Varanasi Population 2026

Varanasi has a population of 1,164,404, making it the #43 biggest city in 🇮🇳 India, located in Uttar Pradesh. Roughly 0.1% of India's population lives here. It is about 11× smaller than Mumbai, the country's biggest city.

Location of Varanasi (capital New Delhi shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

1,164,404

Rank in India

#43

Coordinates

25.32°N, 83.01°E

~86 m elevation · Asia/Kolkata

Distance to capital (New Delhi)

682 km

424 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Uttar Pradesh

City	Population	Rank in India
Kanpur	2,823,249	#11
Lucknow	2,472,011	#12
Agra	1,430,055	#27
Meerut	1,223,184	#36
Ghāziābād	1,199,191	#40
Prayagraj	1,073,438	#48
Alīgarh	753,207	#71
Bareilly	745,435	#72

Cities near Varanasi

Rāmnagar44,277 people · ~6 km away
Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar109,650 people · ~12 km away
Chunār36,459 people · ~25 km away
Chandauli25,035 people · ~27 km away
Kachhwa15,381 people · ~32 km away
Saidpur22,904 people · ~33 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Varanasi?

Varanasi has a population of 1,164,404 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #43 biggest city in India.

What region is Varanasi in?

Varanasi is located in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Is Varanasi the capital of India?

No, the capital of India is New Delhi, about 682 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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