Sapporo Population 2026

Sapporo has a population of 1,973,832, making it the #5 biggest city in 🇯🇵 Japan, located in Hokkaido. Roughly 1.6% of Japan's population lives here. It is about 4.9× smaller than Tokyo, the country's biggest city.

Location of Sapporo (capital Tokyo shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

1,973,832

Rank in Japan

Coordinates

43.07°N, 141.35°E

~26 m elevation · Asia/Tokyo

Distance to capital (Tokyo)

833 km

517 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Hokkaido

City	Population	Rank in Japan
Asahikawa	333,530	#68
Hakodate	275,730	#84
Tomakomai	174,806	#139
Kushiro	167,875	#151
Obihiro	166,536	#154
Ebetsu	133,953	#195
Kitami	119,135	#225
Otaru	115,333	#236

Cities near Sapporo

Ebetsu133,953 people · ~17 km away
Ishikari58,755 people · ~19 km away
Kitahiroshima58,918 people · ~20 km away
Tōbetsu16,694 people · ~22 km away
Eniwa70,331 people · ~27 km away
Otaru115,333 people · ~31 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Sapporo?

Sapporo has a population of 1,973,832 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #5 biggest city in Japan.

What region is Sapporo in?

Sapporo is located in Hokkaido, Japan.

Is Sapporo the capital of Japan?

No, the capital of Japan is Tokyo, about 833 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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