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Nizhniy Novgorod overview
Nizhniy Novgorod (orange) and the other large cities of Russia
Nizhniy Novgorod lies in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast in Russia at 56.33°N, 44°E, about 141 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Moscow (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Yekaterinburg (1,495,066) and larger than Kazan (1,243,500). The largest city in Russia is Moscow with 10,381,222 people; the capital, Moscow, has 10,381,222.
The national capital, Moscow, is about 402 km away; the nearest large city is Dzerzhinsk, 35 km from Nizhniy Novgorod.
Russia as a whole has a live population of 143,296,039 (-0.2% a year) and ranks #9 of 238 countries — see the Russia population page for the full statistics and the Russia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Nizhniy Novgorod
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Dzerzhinsk Nizhny Novgorod Oblast | 35 km | 233,126 |
| Arzamas Nizhny Novgorod Oblast | 104 km | 109,479 |
| Murom Vladimir Oblast | 149 km | 126,931 |
| Kovrov Vladimir Oblast | 165 km | 154,224 |
| Ivanovo Ivanovo Oblast | 200 km | 406,113 |
Largest cities in Russia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MoscowCapital | Moscow | 10,381,222 |
| 2 | Saint Petersburg | St. Petersburg | 5,351,935 |
| 3 | Novosibirsk | Novosibirsk Oblast | 1,612,833 |
| 4 | Yekaterinburg | Sverdlovsk Oblast | 1,495,066 |
| 5 | Nizhniy Novgorod | Nizhny Novgorod Oblast | 1,259,013 |
| 6 | Kazan | Tatarstan Republic | 1,243,500 |
| 7 | Chelyabinsk | Chelyabinsk | 1,202,371 |
| 8 | Omsk | Omsk Oblast | 1,172,070 |
| 9 | Samara | Samara Oblast | 1,163,399 |
| 10 | Rostov-on-Don | Rostov | 1,130,305 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nizhniy Novgorod?
Nizhniy Novgorod has about 1,259,013 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Nizhniy Novgorod the capital of Russia?
No. The capital of Russia is Moscow (10,381,222 people), about 402 km away. Nizhniy Novgorod is the 5th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Nizhniy Novgorod compared with the rest of Russia?
Its 1,259,013 residents are 0.9% of the 143,296,039 people living in Russia today. Moscow is larger with 10,381,222 people.
Where is Nizhniy Novgorod?
In Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, at latitude 56.33 and longitude 44, 141 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Dzerzhinsk (35 km), Arzamas (104 km), Murom (149 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Nizhniy Novgorod Population 2026 — Russia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/russia/nizhniy-novgorod/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/russia/nizhniy-novgorod/">Nizhniy Novgorod Population 2026 — Russia</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.