Quick facts
Kaech’ŏn overview
Kaech’ŏn (orange) and the other large cities of North Korea
Kaech’ŏn lies in South Pyongan in North Korea at 39.7°N, 125.89°E, about 35 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Pyongyang (UTC+9).
It is smaller than Chongjin (327,000) and larger than Sariwŏn-si (310,100). 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 75 km away; the nearest large city is Sunch’ŏn, 30 km from Kaech’ŏn.
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 Kaech’ŏn
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 Kaech’ŏn?
Kaech’ŏn has about 319,554 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Kaech’ŏn the capital of North Korea?
No. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang (3,222,000 people), about 75 km away. Kaech’ŏn is the 9th largest city of the country.
How big is Kaech’ŏn compared with the rest of North Korea?
Its 319,554 residents are 1.2% of the 26,652,404 people living in North Korea today. Pyongyang is larger with 3,222,000 people.
Where is Kaech’ŏn?
In South Pyongan, North Korea, at latitude 39.7 and longitude 125.89, 35 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Sunch’ŏn (30 km), Tŏkch’ŏn (32 km), Paek'ak (36 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Kaech’ŏn Population 2026 — North Korea. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/kaech-on/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/kaech-on/">Kaech’ŏn 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.