Quick facts
Makassar overview
Makassar (orange) and the other large cities of Indonesia
Makassar lies in South Sulawesi in Indonesia at 5.15°S, 119.43°E, about 6 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Makassar (UTC+8); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Semarang (1,694,740) and larger than South Tangerang (1,429,529). The largest city in Indonesia is Jakarta with 8,540,121 people; the capital, Jakarta, has 8,540,121.
The national capital, Jakarta, is about 1,398 km away; the nearest large city is Watampone, 120 km from Makassar.
Indonesia as a whole has a live population of 288,519,962 (+0.7% a year) and ranks #4 of 238 countries — see the Indonesia population page for the full statistics and the Indonesia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Makassar
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Watampone South Sulawesi | 120 km | 149,336 |
| Parepare South Sulawesi | 128 km | 160,309 |
Largest cities in Indonesia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JakartaCapital | Jakarta | 8,540,121 |
| 2 | Surabaya | East Java | 3,018,022 |
| 3 | Bekasi | West Java | 2,648,272 |
| 4 | Bandung | West Java | 2,528,163 |
| 5 | Medan | North Sumatra | 2,486,283 |
| 6 | Depok | West Java | 2,163,635 |
| 7 | Tangerang | Banten | 1,927,815 |
| 8 | Palembang | South Sumatra | 1,801,367 |
| 9 | Semarang | Central Java | 1,694,740 |
| 10 | Makassar | South Sulawesi | 1,474,393 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Makassar?
Makassar has about 1,474,393 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Makassar the capital of Indonesia?
No. The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta (8,540,121 people), about 1,398 km away. Makassar is the 10th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Makassar compared with the rest of Indonesia?
Its 1,474,393 residents are 0.5% of the 288,519,962 people living in Indonesia today. Jakarta is larger with 8,540,121 people.
Where is Makassar?
In South Sulawesi, Indonesia, at latitude -5.15 and longitude 119.43, 6 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Watampone (120 km), Parepare (128 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Makassar Population 2026 — Indonesia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/indonesia/makassar/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/indonesia/makassar/">Makassar Population 2026 — Indonesia</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.