Quick facts
Wŏnsan overview
Wŏnsan (orange) and the other large cities of North Korea
Wŏnsan lies in Kangwŏn-do in North Korea at 39.15°N, 127.44°E, about 7 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Pyongyang (UTC+9); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Kaesŏng (338,155) and larger than Chongjin (327,000). 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 146 km away; the nearest large city is Hŭngnam, 78 km from Wŏnsan.
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 Wŏnsan
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 Wŏnsan?
Wŏnsan has about 329,207 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Wŏnsan the capital of North Korea?
No. The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang (3,222,000 people), about 146 km away. Wŏnsan is the 7th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Wŏnsan compared with the rest of North Korea?
Its 329,207 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 Wŏnsan?
In Kangwŏn-do, North Korea, at latitude 39.15 and longitude 127.44, 7 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Hŭngnam (78 km), Hamhŭng (85 km), Sinp’o (118 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Wŏnsan Population 2026 — North Korea. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/wonsan/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/north-korea/wonsan/">Wŏnsan 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.