The statistical area of Charleston (Buller District), which at 1017 square kilometres is much larger than the village, had a population of 522 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 135 people (-20.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6 people (1.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 225 households. There were 264 males and 258 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 48.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 75 people (14.4%) aged under 15 years, 69 (13.2%) aged 15 to 29, 288 (55.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 93 (17.8%) aged 65 or older.