List of highest settlements explained

This is an incomplete list of the highest settlements in the world. Only settlements that are permanently occupied all year long with a significant population and lying at least partially above an elevation of 3,500 metres (12,140 feet) are included.

Highest settlements

This section lists all the settlements with a significant year-round population above 4500m (14,800feet).

ElevationNameCountry              Comments
5100m (16,700feet)[1] The highest in the world according to National Geographic Magazine in May 2003 when it had 30,000 inhabitants, rising to 50,000 inhabitants in 2012 but shrinking to 9,746 inhabitants as of the 2017 census. It is above sea level according to the INEI in Peru.[2]
5070m (16,630feet)[3]
5011m (16,440feet)
4980m (16,340feet)
4950m (16,240feet)
4940m (16,210feet)Lobuche or Lobuje is a small settlement near Mount Everest in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It is one of the last overnight stops with lodging on the way to Everest Base camp.
4870m (15,980feet)[4] This small settlement is the highest "city" in the world according to The Guinness Book of World Records.[5] Highest in the Eastern and Northern Hemisphere.
4770m (15,650feet)Miners' village
4735m (15,535feet)31.125°N 91.7047°W
4720m (15,490feet)Yanshiping, Qinghai / Tibet Autonomous Region (de facto) Population 2,919 (2017).
4710m (15,450feet)Population 3,327 (2017).
4700m (15,400feet)Population 339[6]
4695m (15,404feet)Population 1,488
Population 533
Population 1,729
Population 1,291 (2011).
Population 114
Population 42,984 (2010).[7]

Settlements below 4500m (14,800feet)

This section lists selected settlements with a significant year-round population between 3500m (11,500feet) and 4500m (14,800feet).

ElevationNameCountry              Comment
Small Chilean hamlet in Putre, Parinacota Province, Arica and Parinacota Region and had 29[8] inhabitants in 2002.
Mining town with a population of 66,860 (2007).[9]
Mining company town and municipality in Jujuy Province, and the highest settlement in Argentina.[10]
Town in Yadong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region (Xizang Zizhiqu), China, near the border with Bhutan. Population 2,121 (2004).
Ating, Ladakh
/ Hamlet between Ladakh of India and Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The combined Chinese-Indian village has a population of about 150.[11]
Population 10,282 (2010).
Small town in Bolivia. Population 4,272 (2012).[12] It is the highest city in Bolivia.[13]
Border post and settlement in Jujuy Province in Argentina.
Population 846,880 (2012).[14] It is part of La Paz and contains La Paz's El Alto International Airport.
Village in the territory of Ladakh that has a recorded population of 300 people, though the actual figure may be higher.
Ampultun, Ladakh
Population 176,022 (2012). City and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia.
El Aguilar is a mining company town in Jujuy Province. 3,655 inhabitants (2001)[15]
Population 20,336 (2012).[16]
Rural municipality and village in Jujuy Province in Argentina.
Rural municipality and village in Jujuy Province in Argentina.
Population 24,566 (2007).
Population 18,881 (2007).[17]
Population 25,166 (2012).
Population 14,318 (2007).
Population 62,516 (2012).[18]
Population 22,153 (2007).
Population 16,035 (2007).
Population 860 (2013)
Population 11,934 (2007).
Population 63,967 (2010).
Population 216,716 (2007).
Population 120,229 (2007).
Population 14,365 (2007).
Population 5,482 (2001 census).
Population 29,417 (2007).
Population 264,943 (2012).
Population 41,331 (2007).
Population 18,068 (2012).
Population 216,663 (2010). The capital city of Tibet.
Population 758,845 (2012)Bolivian seat of government; the highest capital city in the world.
Population 7,468 (2015)
Population 42,551 (2007).

See also

Notes and References

  1. Highest Permanent Human Habitation. 6 July 2004. John B. West. High Altitude Medicine & Biology. 3. 4. 401–407. 10.1089/15270290260512882. 12631426. 18 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Sistema de Consulta de Centros Poblados. 2021-09-10. sige.inei.gob.pe.
  3. Web site: 2015-03-24. Tuiwa Village -Tibet's rooftop village. 2021-09-10. Explore Tibet. en-US.
  4. http://www.1world2travel.com/article.php?articleID=2830 1World2travel - All Continents - basic facts and extremes
  5. Web site: The Highest City in the World. 2021-09-10. www.infoplease.com. en.
  6. Web site: Cusco Region (Peru): Provinces & Localities - Population Statistics, Charts and Map. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.
  7. Web site: Xīzàng / Tibet (China): Prefectural Division, Major Cities & Counties - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.
  8. Web site: Censo INE 2002 in Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas.
  9. Web site: Peru: Regions & Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.
  10. Web site: NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Pirquitas Mine, Jujuy Province, Argentina.. 187.
  11. Web site: hindu.com - Ladakhis await re-opening of historic Tibet route . https://web.archive.org/web/20060919212825/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/02/stories/2005080212731300.htm . Sep 19, 2006.
  12. Web site: Potosí (Bolivia): Provinces & Settlements - Population Statistics, Charts and Map. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.
  13. http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-38&srt=npan&col=aohdq&pt=c&va=x World Gazetteer
  14. Web site: Bolivia: Departments, Major Cities & Towns - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.
  15. Web site: Ministerio del Interior . es.
  16. Web site: Oruro (Bolivia): Provinces & Settlements - Population Statistics, Charts and Map. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.
  17. Web site: Peru: Regions & Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.
  18. Web site: La Paz (Bolivia): Provinces & Settlements - Population Statistics, Charts and Map. 2021-09-10. www.citypopulation.de.