Ten Major Cities With The Highest Elevations On Earth

Mountains are some of the most beautiful natural phenomena in the world, but because of their massive heights, they are also some of the most inhospitable places to live as well. Even still, many mountain ranges are dotted with towns and villages where human beings thrive and make the most of the environment.

It’s somewhat easy to comprehend the idea that small human settlements can make the most of the limited natural resources that mountain environments provide, but what about impossibly large cities that have not only been established in these areas, but have somehow managed to thrive? The existence of these places stands a testament to the thousands of years of human determination and ingenuity, and in this article, we will list ten of the largest cities on earth with high elevations.

The cities that appear on the list all have populations above one million people, and are ranked from 10 to 1 by their elevation above sea level.

We go to China for the tenth city on the list, where the city of Kunming in southwestern China sits at more than 6200 feet above sea level. Kunming is located within the Jiazowi Snow Mountains, and is a major financial and economic center within its region.

Population – 1,692,181
Elevation – 7,005 feet (2,135 meters)

On the other side of the world, in central Mexico, is Puebla de Zaragoza, the ninth highest city on our list. Puebla is Mexico’s 4th largest city and is well known for its vehicle manufacturing industry.

Population – 23,146,802
Elevation – 7,350 feet (2,240 meters)

About 80 miles northwest of Puebla de Zaragoza is the mega city of Mexico City. As the sixth largest metropolitan area and the largest Spanish speaking city on earth, Mexico City has become a global cultural and economic powerhouse. And with an elevation that is almost 1.5 miles above sea level, it is also one of the world’s highest capital cities.

Population – 1,645,352
Elevation – 7,380 feet (2,249 meters)

Continuing in Mexico, is the 7th highest elevated city on the list, Ecatepec de Morelos. This city is a part of the Mexico City region, and borders its larger sibling to the northeast. 

Population – 3,407,814
Elevation – 7,380 feet (2,249 meters)

Sana’a is the sixth city on our list and is located in the Sarawat Mountains in Eastern Yemen. Sana’a is known for its cultural contributions, particularly in music and theater.

Population – 1,954,795
Elevation – 7,464 feet (2,275 meters)

We return to China to find the city at the number five spot, Xining. Xining is located on China’s Tibetan Plateau, and was an important military stronghold throughout China’s history.

Population – 5,956,680
Elevation – 7,726 feet (2,354 meters)

Number four on our list is one of Africa’s largest cities, Addis Ababa. This city is an extremely important financial and cultural center of Ethiopia. It also has the distinction of being one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Population – 11,658,211
Elevation – 8,660 feet (2,639 meters)

Next up at number three is another Latin American megacity, the city of Bogota located in central Colombia, along the foothills of the Andes Mountain Range. Bogota is the cultural and administrative engine of Colombia and is one of the most important cities in South America.

Population – 2,889,703
Elevation – 9,350 feet (2,849 meters)

Number two is another South American city, this time in Ecuador’s capital city of Quito. Quito is the second highest capital city in the world, and has been settled by indigenous peoples since 4400 BC.

Population – 2,187,233
Elevation – 13,620 feet (4,151 meters)

The city that tops the list is located once again in South America, El Alto Bolivia. El Alto is a new city, formed as an administrative district in 1984, and carved out of Bolivia’s capital of La Paz. 

The city of El Alto is at an elevation of more than 2 miles above sea level, and is one of Latin America’s fastest growing metropolitan areas.