Kunming Population 2026

Kunming has a population of 3,855,346, making it the #30 biggest city in 🇨🇳 China, located in Yunnan. Roughly 0.3% of China's population lives here. It is about 6.5× smaller than Shanghai, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

3,855,346

Rank in China

#30

Coordinates

25.04°N, 102.72°E

~1,895 m elevation · Asia/Shanghai

Distance to capital (Beijing)

2,087 km

1,296 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Yunnan

City	Population	Rank in China
Qujing	1,408,500	#116
Baoshan	935,618	#188
Zhaotong	787,845	#212
Mengzi	595,100	#257
Chuxiong	555,081	#263
Jianshui	490,000	#294
Wenshan City	450,000	#308
Lincang	323,708	#349

Cities near Kunming

Majie131,696 people · ~8 km away
Anning106,795 people · ~27 km away
Haikou112,644 people · ~32 km away
Shilin55,000 people · ~67 km away
Longquan91,534 people · ~69 km away
Yuxi103,829 people · ~78 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Kunming?

Kunming has a population of 3,855,346 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #30 biggest city in China.

What region is Kunming in?

Kunming is located in Yunnan, China.

Is Kunming the capital of China?

No, the capital of China is Beijing, about 2,087 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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