Quick facts
Kaesŏng overview
Kaesŏng (orange) and the other large cities of North Korea
Kaesŏng lies in Kaesong in North Korea at 37.97°N, 126.55°E, about 42 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Pyongyang (UTC+9); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Hŭngnam (346,082) and larger than Wŏnsan (329,207). 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 137 km away; the nearest large city is Paech’ŏn-ŭp, 22 km from Kaesŏng.
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 Kaesŏng
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Paech’ŏn-ŭp South Hwanghae | 22 km | 159,825 |
| Ch’ŏngdan-ŭp South Hwanghae | 54 km | 142,607 |
| Haeju South Hwanghae | 74 km | 222,396 |
| Sariwŏn-si North Hwanghae | 92 km | 310,100 |
| Kangnyŏng South Hwanghae | 92 km | 106,827 |
| Sinch’ŏn-ŭp South Hwanghae | 103 km | 141,407 |
| Songnim-ni North Hwanghae | 119 km | 152,425 |
| Namp’o Nampo | 131 km | 455,000 |
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 Kaesŏng?
Kaesŏng has about 338,155 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Kaesŏng the capital of North Korea?
No. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang (3,222,000 people), about 137 km away. Kaesŏng is the 6th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Kaesŏng compared with the rest of North Korea?
Its 338,155 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 Kaesŏng?
In Kaesong, North Korea, at latitude 37.97 and longitude 126.55, 42 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Paech’ŏn-ŭp (22 km), Ch’ŏngdan-ŭp (54 km), Haeju (74 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Kaesŏng Population 2026 — North Korea. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/kaesong/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/kaesong/">Kaesŏng 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.