Samch’ŏn Population 2026

Samch’ŏn has a population of 86,042, making it the #37 biggest city in 🇰🇵 North Korea, located in South Hwanghae. Roughly 0.3% of North Korea's population lives here. It is about 37× smaller than Pyongyang, the country's biggest city.

PyongyangSamch’ŏn
Location of Samch’ŏn (capital Pyongyang shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
86,042
Rank in North Korea
#37
Coordinates
38.36°N, 125.33°E
~46 m elevation · Asia/Pyongyang
Distance to capital (Pyongyang)
84 km
52 miles, straight line

Other big cities in South Hwanghae

CityPopulationRank in North Korea
Haeju222,396#14
Paech’ŏn-ŭp159,825#18
Ch’ŏngdan-ŭp142,607#21
Sinch’ŏn-ŭp141,407#22
Ŭllyul107,997#26
Kangnyŏng106,827#27
Ŭnch’ŏn-ŭp95,597#33
Kwail-ŭp89,895#34

Cities near Samch’ŏn

FAQ

What is the population of Samch’ŏn?
Samch’ŏn has a population of 86,042 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #37 biggest city in North Korea.
What region is Samch’ŏn in?
Samch’ŏn is located in South Hwanghae, North Korea.
Is Samch’ŏn the capital of North Korea?
No, the capital of North Korea is Pyongyang, about 84 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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