Quick facts
Kathmandu overview
Kathmandu (orange) and the other large cities of Nepal
Kathmandu lies in Bagmati Province in Nepal at 27.7°N, 85.32°E, about 1,317 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Kathmandu (UTC+5:45); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Nepal: the next largest cities are Pokhara (600,051), Bharatpur (369,377), Pātan (299,283). Together, the three largest cities hold 8.1% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Pātan, about 3 km away, followed by Ki̇̄rtipur (5 km).
Nepal as a whole has a live population of 29,642,067 (+0.1% a year) and ranks #52 of 238 countries — see the Nepal population page for the full statistics and the Nepal atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Kathmandu
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pātan Bagmati Province | 3 km | 299,283 |
| Ki̇̄rtipur Bagmati Province | 5 km | 44,632 |
| Madhyapur Thimi Bagmati Province | 7 km | 119,955 |
| Banepā Bagmati Province | 21 km | 67,629 |
| Panauti Bagmati Province | 24 km | 46,595 |
| Chautārā Bagmati Province | 39 km | 51,347 |
| Hetauda Bagmati Province | 42 km | 195,951 |
| Chari̇̄koṭ Bagmati Province | 72 km | 40,000 |
Largest cities in Nepal
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KathmanduCapital | Bagmati Province | 1,442,271 |
| 2 | Pokhara | Gandaki Pradesh | 600,051 |
| 3 | Bharatpur | Bagmati Province | 369,377 |
| 4 | Pātan | Bagmati Province | 299,283 |
| 5 | Birgañj | Madhesh | 268,273 |
| 6 | Biratnagar | Koshi | 244,750 |
| 7 | Dhangaḍhi̇̄ | Sudurpashchim Pradesh | 204,788 |
| 8 | Hetauda | Bagmati Province | 195,951 |
| 9 | Janakpur | Madhesh | 195,438 |
| 10 | Butwāl | Lumbini Province | 195,054 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has about 1,442,271 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Kathmandu the capital of Nepal?
Yes — Kathmandu is the national capital of Nepal.
How big is Kathmandu compared with the rest of Nepal?
Its 1,442,271 residents are 4.9% of the 29,642,067 people living in Nepal today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Kathmandu?
In Bagmati Province, Nepal, at latitude 27.7 and longitude 85.32, 1,317 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Pātan (3 km), Ki̇̄rtipur (5 km), Madhyapur Thimi (7 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Kathmandu Population 2026 — Nepal. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/nepal/kathmandu/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/nepal/kathmandu/">Kathmandu Population 2026 — Nepal</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.