Fredericton is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province along the Saint John River, which flows west to east as it bisects the city. The river is the dominant natural feature of the area. One of the main urban centres in New Brunswick, as of 2026, according to the city's update on building development, it has a population of approximately 79,000 with the metropolitan population in 2025 estimated at 125,303. It is the third-largest city in the province, after Moncton and Saint John.