Shenzhen Population 2026

Shenzhen has a population of 17,494,398, making it the #3 biggest city in 🇨🇳 China, located in Guangdong. Roughly 1.2% of China's population lives here. It is about 1.4× smaller than Shanghai, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

17,494,398

Rank in China

Coordinates

22.55°N, 114.07°E

~4 m elevation · Asia/Shanghai

Distance to capital (Beijing)

1,943 km

1,207 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Guangdong

City	Population	Rank in China
Guangzhou	16,096,724	#4
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 Shenzhen

Bao'an4,476,554 people · ~19 km away
Longgang215,273 people · ~28 km away
Tantou320,304 people · ~33 km away
Shajing127,089 people · ~34 km away
Gongheyong204,881 people · ~37 km away
Danshui126,701 people · ~50 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Shenzhen?

Shenzhen has a population of 17,494,398 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #3 biggest city in China.

What region is Shenzhen in?

Shenzhen is located in Guangdong, China.

Is Shenzhen the capital of China?

No, the capital of China is Beijing, about 1,943 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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