Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

List of highest settlements

This article provides a incomplete list of the world's highest settlements built and permanently occupied by human populations all year long. Only those settlements that are situated at least partially at an altitude of 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) or higher above sea level are included in the ranking.

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This article provides a incomplete list of the world's highest settlements built and permanently occupied by human populations all year long. Only those settlements that are situated at least partially at an altitude of 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) or higher above sea level are included in the ranking.

Settlements at or above 4,500 metres (14,800 ft)

Elevation Name Country               Comments
5,100 metres (16,700 ft) La Rinconada (San Antonio de Putina)  Peru 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 5,052 m (16,575 ft) above sea level according to the INEI in Peru.2
5,070 metres (16,630 ft) Tuiwa (Tibet)  China 3
5,011 metres (16,440 ft) Chasangcun (Tibet)  China
4,980 metres (16,340 ft) Rongbuk Monastery (Tibet)  China
4,950 metres (16,240 ft) Shuanghu (Tibet)  China
4,940 metres (16,210 ft) Lobuche (Koshi)    Nepal 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.
4,870 metres (15,980 ft) Wenquan, Golmud (Qinghai)  China 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.
4,770 metres (15,650 ft) Santa Bárbara, Potosí (Sud Chichas)  Bolivia Miners' village
4,735 metres (15,535 ft) Lungring (Tibet)  China 31°07′30″N 91°42′17″E / 31.12500°N 91.70472°E / 31.12500; 91.70472
4,720 metres (15,490 ft) Yanshiping (Qinghai/Tibet)  China Population 2,919 (2017).
4,710 metres (15,450 ft) Amdo (Tibet)  China Population 3,327 (2017).
4,700 metres (15,400 ft) Phinaya (Cusco)  Peru Population 3396
4,695 metres (15,404 ft) Domar (Tibet)  China Population 1,488
4,660 metres (15,290 ft) Condoroma (Cusco)  Peru Population 533
4,660 metres (15,290 ft) Ananea (Puno)  Peru Population 1,729
4,570 metres (14,990 ft) Karzok (Ladakh)  India Population 1,291 (2011).
4,587 metres (15,049 ft) Komic (Himachal Pradesh)  India Population 114
4,500 metres (14,800 ft) Hanle (Ladakh)  India
4,500 metres (14,800 ft) Nagqu (Tibet)  China Population 42,984 (2010).7

Settlements below 4,500 metres (14,800 ft)

