Polotsk Population 2026

Polotsk has a population of 79,579, making it the #17 biggest city in 🇧🇾 Belarus, located in Vitebsk. Roughly 0.9% of Belarus's population lives here. It is about 22× smaller than Minsk, the country's biggest city.

Location of Polotsk (capital Minsk shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

79,579

Rank in Belarus

#17

Coordinates

55.49°N, 28.79°E

~126 m elevation · Europe/Minsk

Distance to capital (Minsk)

193 km

120 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Vitebsk

City	Population	Rank in Belarus
Vitebsk	358,395	#4
Orsha	102,759	#13
Novopolotsk	95,717	#15
Pastavy	18,618	#41
Hlybokaye	17,746	#44
Lyepyel’	17,400	#47

Cities near Polotsk

Novopolotsk95,717 people · ~13 km away
Lyepyel’17,400 people · ~68 km away
Hlybokaye17,746 people · ~79 km away
Vitebsk358,395 people · ~96 km away
Pastavy18,618 people · ~130 km away
Barysaw135,696 people · ~141 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Polotsk?

Polotsk has a population of 79,579 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #17 biggest city in Belarus.

What region is Polotsk in?

Polotsk is located in Vitebsk, Belarus.

Is Polotsk the capital of Belarus?

No, the capital of Belarus is Minsk, about 193 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.

← All biggest cities in Belarus · Belarus population by year