Guangzhou Population 2026

Guangzhou has a population of 16,096,724, making it the #4 biggest city in 🇨🇳 China, located in Guangdong. Roughly 1.1% of China's population lives here. It is about 1.5× smaller than Shanghai, the country's biggest city.

Location of Guangzhou (capital Beijing shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

16,096,724

Rank in China

Coordinates

23.12°N, 113.25°E

~15 m elevation · Asia/Shanghai

Distance to capital (Beijing)

1,890 km

1,174 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Guangdong

City	Population	Rank in China
Shenzhen	17,494,398	#3
Dongguan	9,644,871	#8
Foshan	9,042,509	#12
Bao'an	4,476,554	#24
Zhongshan	3,841,873	#31
Shantou	3,838,900	#33
Huizhou	2,900,113	#46
Yunfu	2,612,800	#53

Cities near Guangzhou

Foshan9,042,509 people · ~16 km away
Dasha116,307 people · ~20 km away
Shiwan82,031 people · ~22 km away
Shiqiao135,308 people · ~22 km away
Daliang210,411 people · ~31 km away
Sanshui153,714 people · ~37 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Guangzhou?

Guangzhou has a population of 16,096,724 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #4 biggest city in China.

What region is Guangzhou in?

Guangzhou is located in Guangdong, China.

Is Guangzhou the capital of China?

No, the capital of China is Beijing, about 1,890 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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