Mazār-e Sharīf Population 2026
Mazār-e Sharīf has a population of 523,300, making it the #3 biggest city in 🇦🇫 Afghanistan, located in Balkh. Roughly 1.2% of Afghanistan's population lives here. It is about 8.5× smaller than Kabul, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
523,300
Rank in Afghanistan
#3
Coordinates
36.71°N, 67.11°E
~361 m elevation · Asia/Kabul
Distance to capital (Kabul)
306 km
190 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Balkh
Cities near Mazār-e Sharīf
- Balkh114,883 people · ~20 km away
- Khulm64,933 people · ~52 km away
- Aībak47,823 people · ~95 km away
- Sang-e Chārak15,377 people · ~113 km away
- Sar-e Pul52,121 people · ~119 km away
- Shibirghān55,641 people · ~121 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Mazār-e Sharīf?
Mazār-e Sharīf has a population of 523,300 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #3 biggest city in Afghanistan.
What region is Mazār-e Sharīf in?
Mazār-e Sharīf is located in Balkh, Afghanistan.
Is Mazār-e Sharīf the capital of Afghanistan?
No, the capital of Afghanistan is Kabul, about 306 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
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