Quick facts
Samarkand overview
Samarkand (orange) and the other large cities of Uzbekistan
Samarkand lies in Samarqand Region in Uzbekistan at 39.65°N, 66.96°E, about 703 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Samarkand (UTC+5); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Namangan (713,220) and larger than Nukus (332,500). The largest city in Uzbekistan is Tashkent with 1,978,028 people; the capital, Tashkent, has 1,978,028.
The national capital, Tashkent, is about 261 km away; the nearest large city is Urgut Shahri, 37 km from Samarkand.
Uzbekistan as a whole has a live population of 37,918,208 (+1.8% a year) and ranks #43 of 238 countries — see the Uzbekistan population page for the full statistics and the Uzbekistan atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Samarkand
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Urgut Shahri Samarqand Region | 37 km | 65,300 |
| Kattaqo’rg’on Shahri Samarqand Region | 66 km | 90,600 |
| Shahrisabz Qashqadaryo | 67 km | 142,700 |
| Jizzax Jizzakh Region | 91 km | 179,200 |
| Qarshi Qashqadaryo | 134 km | 278,300 |
| Koson Qashqadaryo | 137 km | 68,900 |
| Navoiy Navoiy Region | 143 km | 144,158 |
| Denov Surxondaryo Region | 174 km | 78,300 |
Largest cities in Uzbekistan
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Samarkand?
Samarkand has about 595,200 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Samarkand the capital of Uzbekistan?
No. The capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent (1,978,028 people), about 261 km away. Samarkand is the 4th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Samarkand compared with the rest of Uzbekistan?
Its 595,200 residents are 1.6% of the 37,918,208 people living in Uzbekistan today. Tashkent is larger with 1,978,028 people.
Where is Samarkand?
In Samarqand Region, Uzbekistan, at latitude 39.65 and longitude 66.96, 703 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Urgut Shahri (37 km), Kattaqo’rg’on Shahri (66 km), Shahrisabz (67 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Samarkand Population 2026 — Uzbekistan. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/uzbekistan/samarkand/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/uzbekistan/samarkand/">Samarkand Population 2026 — Uzbekistan</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.