Sendai Population 2026
Sendai has a population of 1,096,704, making it the #12 biggest city in 🇯🇵 Japan, located in Miyagi. Roughly 0.9% of Japan's population lives here. It is about 8.9× smaller than Tokyo, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
1,096,704
Rank in Japan
#12
Coordinates
38.27°N, 140.87°E
~53 m elevation · Asia/Tokyo
Distance to capital (Tokyo)
305 km
189 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Miyagi
| City | Population | Rank in Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Ishinomaki | 140,151 | #186 |
| Ōsaki | 128,763 | #209 |
| Natori-shi | 78,718 | #348 |
| Tome | 77,897 | #353 |
| Furukawa | 76,312 | #362 |
| Kurihara | 66,565 | #421 |
| Tagajō-shi | 62,827 | #441 |
| Kesennuma | 61,147 | #453 |
Cities near Sendai
- Natori-shi78,718 people · ~11 km away
- Rifu36,014 people · ~12 km away
- Tagajō-shi62,827 people · ~12 km away
- Tomiya52,433 people · ~14 km away
- Shiogama52,662 people · ~16 km away
- Shōbudahama18,132 people · ~17 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Sendai?
Sendai has a population of 1,096,704 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #12 biggest city in Japan.
What region is Sendai in?
Sendai is located in Miyagi, Japan.
Is Sendai the capital of Japan?
No, the capital of Japan is Tokyo, about 305 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.