What is the population of Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg's metropolitan area has about 5,598,000 people, making it the 72nd largest metro area in our dataset of 140 major cities.
In Russia
Metro population
5,598,000
0.067% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+0.15%
About 23 people a day
Archive estimateDensity
3,990/km²
1,403 km² metro area
City proper
5,351,935
Within the administrative boundary
GeoNamesAbout Saint Petersburg
With a city-proper population of 5,351,935 and a metropolitan area of 5,598,000, this European city ranks among the world's largest urban centers. Founded in 1703, it sits at an elevation of just 11 meters on Russia's northwest coast. The densely packed urban core averages 3,990 people per km², reflecting intensive development across its territory.
Population growth remains modest at 0.2% annually, indicating relative stability in resident numbers. Alexander Beglov serves as the city's mayor. Pulkovo Airport (LED) provides regional air connectivity for residents and visitors.
This summary is AI-generated from the statistics on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Key Facts
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Pulkovo AirportLED
16 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
Metropolitan population against the fifteen largest metro areas.
| Name | Metro population |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 37.4M |
| Delhi | 32.9M |
| Shanghai | 29.2M |
| São Paulo | 22.6M |
| Dhaka | 22.5M |
| Mexico City | 22.3M |
| Cairo | 22.2M |
| Mumbai | 21.7M |
| Beijing | 21.5M |
| Osaka | 19M |
| New York | 18.9M |
| Karachi | 17.1M |
| Kinshasa | 17.1M |
| Chongqing | 16.9M |
| Lagos | 15.9M |
| Saint Petersburg | 5.6M |
Population Trend in Russia
No free source publishes metropolitan population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 103,392,360 |
| 1960 | 119,934,141 |
| 1970 | 130,367,189 |
| 1980 | 138,572,623 |
| 1990 | 148,979,541 |
| 2000 | 146,717,783 |
| 2010 | 143,934,465 |
| 2020 | 146,371,299 |
| 2030 | 141,889,410 |
| 2040 | 138,281,831 |
| 2050 | 136,132,775 |
| 2060 | 132,893,469 |
| 2070 | 129,710,829 |
| 2080 | 127,837,919 |
| 2090 | 127,144,110 |
| 2100 | 126,386,515 |
Other Major Cities in Russia
1 more city in our dataset.
- Moscow12.6M · +0.35%
Nearest Major Cities
Closest cities in our dataset by great-circle distance.
Saint Petersburg Population FAQ
What is the difference between Saint Petersburg's city and metro population?
About 5,351,935 people live within the city proper, while the wider metropolitan area holds roughly 5,598,000. Metro figures include surrounding commuter areas that fall outside the city's administrative boundary.
Is Saint Petersburg growing or shrinking?
Saint Petersburg is growing at +0.15% a year.
What share of Russia's population lives in Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg's metro area holds about 3.9% of Russia's total population.
How densely populated is Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has roughly 3,990 people per km² across a metro area of about 1,403 km².
Which airports serve Saint Petersburg?
The nearest major airports are Pulkovo Airport (LED).
Which country is Saint Petersburg in?
Saint Petersburg is in Russia, in Europe.
Explore More Cities
- #1 TokyoJapan · 37.4M · −0.14%
- #2 DelhiIndia · 32.9M · +2.78%
- #3 ShanghaiChina · 29.2M · +0.86%
- #4 São PauloBrazil · 22.6M · +0.75%
- #5 DhakaBangladesh · 22.5M · +2.89%
- #6 Mexico CityMexico · 22.3M · +0.80%