Quick facts
Daegu overview
Daegu (orange) and the other large cities of South Korea
Daegu lies in South Korea at 35.87°N, 128.59°E, about 45 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Seoul (UTC+9); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Incheon (3,015,482) and larger than Daejeon (1,441,203). The largest city in South Korea is Seoul with 10,349,312 people; the capital, Seoul, has 10,349,312.
The national capital, Seoul, is about 237 km away; the nearest large city is Gyeongsan-si, 14 km from Daegu.
South Korea as a whole has a live population of 51,579,911 (-0.1% a year) and ranks #31 of 238 countries — see the South Korea population page for the full statistics and the South Korea atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Daegu
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongsan-si Gyeongsangbuk-do | 14 km | 266,951 |
| Gumi Gyeongsangbuk-do | 35 km | 404,691 |
| Gimcheon Gyeongsangbuk-do | 51 km | 150,000 |
| Gyeongju Gyeongsangbuk-do | 56 km | 245,365 |
| Yangsan Gyeongsangnam-do | 71 km | 358,074 |
| Pohang Gyeongsangbuk-do | 72 km | 492,041 |
| Changwon Gyeongsangnam-do | 72 km | 1,025,702 |
| Sangju Gyeongsangbuk-do | 72 km | 101,267 |
Largest cities in South Korea
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Daegu?
Daegu has about 2,365,523 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Daegu the capital of South Korea?
No. The capital of South Korea is Seoul (10,349,312 people), about 237 km away. Daegu is the 4th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Daegu compared with the rest of South Korea?
Its 2,365,523 residents are 4.6% of the 51,579,911 people living in South Korea today. Seoul is larger with 10,349,312 people.
Where is Daegu?
In South Korea, at latitude 35.87 and longitude 128.59, 45 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Gyeongsan-si (14 km), Gumi (35 km), Gimcheon (51 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Daegu Population 2026 — South Korea. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/south-korea/daegu/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/south-korea/daegu/">Daegu Population 2026 — South 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.