Quick facts
Hŭngnam overview
Hŭngnam (orange) and the other large cities of North Korea
Hŭngnam lies in South Hamgyong in North Korea at 39.84°N, 127.63°E, about 3 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Pyongyang (UTC+9).
It is smaller than Sunch’ŏn (437,000) and larger than Kaesŏng (338,155). The largest city in North Korea is Pyongyang with 3,222,000 people; the capital, Pyongyang, has 3,222,000.
The national capital, Pyongyang, is about 185 km away; the nearest large city is Hamhŭng, 12 km from Hŭngnam.
North Korea as a whole has a live population of 26,652,404 (+0.2% a year) and ranks #56 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 Hŭngnam
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 Hŭngnam?
Hŭngnam has about 346,082 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Hŭngnam the capital of North Korea?
No. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang (3,222,000 people), about 185 km away. Hŭngnam is the 5th largest city of the country.
How big is Hŭngnam compared with the rest of North Korea?
Its 346,082 residents are 1.3% of the 26,652,404 people living in North Korea today. Pyongyang is larger with 3,222,000 people.
Where is Hŭngnam?
In South Hamgyong, North Korea, at latitude 39.84 and longitude 127.63, 3 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Hamhŭng (12 km), Sinp’o (53 km), Wŏnsan (78 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Hŭngnam Population 2026 — North Korea. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/hungnam/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/hungnam/">Hŭngnam 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 2026-10-20. More about our data.