Quick facts
Houston overview
Houston (orange) and the other large cities of United States
Houston lies in Texas in United States at 29.76°N, 95.36°W, about 12 m above sea level. The local time zone is America/Chicago (UTC-5); GeoNames classifies it as a district seat.
It is smaller than Chicago (2,664,452) and larger than Phoenix (1,650,070). The largest city in United States is New York City with 8,804,190 people; the capital, Washington, has 689,545.
The national capital, Washington, is about 1,960 km away; the nearest large city is Pasadena, 17 km from Houston.
United States as a whole has a live population of 349,544,454 (+0.5% a year) and ranks #3 of 238 countries — see the United States population page for the full statistics and the United States atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Houston
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pasadena Texas | 17 km | 153,784 |
| Pearland Texas | 23 km | 108,821 |
| Cypress Texas | 40 km | 200,839 |
| Beaumont Texas | 127 km | 115,282 |
| College Station Texas | 134 km | 107,889 |
Largest cities in United States
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City | New York | 8,804,190 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | California | 3,820,914 |
| 3 | Chicago | Illinois | 2,664,452 |
| 4 | Houston | Texas | 2,314,157 |
| 5 | Phoenix | Arizona | 1,650,070 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 1,573,916 |
| 7 | San Antonio | Texas | 1,526,656 |
| 8 | San Diego | California | 1,404,452 |
| 9 | Dallas | Texas | 1,326,087 |
| 10 | Jacksonville | Florida | 1,009,833 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Houston?
Houston has about 2,314,157 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Houston the capital of United States?
No. The capital of United States is Washington (689,545 people), about 1,960 km away. Houston is the 4th largest city of the country and a district seat.
How big is Houston compared with the rest of United States?
Its 2,314,157 residents are 0.7% of the 349,544,454 people living in United States today. New York City is larger with 8,804,190 people.
Where is Houston?
In Texas, United States, at latitude 29.76 and longitude -95.36, 12 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Pasadena (17 km), Pearland (23 km), Cypress (40 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Houston Population 2026 — United States. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/united-states/houston/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/united-states/houston/">Houston Population 2026 — United States</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.