Quick answerWashington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, with 693,645 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 6.5 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Seat of the U.S. federal government and the White House. Its official language is English, and its currency is the United States dollar.
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, a federal district on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. About 694,000 people lived there in 2025, and about 6.5 million in its metropolitan area. It is home to the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the Smithsonian museums.
Key facts
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 693,645 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 6,465,724 (2025) · U.S. Census Bureau Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), July 1, 2025 estimate |
| Time zone | America/New_York |
| Language | English |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD, $) |
| Coordinates | 38.9047° N, 77.0164° W |
Overview
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and the seat of its federal government. The city was founded as a purpose-built capital on the Potomac River, on land given by Maryland and Virginia, and the federal government moved there in 1800. Its street plan was drawn up by the French-born engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant, with wide avenues radiating from the Capitol and the White House. The district is not part of any state: it is a federal district governed by Congress, and its residents elect a non-voting delegate to the House.
About 694,000 people lived in Washington in 2025, and about 6.5 million in its metropolitan area, which takes in suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. The city is much smaller than New York or Los Angeles, but its influence is outsized: the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court and the headquarters of federal agencies are all here, along with the embassies of most of the world's countries.
Washington is also a city of museums and monuments. The National Mall, a long park between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, holds the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian museums, most of which are free to visit. In spring the cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin draw crowds from across America. The city's economy runs on government, law, lobbying and tourism, and its universities include Georgetown and George Washington.
What Washington, D.C. is known for
- Seat of the U.S. federal government
- White House
- National Mall
- Smithsonian museums
- Cherry blossom trees
Landmarks
- White House
- U.S. Capitol
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial
- National Mall
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
- National Gallery of Art
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Washington, D.C.?
About 694,000 people lived in Washington, D.C. in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The wider metropolitan area, which takes in suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, had about 6.5 million people that year. The district itself is small, covering about 177 square kilometres, so the metro area is nearly ten times the city's population.
What is Washington, D.C. famous for?
Washington, D.C. is famous as the seat of the United States federal government. Its best-known sights are the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, all arranged around the National Mall. The city is also known for the Smithsonian museums, which are free to visit, and for its cherry blossom trees in spring.
Where is Washington, D.C. located?
Washington, D.C. is on the east coast of the United States, on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. It is about 330 kilometres south-west of New York City and about 60 kilometres south-west of Baltimore. Its coordinates are 38.90° N, 77.02° W, and its time zone is Eastern Time.
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Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Census Bureau, City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2025
- Wikipedia — Metropolitan statistical area
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.