Ürümqi Population 2026

Ürümqi has a population of 3,029,372, making it the #44 biggest city in 🇨🇳 China, located in Xinjiang. Roughly 0.2% of China's population lives here. It is about 8.2× smaller than Shanghai, the country's biggest city.

Location of Ürümqi (capital Beijing shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

3,029,372

Rank in China

#44

Coordinates

43.80°N, 87.60°E

~862 m elevation · Asia/Urumqi

Distance to capital (Beijing)

2,411 km

1,497 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Xinjiang

City	Population	Rank in China
Shihezi	572,772	#260
Korla	549,324	#267
Aqsu	535,657	#273
Kashgar	506,640	#287
Gujangbagh	408,894	#320
Huocheng	360,000	#334
Artux	285,000	#363
Xinyuan	282,718	#365

Cities near Ürümqi

Changji198,776 people · ~33 km away
Wujiaqu154,400 people · ~41 km away
Shihezi572,772 people · ~137 km away
Turpan273,385 people · ~159 km away
Sandaohezi60,129 people · ~169 km away
Xininglu69,361 people · ~224 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Ürümqi?

Ürümqi has a population of 3,029,372 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #44 biggest city in China.

What region is Ürümqi in?

Ürümqi is located in Xinjiang, China.

Is Ürümqi the capital of China?

No, the capital of China is Beijing, about 2,411 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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