nine schools in the Levin urban area:^[25]

• Fairfield School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately 343.
• Horowhenua College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school. It opened in 1940 and has a roll of approximately 835.
• 'Levin East School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately 331.
• Levin Intermediate is a state intermediate (Year 7–8) school with a roll of approximately 307.
• Levin North School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately 192.
• Levin School is a state contributing primary (Year 1–6) school with a roll of approximately 217.
• St Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately 152.
• Taitoko School is a state full primary (Year 1–8) school with a roll of approximately 205.
• Waiopehu College is a state secondary (Year 9–13) school. It opened in 1973 and has a roll of approximately 617.

• Jack Afamasaga – rugby league player
• Sir Paul Beresford – British politician
• Suzy Clarkson – newsreader
• Kay Cohen – fashion designer
• Joy Cowley – novelist
• Jaxon Evans – racing driver
• Cathryn Finlayson – hockey player
• Rebecca Gibney – actress
• Nathan Guy – politician
• Nicky Hager – author
• Darren Hughes – politician
• Dean Kent – Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer
• Doug Kidd – politician
• David Lomax – rugby league player
• Johnny Lomax – rugby league player
• Matthew Saunoa – New Zealand Idol winner 2006
• George Silk – photographer, LIFE magazine
• Carlos Spencer – rugby union player
• Richard Sylvan – philosopher and logician
• James Tamou – rugby league player
• Codie Taylor – rugby union player
• Roger Twose – cricketer
• Sonny Whakarau – rugby league player