Quick facts
Thessaloníki overview
Thessaloníki (orange) and the other large cities of Greece
Thessaloníki lies in Central Macedonia in Greece at 40.64°N, 22.93°E, about 9,999 m below sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Athens (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Athens (664,046) and larger than Pátra (168,034). The largest city in Greece is Athens with 664,046 people; the capital, Athens, has 664,046.
The national capital, Athens, is about 303 km away; the nearest large city is Évosmos, 4 km from Thessaloníki.
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 Thessaloníki
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Évosmos Central Macedonia | 4 km | 74,686 |
| Kalamariá Central Macedonia | 7 km | 91,518 |
| Lárisa Thessaly | 121 km | 146,926 |
| Volos Thessaly | 141 km | 86,048 |
| Tríkala Thessaly | 156 km | 61,653 |
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 Thessaloníki?
Thessaloníki has about 317,778 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Thessaloníki the capital of Greece?
No. The capital of Greece is Athens (664,046 people), about 303 km away. Thessaloníki is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Thessaloníki compared with the rest of Greece?
Its 317,778 residents are 3.2% of the 9,885,247 people living in Greece today. Athens is larger with 664,046 people.
Where is Thessaloníki?
In Central Macedonia, Greece, at latitude 40.64 and longitude 22.93, 9,999 m below sea level. Nearby large cities include Évosmos (4 km), Kalamariá (7 km), Lárisa (121 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Thessaloníki Population 2026 — Greece. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/greece/thessaloniki/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/greece/thessaloniki/">Thessaloníki 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.