Quick facts
Athens overview
Athens (orange) and the other large cities of Greece
Athens lies in Attica in Greece at 37.98°N, 23.73°E, about 70 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Athens (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Greece: the next largest cities are Thessaloníki (317,778), Pátra (168,034), Piraeus (163,688). Together, the three largest cities hold 11.6% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Výronas, about 3 km away, followed by Zográfos (4 km).
Greece as a whole has a live population of 9,885,247 (-0.4% a year) and ranks #95 of 238 countries — see the Greece population page for the full statistics and the Greece atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Athens
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Výronas Attica | 3 km | 61,308 |
| Zográfos Attica | 4 km | 71,026 |
| Aigáleo Attica | 4 km | 69,946 |
| Néa Smýrni Attica | 4 km | 73,076 |
| Kallithéa Attica | 4 km | 100,641 |
| Peristéri Attica | 5 km | 139,981 |
| Agios Dimitrios Attica | 6 km | 71,294 |
| Ílion Attica | 6 km | 84,793 |
Largest cities in Greece
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AthensCapital | Attica | 664,046 |
| 2 | Thessaloníki | Central Macedonia | 317,778 |
| 3 | Pátra | West Greece | 168,034 |
| 4 | Piraeus | Attica | 163,688 |
| 5 | Lárisa | Thessaly | 146,926 |
| 6 | Peristéri | Attica | 139,981 |
| 7 | Irákleion | Crete | 137,154 |
| 8 | Kallithéa | Attica | 100,641 |
| 9 | Acharnés | Attica | 99,346 |
| 10 | Kalamariá | Central Macedonia | 91,518 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Athens?
Athens has about 664,046 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Athens the capital of Greece?
Yes — Athens is the national capital of Greece.
How big is Athens compared with the rest of Greece?
Its 664,046 residents are 6.7% of the 9,885,247 people living in Greece today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Athens?
In Attica, Greece, at latitude 37.98 and longitude 23.73, 70 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Výronas (3 km), Zográfos (4 km), Aigáleo (4 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Athens Population 2026 — Greece. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/greece/athens/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/greece/athens/">Athens Population 2026 — Greece</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.