Shanghai Population 2026

Shanghai has a population of 24,874,500, making it the #1 biggest city in 🇨🇳 China, located in Shanghai. Roughly 1.8% of China's population lives here.

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

Population (city proper)

24,874,500

Rank in China

Coordinates

31.22°N, 121.46°E

~12 m elevation · Asia/Shanghai

Distance to capital (Beijing)

1,068 km

663 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Shanghai

City	Population	Rank in China
Pudong	5,681,512	#18
Minhang	2,716,600	#50
Baoshan	2,265,900	#59
Songjiang	1,973,500	#69
Jiading	1,886,100	#73
Qingpu	1,271,424	#131
Putuo	1,239,100	#138
Yangpu	1,210,800	#144

Cities near Shanghai

Pudong5,681,512 people · ~5 km away
Putuo1,239,100 people · ~7 km away
Yangpu1,210,800 people · ~7 km away
Minhang2,716,600 people · ~15 km away
Baoshan2,265,900 people · ~21 km away
Jiading1,886,100 people · ~27 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Shanghai?

Shanghai has a population of 24,874,500 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #1 biggest city in China.

What region is Shanghai in?

Shanghai is located in Shanghai, China.

Is Shanghai the capital of China?

No, the capital of China is Beijing, about 1,068 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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