Quick facts
Pokhara overview
Pokhara (orange) and the other large cities of Nepal
Pokhara lies in Gandaki Pradesh in Nepal at 28.27°N, 83.97°E, about 1,008 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Kathmandu (UTC+5:45); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Kathmandu (1,442,271) and larger than Bharatpur (369,377). The largest city in Nepal is Kathmandu with 1,442,271 people; the capital, Kathmandu, has 1,442,271.
The national capital, Kathmandu, is about 147 km away; the nearest large city is Bharatpur, 80 km from Pokhara.
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 Pokhara
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatpur Bagmati Province | 80 km | 369,377 |
| Butwāl Lumbini Province | 82 km | 195,054 |
| Siddharthanagar Lumbini Province | 99 km | 63,367 |
| Hetauda Bagmati Province | 140 km | 195,951 |
| Ki̇̄rtipur Bagmati Province | 144 km | 44,632 |
| KathmanduCapital Bagmati Province | 147 km | 1,442,271 |
| Pātan Bagmati Province | 148 km | 299,283 |
| Madhyapur Thimi Bagmati Province | 154 km | 119,955 |
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 Pokhara?
Pokhara has about 600,051 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Pokhara the capital of Nepal?
No. The capital of Nepal is Kathmandu (1,442,271 people), about 147 km away. Pokhara is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Pokhara compared with the rest of Nepal?
Its 600,051 residents are 2% of the 29,642,067 people living in Nepal today. Kathmandu is larger with 1,442,271 people.
Where is Pokhara?
In Gandaki Pradesh, Nepal, at latitude 28.27 and longitude 83.97, 1,008 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Bharatpur (80 km), Butwāl (82 km), Siddharthanagar (99 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Pokhara Population 2026 — Nepal. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/nepal/pokhara/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/nepal/pokhara/">Pokhara 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.