Makkah Population 2026

Makkah has a population of 1,578,722, making it the #3 biggest city in 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia, located in Mecca Region. Roughly 4.5% of Saudi Arabia's population lives here. It is about 3.0× smaller than Jeddah, the country's biggest city.

Location of Makkah (capital Riyadh shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

1,578,722

Rank in Saudi Arabia

Coordinates

21.43°N, 39.83°E

~333 m elevation · Asia/Riyadh

Distance to capital (Riyadh)

793 km

492 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Mecca Region

City	Population	Rank in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah	4,697,000	#1
Ta’if	688,693	#8
Rābigh	72,928	#37
Ash Shafā	72,190	#38
Al Līth	72,000	#39
Al Khurmah	28,491	#65
Thuwal	26,957	#68
Turabah	23,235	#80

Cities near Makkah

Al Jumūm22,207 people · ~25 km away
Ta’if688,693 people · ~64 km away
Ash Shafā72,190 people · ~64 km away
Jeddah4,697,000 people · ~67 km away
Thuwal26,957 people · ~120 km away
Al Līth72,000 people · ~150 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Makkah?

Makkah has a population of 1,578,722 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #3 biggest city in Saudi Arabia.

What region is Makkah in?

Makkah is located in Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia.

Is Makkah the capital of Saudi Arabia?

No, the capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh, about 793 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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