Quick facts
Popayán overview
Popayán (orange) and the other large cities of Colombia
Popayán lies in Cauca Department in Colombia at 2.44°N, 76.61°W, about 1,760 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Bogota (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Villavicencio (321,717) and larger than Palmira (312,519). 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 370 km away; the nearest large city is Pitalito, 90 km from Popayán.
Colombia as a whole has a live population of 54,084,421 (+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 Popayán
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pitalito Huila Department | 90 km | 135,711 |
| Cali Valle del Cauca Department | 111 km | 2,392,877 |
| Palmira Valle del Cauca Department | 127 km | 312,519 |
| Buenaventura Valle del Cauca Department | 134 km | 432,385 |
| Florencia Caquetá | 145 km | 168,346 |
| Pasto Nariño | 155 km | 392,930 |
| Neiva Huila Department | 158 km | 357,392 |
| Guadalajara de Buga Valle del Cauca Department | 166 km | 114,316 |
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 Popayán?
Popayán has about 318,059 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Popayán the capital of Colombia?
No. The capital of Colombia is Bogotá (7,674,366 people), about 370 km away. Popayán is the 21st largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Popayán compared with the rest of Colombia?
Its 318,059 residents are 0.6% of the 54,084,421 people living in Colombia today. Bogotá is larger with 7,674,366 people.
Where is Popayán?
In Cauca Department, Colombia, at latitude 2.44 and longitude -76.61, 1,760 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Pitalito (90 km), Cali (111 km), Palmira (127 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Popayán Population 2026 — Colombia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/popayan/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/colombia/popayan/">Popayán 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 2026-10-20. More about our data.