Quick facts
Pyongyang overview
Pyongyang (orange) and the other large cities of North Korea
Pyongyang lies in North Korea at 39.03°N, 125.75°E, about 43 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Pyongyang (UTC+9); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of North Korea: the next largest cities are Hamhŭng (559,056), Namp’o (455,000), Sunch’ŏn (437,000). Together, the three largest cities hold 15.9% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Kangsŏn, about 18 km away, followed by P’yŏngsŏng (26 km).
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 Pyongyang
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Kangsŏn South Pyongan | 18 km | 102,436 |
| P’yŏngsŏng South Pyongan | 26 km | 100,000 |
| Songnim-ni North Hwanghae | 32 km | 152,425 |
| Namp’o Nampo | 45 km | 455,000 |
| Sunch’ŏn South Pyongan | 47 km | 437,000 |
| Paek'ak South Pyongan | 49 km | 125,924 |
| Chaeryŏng-ni South Pyongan | 56 km | 125,631 |
| Sariwŏn-si North Hwanghae | 59 km | 310,100 |
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 Pyongyang?
Pyongyang has about 3,222,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Pyongyang the capital of North Korea?
Yes — Pyongyang is the national capital of North Korea.
How big is Pyongyang compared with the rest of North Korea?
Its 3,222,000 residents are 12.1% of the 26,652,404 people living in North Korea today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Pyongyang?
In North Korea, at latitude 39.03 and longitude 125.75, 43 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Kangsŏn (18 km), P’yŏngsŏng (26 km), Songnim-ni (32 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Pyongyang Population 2026 — North Korea. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/pyongyang/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/pyongyang/">Pyongyang 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.