Columbus Population 2026

Columbus has a population of 22,797, making it the #2083 biggest city in 🇺🇸 United States, located in Nebraska. It is about 386× smaller than New York City, the country's biggest city.

Location of Columbus (capital Washington shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

22,797

Rank in United States

#2083

Coordinates

41.43°N, 97.37°W

~441 m elevation · America/Chicago

Distance to capital (Washington)

1,746 km

1,084 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Nebraska

City	Population	Rank in United States
Omaha	486,051	#38
Lincoln	294,757	#67
Bellevue	55,510	#762
Grand Island	51,440	#845
Kearney	33,021	#1396
Fremont	26,474	#1774
Hastings	24,924	#1889
Norfolk	24,366	#1943

Cities near Columbus

Norfolk24,366 people · ~67 km away
Fremont26,474 people · ~73 km away
Lincoln294,757 people · ~91 km away
Grand Island51,440 people · ~99 km away
Papillion19,510 people · ~115 km away
La Vista16,921 people · ~115 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Columbus?

Columbus has a population of 22,797 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2083 biggest city in United States.

What state is Columbus in?

Columbus is located in Nebraska, United States.

Is Columbus the capital of United States?

No, the capital of United States is Washington D.C., about 1,746 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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