Top 10 big cities in the world. List of cities in the world by population

What does a big city mean to you? A million inhabitants, two, or maybe ten or even thirty? See a photo gallery of the 20 largest cities in the world by population.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is in 20th place in terms of population.

Buenos Aires is in 19th place; 14.3 million people live in the capital of Argentina.

18th: Kolkata is the largest city in India with a population of 15.7 million.

17th place: Cairo - the capital of Egypt - the number of inhabitants is 17.3 million.

Beijing is home to 16.4 million inhabitants, which places the Chinese capital in 15th place in the ranking.

Los Angeles is the 13th most populous city with 17 million residents.

The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is the 12th largest city in the world with 20.7 million inhabitants.

The Indian city of Bombay, home to 20.8 million people, ranks 11th in the ranking.

9th place: Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, home to 21.1 million people.

7th place: Indian Delhi - 23 million inhabitants.

The Mexican capital, Mexico City, ranks 6th in terms of population with 23.2 million inhabitants.

The 5th most populous city in the world is Shanghai. This largest Chinese city is home to 25.3 million people.

In 2nd place: Guangzhou is the largest Chinese city, home to 25.8 million people.

The largest city in the world by population is Tokyo. The capital of Japan is home to 34.5 million people. Tokyo is the undisputed leader in our ranking and will remain so for a long time.

The list of the largest cities in the world 2013 did not include such monster cities as New York, Mexico City, Seoul for the reason that 8-10 million people live in these cities, not counting their agglomerations, and therefore they do not reach the top 10.

1. Shanghai, China

Population - 23 850 0500; Agglomeration - 26 ml. Human

Shanghai is the largest city in China and the world (excluding agglomeration). The city has the largest seaport in the world and plays a leading role in the economy and cultural life of the country. At the beginning of the 20th century, Shanghai was a small fishing town, but today it is the most important city in its country and ranks third in the financial world, second only to New York and London.

2. Beijing, China

Population - 20,713,000; Agglomeration - 25 million people

Beijing is the capital of China, playing an important role in the cultural, educational and political life of the country. The name of the city translates as “Northern Capital”. Despite the respectable status of the capital of the People's Republic of China, the city is inferior to Shanghai in terms of the number of people living in it.

3. Bangkok, Thailand

Population - 15,034,354; Agglomeration - 16 million people

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, its cultural and economic center, as well as one of the most important cities in all of Southeast Asia. Situated on the Chao Phraya River, the rapidly growing city plays a prominent role not only in the economy of the country, but also the region as a whole.

4. Tokyo, Japan

Population - 13,230,000; Agglomeration - 38 million people (1st place in the world)

Tokyo, founded in 1457, is located on the shores of Tokyo Bay. During the day, the city's population increases by 2 million due to students and workers arriving from other cities. The Tokyo agglomeration is about 38 million people, which is larger than the entire Asian part of Russia.

5. Karachi, Pakistan

Population - 13,227,400; Agglomeration - 18 million people

Karachi is the most populous city in Pakistan and one of the largest in the world. Despite the fact that more than 13 million people live here, there is no metro here, there are huge piles of garbage on the streets, many people have to sleep right on the side of the road, all the houses are equipped with bars to the upper floors, and the fences say “Keep Out! I’ll shoot you!”

6. Delhi, India

Population - 12,678,350; Agglomeration - about 22 million people

Delhi is the capital of India, a city that is fully replete with all the classic Indian contrasts - dirty slums, magnificent temples, bright celebrations of life and quiet death in the gateway. The city, with its constant movement, din, noise, general bustle, poverty and abundance of dirt.

7. Mumbai, India

Population - 12,519,356; Agglomeration - more than 21 million people

The city is located in western India. Its population density is 22 people per km2, according to this indicator Mumbai occupies a leading place in the world. The city is one of the country's key economic centers and is also the largest port in western India. About 10% of all Indian workers work in this city.

8. Moscow, Russia

Population - 12,029,600; Agglomeration - about 16 million people

Moscow is the capital and main city of the Russian Federation, the largest city in Russia and the most populous in Europe. According to the migration service, in addition to the 11.5 million residents of the metropolis, about 2 million legal migrants and about 1 million illegal immigrants also work and live in Moscow.

9. Sao Paulo, Brazil

Population - 11,346,231; Agglomeration - 20 million people

The city of Sao Paulo is the capital of the state of the same name, as well as the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere and the ninth in the world. The city is located in southeast Brazil. The city itself is divided into 31 districts, which are called subprefectures.

