According to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), Prague's population stood at 1,405,551 people as of March 31, 2026 — an all-time high and roughly 13% of the entire Czech population. Prague remains by far the country's largest city: more people live here than in Brno and Ostrava combined.
Below are the latest 2026 figures from official statistics: how many people live in the capital, how the population has changed over time, the breakdown by district, the share of foreigners and Ukrainians, plus population density and comparisons with other Czech cities.
According to ČSÚ's preliminary demographic balance, Prague had 1,405,551 residents at the end of the first quarter of 2026. Of these:
An important caveat: official statistics only count registered residents. Analysis of mobile operator geolocation data shows that Prague actually hosts 200,000–300,000 more people on any given day — those who work or study in the capital but haven't changed their registered address. In other words, the real "daytime" Prague is closer to 1.6–1.7 million.
In recent years, Prague's growth has come mainly from migration. Back in 2015 the city had around 1.27 million residents; by 2020 it was about 1.33 million, and by the end of 2025 the population topped 1.4 million for the first time. A notable jump came in 2022, when Prague took in tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees after the war began.
That said, in the first quarter of 2026 ČSÚ recorded a small decline of 1,533 people compared to the end of 2025. This was split roughly evenly between natural population decline (2,441 births, 3,240 deaths — a loss of 799) and net migration loss (734). This is a short-term, largely seasonal fluctuation within the longer-term upward trend.
According to forecasts from the city's institute of planning and development, Prague's population could grow by several hundred thousand more by 2050, approaching 1.6–1.7 million.
Administratively, Prague is divided into 57 municipal districts (městské části). The largest of these are the inner and southern districts. Below are the biggest municipal districts by population as of March 31, 2026.
| Municipal district | Population (31.03.2026) |
|---|---|
| Praha 4 | 136,398 |
| Praha 10 | 120,264 |
| Praha 8 | 112,642 |
| Praha 6 | 108,894 |
| Praha 5 | 99,307 |
| Praha-Nedvězí (smallest) | 396 |
The gap is enormous: the most populous district, Praha 4, has about 344 times more residents than the tiny Praha-Nedvězí on the southeastern outskirts. If you're deciding where to settle, it's worth reading up on Prague's districts and their character in advance — from quiet Vinohrady to family-friendly Praha 4.
Prague is the most international city in Czechia. At the end of 2025, the country had 1,131,197 registered foreigners (10.38% of the population), and 32.4% of them live in Prague — more than 350,000 people. It's estimated that roughly one in four residents of the capital is a foreign national.
The largest groups of foreigners in Prague (estimated):
Over the past two decades, the number of foreigners in Prague has grown nearly sixfold — up from 61,000 in 2001. In effect, it's newcomers who are keeping the capital's population from shrinking.
Prague covers an area of about 496 km². With a population of 1.4 million, that works out to an average density of roughly 2,800 people per km². But the distribution is highly uneven: compact central districts (Vinohrady, Žižkov, part of Praha 2) have far higher density, while outlying areas with fields and forests are nearly empty.
Prague is more than three times larger than the country's second-biggest city. For comparison, here are Czechia's largest cities:
| City | Population (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Prague | 1,405,551 |
| Brno | about 403,000 |
| Ostrava | about 283,000 |
| Whole of Czechia | almost 10.9 million |
In other words, roughly one in eight Czech residents lives in the capital, and including the surrounding suburbs, the greater agglomeration accounts for about a fifth of the country.
Population growth driven by newcomers means thousands of people decide to relocate to the Czech capital every year. If you're one of them, start with our step-by-step guide to moving to Prague and our overview of types of residence permits in Czechia. And for help with paperwork, finding housing, and settling in, check out our services for people relocating.
According to official ČSÚ data, 1,405,551 people were registered in Prague as of March 31, 2026. Accounting for unregistered residents and people commuting in for work, the actual number is estimated at 1.6–1.7 million.
The most populous municipal district is Praha 4 (136,398 residents), followed by Praha 10, Praha 8, Praha 6 and Praha 5. Prague has 57 municipal districts in total.
More than 350,000 — about a quarter of the capital's population. The largest group is Ukrainians, followed by Slovaks, Russians and Vietnamese.
Over the long term it's growing, mainly due to migration. A small, temporary decline of 1,533 people was recorded in the first quarter of 2026, but the overall trend in recent years has been upward.
On average about 2,800 people per km², given the city's area of roughly 496 km². Density is significantly higher in central districts than the average.
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