Quick facts
Bissau overview
Bissau (orange) and the other large cities of Guinea-Bissau
Bissau lies in Guinea-Bissau at 11.86°N, 15.60°W, about 13 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Bissau (UTC+0); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Guinea-Bissau: the next largest cities are Gabú (49,371), Bafatá (33,502). Together, the three largest cities hold 22.6% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Bafatá, about 107 km away, followed by Gabú (157 km).
Guinea-Bissau as a whole has a live population of 2,312,751 (+2.1% a year) and ranks #148 of 238 countries — see the Guinea-Bissau population page for the full statistics and the Guinea-Bissau atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Bissau
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Bafatá Bafatá | 107 km | 33,502 |
| Gabú Gabú | 157 km | 49,371 |
Largest cities in Guinea-Bissau
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BissauCapital | Bissau | 439,704 |
| 2 | Gabú | Gabú | 49,371 |
| 3 | Bafatá | Bafatá | 33,502 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bissau?
Bissau has about 439,704 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Bissau the capital of Guinea-Bissau?
Yes — Bissau is the national capital of Guinea-Bissau.
How big is Bissau compared with the rest of Guinea-Bissau?
Its 439,704 residents are 19% of the 2,312,751 people living in Guinea-Bissau today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Bissau?
In Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, at latitude 11.8636 and longitude -15.5977, 13 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Bafatá (107 km), Gabú (157 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Bissau Population 2026 — Guinea-Bissau. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/guinea-bissau/bissau/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/guinea-bissau/bissau/">Bissau Population 2026 — Guinea-Bissau</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.