Quick facts
Bratislava overview
Bratislava (orange) and the other large cities of Slovakia
Bratislava lies in Bratislava Region in Slovakia at 48.15°N, 17.11°E, about 157 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Bratislava (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Slovakia: the next largest cities are Košice (225,044), Nitra (86,329), Prešov (82,927). Together, the three largest cities hold 13.5% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Trnava, about 44 km away, followed by Nitra (75 km).
Slovakia as a whole has a live population of 5,449,639 (-0.2% a year) and ranks #123 of 238 countries — see the Slovakia population page for the full statistics and the Slovakia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Bratislava
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Trnava Trnava Region | 44 km | 62,806 |
| Nitra Nitra Region | 75 km | 86,329 |
| Komárno Nitra Region | 87 km | 32,287 |
| Trenčín Trenčín Region | 108 km | 58,278 |
| Banská Bystrica Banská Bystrica Region | 164 km | 74,590 |
| Žilina Žilina Region | 169 km | 81,219 |
Largest cities in Slovakia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BratislavaCapital | Bratislava Region | 423,737 |
| 2 | Košice | Košice Region | 225,044 |
| 3 | Nitra | Nitra Region | 86,329 |
| 4 | Prešov | Prešov Region | 82,927 |
| 5 | Žilina | Žilina Region | 81,219 |
| 6 | Banská Bystrica | Banská Bystrica Region | 74,590 |
| 7 | Trnava | Trnava Region | 62,806 |
| 8 | Trenčín | Trenčín Region | 58,278 |
| 9 | Poprad | Prešov Region | 49,091 |
| 10 | Komárno | Nitra Region | 32,287 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bratislava?
Bratislava has about 423,737 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Bratislava the capital of Slovakia?
Yes — Bratislava is the national capital of Slovakia.
How big is Bratislava compared with the rest of Slovakia?
Its 423,737 residents are 7.8% of the 5,449,639 people living in Slovakia today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Bratislava?
In Bratislava Region, Slovakia, at latitude 48.15 and longitude 17.11, 157 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Trnava (44 km), Nitra (75 km), Komárno (87 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Bratislava Population 2026 — Slovakia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/slovakia/bratislava/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/slovakia/bratislava/">Bratislava Population 2026 — Slovakia</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.