10. Bogota, Colombia

Population - 10,788,123; Agglomeration - 10,788,123

The capital of Colombia, and also the largest city, combines both its beautiful side: colonial churches, futuristic architecture, various museums, and its less attractive side: eternal traffic jams, vagrants, slums and drug dealers.

Finding out which is the largest city in the world is easy. True, there will be several such megacities. After all, some are leaders in size, others in population.

When studying a modern geographical map, it is difficult to determine which settlements have the most people and which city is the largest in the world. After all, over time, large metropolitan areas were joined by numerous suburbs: small towns, villages, large and small villages. Neighboring settlements formed vast areas of continuous construction - agglomerations. Such areas are clearly visible on satellite images in clear weather due to the artificial lighting used in cities and suburbs. The largest agglomerations are located in different parts of the globe, each of them is home to millions of people.

The tenth place in the world is occupied by Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and the most populated metropolis on the American continent. It is a multinational port with developed tourism and a rich cultural life with a population of about 20 million people. It harmoniously combines ancient buildings and modern architectural ensembles made of glass and metal.

The largest city in the United States, New York, is in 9th place. It is home to more than 8 million people, and the New York metropolitan area has about 21 million residents. This metropolis is an influential economic and financial center not only of the country, but also of the world. Broadway theaters and the Statue of Liberty are the city's most famous attractions. New York has experienced the bulk of the saddest events in the history of the United States in recent decades - the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Foreign tourists consider this city the most attractive place to visit in the United States.

Mumbai (old name Bombay) is in eighth place. Together with its suburbs, India's most populous city has more than 22 million inhabitants. This is a place where the cultures of Asia and Europe are combined, national traditions are preserved, and local residents enjoy participating in festivals and celebrations of numerous ethnic groups.

Chinese Shanghai ranks seventh in the ranking with a population of more than 23 million inhabitants. The city has low crime and unique modern architecture. In it, new buildings coexist with historical structures, and the second largest skyscraper in the world is located. Among agglomerates it is in seventh place, and among cities Shanghai takes the lead.

Karachi used to be the capital of Pakistan. Now it remains simply the largest city in the country, the center of its business, trade and industrial life. At the beginning of the 18th century, Karachi was a small fishing village, now it ranks sixth among the largest metropolises in the world. The population of Karachi is more than 23 million people, the city is actively developing and is considered one of the fastest growing.

Seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea and the center of the fifth largest agglomeration in the world with a population of more than 24 million people. Royal palaces of past ruling dynasties, museums, national parks with Buddhist temples and centers of contemporary art - there is something for the curious tourist to see. Seoul is considered one of the best cities for shopping, and you can always try something delicious in its establishments.

The fourth place belongs to the capital of the Philippines. The city of Manila and its surrounding areas are home to more than 24 million people. It is one of the busiest ports in the world with developed industry. Ancient buildings attract tourists; there are many religious and historical attractions.

In 3rd place is the oldest city among megacities - Delhi. The capital of India is more than 5 thousand years old. The city has nine distinct administrative districts with a total population of more than 26 million people. New Delhi is the central part with rich skyscrapers, a government quarter and excellent infrastructure. It is very different from the Delhi slums with miserable shacks lacking basic sanitation. There are no running waters, and more than twenty families share one toilet. Numerous mosques, temples, historical monuments, regular religious festivals, markets with a wide variety of goods and exotic Indian cuisine - all this is also the hallmark of Delhi.

Jakarta is home to almost 32 million people and ranks second among the cities with the largest population. This province with capital status has many mosques, temple complexes, parks and entertainment venues to suit every taste.

The population of Tokyo together with the city of Yokohama is almost 38 million people. This record is unlikely to be broken by any metropolis in the near future. People have inhabited these places since the Stone Age, but only in the last 100 years has Tokyo gradually developed into one of the modern and developed cities in the world and has become the largest city in the world in terms of population. It consists of many islands and mainland. It is one of the three world financial leaders along with London and New York. The population of the Tokyo agglomeration is larger than the entire Asian part of Russia.

Top 10 largest settlements by area

Some cities are distinguished not by the number of people living in them, but by their size.

The leader of the rating is Chongqing, which occupies approximately the same territory as Austria. It has become the largest city in the world in terms of area due to the peculiarities of dividing the territory adopted in China. In Chongqing, the densely populated area is very small, and more than 90% are suburban areas, which are also administratively considered urban areas.

