South Lake Tahoe Population 2026

South Lake Tahoe has a population of 21,706, making it the #2191 biggest city in 🇺🇸 United States, located in California. It is about 406× smaller than New York City, the country's biggest city.

WashingtonSouth Lake Tahoe
Location of South Lake Tahoe (capital Washington shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
21,706
Rank in United States
#2191
Coordinates
38.93°N, 119.98°W
~1,901 m elevation · America/Los_Angeles
Distance to capital (Washington)
3,680 km
2,285 miles, straight line

Other big cities in California

CityPopulationRank in United States
Los Angeles3,820,914#2
San Diego1,404,452#8
San Jose997,368#12
San Francisco827,526#17
Fresno542,107#34
Sacramento524,943#35
Long Beach474,140#41
Oakland419,267#45

Cities near South Lake Tahoe

FAQ

What is the population of South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe has a population of 21,706 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2191 biggest city in United States.
What state is South Lake Tahoe in?
South Lake Tahoe is located in California, United States.
Is South Lake Tahoe the capital of United States?
No, the capital of United States is Washington D.C., about 3,680 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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