Quick facts
Rostov-on-Don overview
Rostov-on-Don (orange) and the other large cities of Russia
Rostov-on-Don lies in Rostov in Russia at 47.22°N, 39.71°E, about 54 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Moscow (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Samara (1,163,399) and larger than Ufa (1,120,547). 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 960 km away; the nearest large city is Bataysk, 10 km from Rostov-on-Don.
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 Rostov-on-Don
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Bataysk Rostov | 10 km | 109,962 |
| Novocherkassk Rostov | 37 km | 166,974 |
| Taganrog Rostov | 61 km | 279,056 |
| Shakhty Rostov | 67 km | 221,312 |
| Volgodonsk Rostov | 187 km | 167,731 |
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 Rostov-on-Don?
Rostov-on-Don has about 1,130,305 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Rostov-on-Don the capital of Russia?
No. The capital of Russia is Moscow (10,381,222 people), about 960 km away. Rostov-on-Don is the 10th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Rostov-on-Don compared with the rest of Russia?
Its 1,130,305 residents are 0.8% of the 143,296,039 people living in Russia today. Moscow is larger with 10,381,222 people.
Where is Rostov-on-Don?
In Rostov, Russia, at latitude 47.22 and longitude 39.71, 54 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Bataysk (10 km), Novocherkassk (37 km), Taganrog (61 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Rostov-on-Don Population 2026 — Russia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/russia/rostov-on-don/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/russia/rostov-on-don/">Rostov-on-Don 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.