Quick facts
Chongjin overview
Chongjin (orange) and the other large cities of North Korea
Chongjin lies in North Hamgyong in North Korea at 41.8°N, 129.78°E, about 5 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Pyongyang (UTC+9); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Wŏnsan (329,207) and larger than Kaech’ŏn (319,554). The largest city in North Korea is Pyongyang with 3,222,000 people and is also the capital.
The national capital, Pyongyang, is about 458 km away; the nearest large city is Hwasŏng, 65 km from Chongjin.
North Korea as a whole has a live population of 26,652,658 (+0.2% a year) and ranks #57 of 238 countries — see the North Korea population page for the full statistics and the North Korea atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Chongjin
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Hwasŏng North Hamgyong | 65 km | 99,557 |
| Myŏnggan-dong North Hamgyong | 77 km | 99,557 |
| Longjing Jilin ·  China | 112 km | 117,185 |
| Yanji Jilin · China | 124 km | 326,957 |
| Hyesan Yanggang-do | 140 km | 192,680 |
| Changam-ch’on South Hamgyong | 156 km | 207,299 |
Largest cities in North Korea
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PyongyangCapital | Pyongyang | 3,222,000 |
| 2 | Hamhŭng | South Hamgyong | 559,056 |
| 3 | Namp’o | Nampo | 455,000 |
| 4 | Sunch’ŏn | South Pyongan | 437,000 |
| 5 | Hŭngnam | South Hamgyong | 346,082 |
| 6 | Kaesŏng | Kaesong | 338,155 |
| 7 | Wŏnsan | Kangwŏn-do | 329,207 |
| 8 | Chongjin | North Hamgyong | 327,000 |
| 9 | Kaech’ŏn | South Pyongan | 319,554 |
| 10 | Sariwŏn-si | North Hwanghae | 310,100 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Chongjin?
Chongjin has about 327,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Chongjin the capital of North Korea?
No. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang (3,222,000 people), about 458 km away. Chongjin is the 8th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Chongjin compared with the rest of North Korea?
Its 327,000 residents are 1.2% of the 26,652,658 people living in North Korea today. Pyongyang is larger with 3,222,000 people.
Where is Chongjin?
In North Hamgyong, North Korea, at latitude 41.8 and longitude 129.78, 5 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Hwasŏng (65 km), Myŏnggan-dong (77 km), Longjing (112 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Chongjin Population 2026 — North Korea. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/chongjin/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/chongjin/">Chongjin Population 2026 — North Korea</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 2026-10-21. More about our data.