Quick facts
Medellín overview
Medellín (orange) and the other large cities of Colombia
Medellín lies in Antioquia in Colombia at 6.25°N, 75.57°W, about 1,405 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Bogota (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Cali (2,392,877) and larger than Barranquilla (1,206,319). The largest city in Colombia is Bogotá with 7,674,366 people; the capital, Bogotá, has 7,674,366.
The national capital, Bogotá, is about 245 km away; the nearest large city is Itagüí, 7 km from Medellín.
Colombia as a whole has a live population of 54,085,665 (+0.9% a year) and ranks #28 of 238 countries — see the Colombia population page for the full statistics and the Colombia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Medellín
Largest cities in Colombia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BogotáCapital | Bogota D.C. | 7,674,366 |
| 2 | Cali | Valle del Cauca Department | 2,392,877 |
| 3 | Medellín | Antioquia | 1,999,979 |
| 4 | Barranquilla | Atlántico | 1,206,319 |
| 5 | Cartagena | Bolívar | 914,552 |
| 6 | Cúcuta | Norte de Santander Department | 777,106 |
| 7 | Soacha | Cundinamarca | 655,025 |
| 8 | Bucaramanga | Santander Department | 581,130 |
| 9 | Ibagué | Tolima Department | 529,635 |
| 10 | Santa Marta | Magdalena Department | 499,192 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Medellín?
Medellín has about 1,999,979 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Medellín the capital of Colombia?
No. The capital of Colombia is Bogotá (7,674,366 people), about 245 km away. Medellín is the 3rd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Medellín compared with the rest of Colombia?
Its 1,999,979 residents are 3.7% of the 54,085,665 people living in Colombia today. Bogotá is larger with 7,674,366 people.
Where is Medellín?
In Antioquia, Colombia, at latitude 6.25 and longitude -75.57, 1,405 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Itagüí (7 km), Envigado (8 km), Bello (10 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Medellín Population 2026 — Colombia. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/medellin/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/medellin/">Medellín Population 2026 — Colombia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-21. More about our data.