Highest-Altitude Cities in the World

Nagqu is among the highest cities in the world, sitting about 4,512 m above sea level.

Updated weekly. Last updated Sep 2, 2026, 12:20:20 AM UTC.

Cities with at least 5,000 residents; 100 cities shown.

Top Cities Ranked by Elevation

#	City	Country	Elevation
🥇	Nagqu	China	4,512 m
🥈	Yanacancha	Peru	4,348 m
🥉	Cerro de Pasco	Peru	4,336 m
4	Dêqên	China	3,974 m
5	Potosí	Bolivia	3,967 m
6	Huanuni	Bolivia	3,963 m
7	Oruro	Bolivia	3,936 m
8	Yauri	Peru	3,911 m
9	Ayaviri	Peru	3,898 m
10	Viacha	Bolivia	3,870 m
11	Yunguyo	Peru	3,857 m
12	Laja	Bolivia	3,856 m
13	Rikaze	China	3,847 m
14	Ilave	Peru	3,841 m
15	Juliaca	Peru	3,834 m
16	Puno	Peru	3,825 m
17	La Paz	Bolivia	3,782 m
18	La Oroya	Peru	3,765 m
19	Daocheng	China	3,753 m
20	Llallagua	Bolivia	3,750 m
21	Huancavelica	Peru	3,704 m
22	Kupwāra	India	3,681 m
23	Achocalla	Bolivia	3,664 m
24	Lhasa	China	3,651 m
25	Padam	India	3,560 m
26	Sicuani	Peru	3,551 m
27	Leh	India	3,502 m
28	Nima	China	3,480 m
29	Villazón	Bolivia	3,455 m
30	Chaupimarca	Peru	3,446 m
31	La Quiaca	Argentina	3,408 m
32	Jauja	Peru	3,380 m
33	Cusco	Peru	3,369 m
34	Wanchaq	Peru	3,358 m
35	Huamachuco	Peru	3,341 m
36	Shangri-La	China	3,283 m
37	Huancayo	Peru	3,263 m
38	Chilca	Peru	3,245 m
39	Qamdo	China	3,235 m
40	Nefas Mewch’a	Ethiopia	3,082 m
41	Mehal Mēda	Ethiopia	3,080 m
42	Dongchuan	China	3,067 m
43	Huaraz	Peru	3,059 m
44	Tarma	Peru	3,055 m
45	Túquerres	Colombia	3,048 m
46	Centenario	Peru	3,039 m
47	Kyelang	India	3,038 m
48	Mangnai Zhen	China	3,000 m
49	Shangpa	China	2,984 m
50	Huatugou	China	2,976 m
51	Pupiales	Colombia	2,974 m
52	Amba Giorgis	Ethiopia	2,966 m
53	Tulcán	Ecuador	2,962 m
54	Tupiza	Bolivia	2,961 m
55	Pujilí	Ecuador	2,944 m
56	Qingshizui	China	2,940 m
57	San Lorenzo Acopilco	Mexico	2,935 m
58	Machachi	Ecuador	2,933 m
59	Labuleng	China	2,926 m
60	Ipiales	Colombia	2,904 m
61	Andahuaylas	Peru	2,902 m
62	Hezuo	China	2,898 m
63	San Miguel Ajusco	Mexico	2,896 m
64	Filakit	Ethiopia	2,880 m
65	Haomen	China	2,865 m
66	Bosconia	Colombia	2,860 m
=67	Quito	Ecuador	2,854 m
=67	Debark’	Ethiopia	2,854 m
68	Sheno	Ethiopia	2,850 m
69	Santiago Tlacotepec	Mexico	2,833 m
70	Debre Birhan	Ethiopia	2,830 m
71	Kangding	China	2,826 m
72	Bek’ojī	Ethiopia	2,817 m
73	Cayambe	Ecuador	2,814 m
74	Quankou	China	2,807 m
75	San Antonio Acahualco	Mexico	2,806 m
76	Tunja	Colombia	2,804 m
=77	Sabt Alalayah	Saudi Arabia	2,800 m
=77	Villa de San Diego de Ubaté	Colombia	2,800 m
78	Sucre	Bolivia	2,798 m
79	Fichē	Ethiopia	2,792 m
80	Xalatlaco	Mexico	2,770 m
=81	Latacunga	Ecuador	2,769 m
=81	San Francisco Tlalcilalcalpan	Mexico	2,769 m
82	Lintan Chengguanzhen	China	2,762 m
=83	Riobamba	Ecuador	2,758 m
=83	Qilian	China	2,758 m
84	San Salvador Cuauhtenco	Mexico	2,756 m
85	Zinacantepec	Mexico	2,754 m
86	Las Nazarenas	Peru	2,753 m
87	Ayacucho	Peru	2,743 m
88	Ch’ench’a	Ethiopia	2,739 m
89	Lushar	China	2,738 m
90	Punata	Bolivia	2,731 m
91	San Pablo Oztotepec	Mexico	2,729 m
92	Huixquilucan	Mexico	2,712 m
=93	Sacaba	Bolivia	2,710 m
=93	Upper Gilgil	Kenya	2,710 m
94	Idaga Hamus	Ethiopia	2,702 m
95	Cajamarca	Peru	2,700 m

Methodology: Population, coordinates and elevation come from the Time.now geographic city index; population figures use city boundaries rather than metro areas.

What Makes These the Highest Cities on Earth?

The world's highest cities sit in great mountain ranges, the Andes of South America and the Tibetan Plateau of Asia. Life at altitude means thinner air, lower oxygen, stronger sunlight and cooler temperatures, and residents are physiologically adapted to conditions that leave many visitors short of breath. Elevations here are drawn from geographic data for each city.

Altitude shapes everything from how water boils to how sport is played, which is why some high cities are famous for the advantage they give home teams. The highest major city on this list is Nagqu, at roughly 4,512 m above sea level.

Frequently Asked Questions: Highest-Altitude Cities in the World

What is the highest city in the world?

Among sizeable cities, Nagqu ranks at the top of this list at about 4,512 m above sea level. Several small mining towns in the Andes sit even higher.

Why are the highest cities in South America and Asia?

Because the largest high-altitude plateaus and mountain ranges that can support cities, the Andes and the Tibetan Plateau, are there.

Is it hard to live at high altitude?

The air holds less oxygen, so newcomers can feel breathless or get altitude sickness, but long-term residents adapt with higher red-blood-cell counts and other changes.

Highest-Altitude Cities in the World

Top Cities Ranked by Elevation

What Makes These the Highest Cities on Earth?

Frequently Asked Questions: Highest-Altitude Cities in the World

Related Geography Rankings

Browse Other Ranking Categories