Elevation Name Country               Comment
4,470 metres (14,670 ft) Quzong Village  China Population: 2768
4,410 metres (14,470 ft) Dingboche    Nepal
4,400 metres (14,400 ft) Parinacota  Chile Small Chilean hamlet in Putre, Parinacota Province, Arica and Parinacota Region and had 299 inhabitants in 2002.
4,350 metres (14,270 ft) Cojata  Peru
4,350 metres (14,270 ft) Chharka, Dolpa    Nepal Ancient Buddhist village in Dolpa region.
4,338 metres (14,232 ft) Cerro de Pasco  Peru Mining town with a population of 66,860 (2007).10
4,340 metres (14,240 ft) Mina Pirquitas  Argentina Mining company town and municipality in Jujuy Province, and the highest settlement in Argentina.11
4,349 metres (14,268 ft) Achirik, Ladakh  India
4,315 metres (14,157 ft) Macusani  Peru
4,310 metres (14,140 ft) Hankar, Ladakh  India
4,300 metres (14,100 ft) Pagri, Tibet  China Town in Yadong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region (Xizang Zizhiqu), China, near the border with Bhutan. Population 2,121 (2004).
4,279 metres (14,039 ft) Ating, Ladakh  India
4,272 metres (14,016 ft) Khuldo, Ladakh  India
4,270 metres (14,010 ft) Kibber, Himachal Pradesh  India
4,226 metres (13,865 ft) Demchok, Ladakh / Dêmqog, Tibet  India /  China Hamlet between Ladakh of India and Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The combined Chinese-Indian village has a population of about 150.12
4,200 metres (13,800 ft) Ngari (Shiquanhe), Tibet  China Population 10,282 (2010).7
4,170 metres (13,680 ft) Colquechaca  Bolivia Small town in Bolivia. Population 4,272 (2012).13 It is the highest city in Bolivia.14
4,100 metres (13,500 ft) Jama  Argentina Border post and settlement in Jujuy Province in Argentina.15
4,150 metres (13,620 ft) El Alto  Bolivia Population 846,880 (2012).16 It is part of La Paz agglomeration and contains La Paz's El Alto International Airport.
4,105 metres (13,468 ft) Junín  Peru
4,100 metres (13,500 ft) Durbuk, Ladakh  India Village in the territory of Ladakh that has a recorded population of 300 people, though the actual figure may be higher.
4,105 metres (13,468 ft) Ampultun, Ladakh  India
4,090 metres (13,420 ft) Potosí  Bolivia Population 176,022 (2012).16 City and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia.
4,100 metres (13,500 ft) Nyoma, Ladakh  India
4,014 metres (13,169 ft) Gaocheng, Sichuan  China
4,013 metres (13,166 ft) Chatyndy  Kyrgyzstan
3,980 metres (13,060 ft) El Aguilar  Argentina El Aguilar is a mining company town in Jujuy Province. 3,655 inhabitants (2001)15
3,970 metres (13,020 ft) Huanuni  Bolivia Population 20,336 (2012).17
3,963 metres (13,002 ft) Dolpa, Karnali Zone    Nepal
3,956 metres (12,979 ft) Castrovirreyna  Peru
3,950 metres (12,960 ft) Catua  Argentina Rural municipality and village in Jujuy Province in Argentina.15
3,940 metres (12,930 ft) Coranzuli  Argentina Rural municipality and village in Jujuy Province in Argentina.15
3,924 metres (12,874 ft) Yauri  Peru Population 24,566 (2007).10
3,907 metres (12,818 ft) Ayaviri  Peru Population 18,881 (2007).18
3,895 metres (12,779 ft) Llallagua  Bolivia Population 25,166 (2012).13
3,892 metres (12,769 ft) Lampa  Peru
3,878 metres (12,723 ft) Putina  Peru Population 14,318 (2007).10
3,871 metres (12,700 ft) Viacha  Bolivia Population 62,516 (2012).19
3,862 metres (12,671 ft) Ilave  Peru Population 22,153 (2007).10
3,851 metres (12,635 ft) Rinconada  Argentina
3,869 metres (12,694 ft) Juli  Peru
3,859 metres (12,661 ft) Azángaro  Peru Population 16,035 (2007).10
3,850 metres (12,630 ft) Laya  Bhutan
3,850 metres (12,630 ft) Tiwanaku  Bolivia Population 860 (2013)
3,847 metres (12,621 ft) Yunguyo  Peru Population 11,934 (2007).10
3,847 metres (12,621 ft) Huarina  Bolivia
3,836 metres (12,585 ft) Shigatse, Tibet  China Population 63,967 (2010).7
3,825 metres (12,549 ft) Huancané  Peru
3,824 metres (12,546 ft) Juliaca  Peru Population 216,716 (2007).10
3,819 metres (12,530 ft) Puno  Peru Population 120,229 (2007).10
3,809 metres (12,497 ft) Desaguadero  Peru Population 14,365 (2007).10
3,775 metres (12,385 ft) San Antonio de los Cobres  Argentina Population 5,482 (2001 census).
3,760 metres (12,340 ft) Olacapato  Argentina
3,745 metres (12,287 ft) La Oroya  Peru Population 29,417 (2007).10
3,706 metres (12,159 ft) Oruro  Bolivia Population 264,943 (2012).16
3,700 metres (12,100 ft) Gyêgu, Qinghai  China
3,678 metres (12,067 ft) Santo Tomás  Peru
3,676 metres (12,060 ft) Huancavelica  Peru Population 41,331 (2007).10
3,660 metres (12,010 ft) Uyuni  Bolivia Population 18,068 (2012).13
3,658 metres (12,001 ft) Lhasa, Tibet  China Population 216,663 (2010).7 The capital city of Tibet.
3,650 metres (11,980 ft) La Paz  Bolivia Population 758,845 (2012)16Bolivian seat of government; the highest capital city in the world.
3,618 metres (11,870 ft) Murghob  Tajikistan Population 7,468 (2015)
3,548 metres (11,640 ft) Sicuani  Peru Population 42,551 (2007).10
See also

See also

References

References

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