Ottawa Population 2026

Ottawa has a population of 18,342, making it the #2599 biggest city in 🇺🇸 United States, located in Illinois. It is about 480× smaller than New York City, the country's biggest city.

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

Population (city proper)

18,342

Rank in United States

#2599

Coordinates

41.35°N, 88.84°W

~147 m elevation · America/Chicago

Distance to capital (Washington)

1,039 km

645 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Illinois

City	Population	Rank in United States
Chicago	2,664,452	#3
Aurora	200,661	#125
Rockford	148,278	#184
Joliet	147,861	#186
Naperville	147,100	#190
Peoria	115,070	#259
Springfield	114,394	#262
North Peoria	113,004	#266

Cities near Ottawa

Yorkville18,451 people · ~47 km away
Oswego33,955 people · ~55 km away
Plainfield42,527 people · ~62 km away
Aurora200,661 people · ~63 km away
DeKalb43,211 people · ~65 km away
Joliet147,861 people · ~66 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Ottawa?

Ottawa has a population of 18,342 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2599 biggest city in United States.

What state is Ottawa in?

Ottawa is located in Illinois, United States.

Is Ottawa the capital of United States?

No, the capital of United States is Washington D.C., about 1,039 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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