The open world ofThe Elder Scrolls 5:Skyrimis filled with details and interesting places. With nine major cities to explore, as well as countless towns and smaller settlements, it’s hard to get bored. There are reportedly over 300 different locations in Skyrim, all different and designed separately, which just goes to show how much the developers poured hard work and dedication into the game.
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This list will introduce players to the nine cities and the one major town ofSkyrim, as well as their respective populations. Players might be surprised to find out just how few or how many NPCs live in these areas, given their size and scope.
Updated on June 18, 2025, by Anastasia Maillot:Following Skyrim’s 10th Anniversary edition release, one could say that Skyrim has finally reached its peak existence. Bethesda’s open-world RPG continues to be charming and immersive even over ten years after its conception, and one reason for that is the way in which the game studio designed cities. Should players find themselves bored, cities are the best places to go. Not only do cities provide tons of lore and interaction, but NPCs will also often carry some of the most important quests in the game. That’s why, to complement this list ofevery major city and their size in Skyrim, their most important NPCs have also been featured.
10Dawnstar: 33
Dawnstar is a coastal city located in the north of Skyrim. Notable for its trade, this snowy city has 33 inhabitants in it, which is surprising considering it’s one of the smaller cities of Skyrim. Here, players will find the Windpeak Inn where they can rest their feet during their travels.
The Quicksilver Mine and Ironbreaker Mine are also both just around the corner, as is the hidden Dawnstar Sanctuary of the Dark Brotherhood, just a few steps away from the city itself.
Most Important NPCs In Dawnstar
9Falkreath: 20
Falkreath is located almost in the exact opposite direction of Dawnstar in the south of Skyrim, slightly west, where the snow is less common. The city is surrounded by a lush pine tree forest, and a few steps outside of it is the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary. It shares a border with the provinces of Hammerfell and Cyrodiil.
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Falkreath has only 20 inhabitants, which is understandable given its size. It’s another smaller city, with no grand stone walls to fend off attackers or invaders. Hence, the Jarl only has a Longhouse rather than a palace.
Most Important NPCs In Falkreath
8Markarth: 65
Markarth is found in the extreme southwest of Skyrim. One of the most visually stunning cities of the province, it’s built into the mountain it hugs, with many of its facilities remnants of Dwemer architecture. It also overlooks a small city and some of its houses carve deep into the mountains behind.
Since Markarth is a bigger city, it’s no surprise that it has an impressive 65 inhabitants, including those imprisoned and found in Cidhna Mine when the Dragonborn is also captured and imprisoned.
Most Important NPCs In Markarth
7Morthal: 23
Morthal is one of those smaller cities that are sort of in the middle of everything, and not necessarily in a good way. The city is actually surrounded by marshes and a thick mist, which definitely makes it a fairly uninviting place to live in. Despite this, 23 inhabitants still stay in this small city.
Most of the buildings in Morthal are houses, with only the Moorside Inn and Thaumaturgist’s Hut as points of interest. There’s also a cemetery slightly behind the city, which becomes a central partof one of the questsinvolving the people of Morthal.
Most Important NPCs In Morthal
6Riften: 58
Riften is a beautiful city perched on a lake in the southeast corner of Skyrim. Most of the city is built on wooden and brick foundations, with an impressive dock that overlooks the lake.Home to the Thieves Guildand the Black-Briar family, it may have a bad reputation as being a shifty city, but it still has 58 inhabitants.
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Riften’s special areas include its orphanage, which is the subject of one of the Dark Brotherhood quests. Underneath the city is the extensive Ratway that leads up to the Ragged Flagon and further into the den of the thieves that rule the city.
Most Important NPCs In Riften
5Riverwood: 17
While Riverwood is not exactly a city, it has a considerable size compared to many of the other towns and settlements found all around Skyrim. Known as the very first town players are likely to walk into after escaping Helgen, Riverwood has a special place in everySkyrimfan’s heart as the starting place of the story.
Riverwood has 17 inhabitants, including a dog, which is why it’s surprisingly busy for a small town. Located by a river and one of the major highways running through Skyrim, it’s an ideal place to pass through when traveling from the south towards central Skyrim.
Most Important NPCs In Riverwood
4Solitude: 62
Solitude is a special city due to being the capital of the entire province. From its Blue Palace, the widowed Jarl Elisif now rules despite the absence of her husband, the former High King Torygg of Skyrim.With the Thalmor Embassyright by the mountains near Solitude, this is the place where politics clash repeatedly.
Solitude has 62 inhabitants and is quite significant in size. From its docks found outside of its walls to the magnificent houses that dot its cobblestone streets, as well as the headquarters of the Imperial Legion, it’s a busy city with tons of things to see and do for adventurers.
Most Important NPCs In Solitude
3Whiterun: 74
Whiterun is another very special place for dedicatedSkyrimfans since it’s likely the first city the Dragonborn will wander into if they follow the main quest from Helgen. Perched on top of a hill in the very middle of Skyrim, Whiterun is a place where people stop by to rest and trade their goods.
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Whiterun is significant in size, with 74 inhabitants. It’s a surprise the city isn’t considered the capital of Skyrim based on those statistics alone, even if it is considered as such in spirit.
Most Important NPCs In Whiterun
2Windhelm: 56
Windhelm is a snowy town located in the eastern parts of Skyrim, right by the sea and the mountains. Surrounded by tall stone walls, it’s an extremely old city andthe headquarters of the Stormcloak movement. Here, Ulfric rules as High King from his throne, despite his city being riddled with oppression towards the Dunmer.
Windhelm has 56 inhabitants and is most famous for its murder mystery house and the Grey Quarters where the Dunmer are confined when faced with oppression. Right outside, it has decently sized docks that allow for trade to come in through the seas.
Most Important NPCs In Windhelm
1Winterhold: 29
Winterhold is a city that lies in ruins, as is evident the moment we walk in. The majority of the houses in the city are completely wrecked, following a natural disaster that claimed most of the city with it. However, the College, which forms part of the city and is its best-known feature, survived the incident.
Despite many having abandoned Winterhold after its downfall, 29 people still continue to live here in hopes of a better future. Although many locals view the College with hostility, the mages within still thrive in their study of the various schools of magic.
Most Important NPCs In Winterhold
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