The recognized favorite of this list is the Chinese city of Beijing. It is not only the largest capital in the world, but also a fairly populated city - it is home to more than 20 million inhabitants. Beijing is developing rapidly, has an amazing atmosphere and attracts millions of tourists every year.

It is impossible to answer the question about the largest city in the world unambiguously. You can create many different ratings and each time get acquainted with new interesting cities in the world.

With the development of industrialization, more and more people are moving from rural areas to cities. This is a natural process called urbanization. The territory of cities and the number of inhabitants is growing steadily. Which city has the largest population? What is the largest city in the world by area? Read the answers in our ranking of the top 10 big cities.

The largest cities in the world by population

To determine largest cities of the world by the number of inhabitants inhabiting them, in April 2018, scientists conducted the study "Demographia. World Urban Areas 14th Annual Edition". In their measurements, scientists took into account only urban agglomerations with continuous development. fused agglomeration were considered as one object. So where do the largest numbers of residents live? You will find the answer in the following list.

Agglomeration - a compact cluster of settlements with a clear central city.

10 largest cities in the world by population:

1. Tokyo - Yokohama. The largest city on earth by population. The population is 38,050 thousand people. This agglomeration is formed by the two largest cities of Japan fused together. Tokyo is the capital of the state, and Yokohama is the largest port in the country.
2. Jakarta. The population is 32,275 thousand people. The capital of Indonesia is growing with new residents at a very fast pace.
3. Delhi. The Indian metropolis has 27,280 thousand inhabitants. The city is the second largest in India and is home to the country's capital, New Delhi.
4. Manila. The Philippine capital is home to 24,650 thousand people, most of whom live below the poverty line.
5. Seoul - Incheon. The agglomeration of the capital of Korea and surrounding cities is also overpopulated - 24,210 thousand inhabitants.
6. Shanghai. The leader among Chinese settlements in terms of population growth - 24,115 thousand as of April 2018. It is the largest seaport in the world and the most important financial and cultural center of China.
7. Mumbai. The number of residents is growing rapidly due to a standard of living above the Indian average - 23,265,000. The economic capital of India, 40% of all foreign trade occurs in this locality.
8. . The US financial center also attracts a huge number of people - 21,575,000.
9. Beijing. The capital of China is home to 21,250 thousand people. Since 2015, population growth has slowed down, and by 2018 it stopped.
10. Sao Paulo. The most populous metropolis in the Southern Hemisphere - 21,100 thousand inhabitants. The city is an important financial center of Brazil, accounting for 12% of the country's GDP.

And our capital Moscow still ranks 15th in this ranking with 16,855 thousand people, but this number is growing very quickly. But among countries in terms of the number of million-plus cities, the Russian Federation holds an honorable fourth place. China, India and Brazil are ahead of us in this indicator.

The largest city in the world by area

There is also a system for measuring the area of ​​settlements, including the entire territory. This method does not take into account the continuity and density of buildings. In this option, the territory is calculated taking into account water and mountain areas. What is the largest city in the world by area? Find the answer to this question in the list below.

List of largest cities by area:

1. Chongqing (China) - 82403 km². It is believed that the largest city in terms of area in the world is the Chinese city of Chongqing. The territory it occupies is huge. But this is measurement data together with suburbs and villages; there is no continuous development in this territory and the population density is only 373 people/km². And its urbanized area is only 1473 km². That is why it cannot fully be called the largest city in the world. The population of this administrative unit is 30,751,600 people.
2. Hangzhou (China) - 16847 km². Second among all cities in the world in terms of territory. Hangzhou is located on the east coast of China. It is inhabited by 8.7 million inhabitants.
3. Beijing (China) - 16411 sq. km. Located in the east of the country, the most dynamically developing center of China - GDP growth from 2005 to 2013. amounted to 65%. That is why it is home to a huge number of migrant workers - over 10 million illegal immigrants.
4. Brisbane (Australia) - 15826 sq. km. Located on the east coast of Australia. Brisbane is very cosmopolitan, with 21% of its population made up of foreigners.
5. Asmara (Eritrea) - 15061 sq. km. Despite the vast territory of the African capital, its population is only 649,000, because most of it is occupied by low-rise buildings.

The largest cities in the world by area

To the list of the largest urban agglomerations and conurbations included both beautiful cities with a rich history and many attractions, as well as the greatest industrial centers.

Conurbation - an urban agglomeration without a clear dominant center.

Largest urban agglomerations by area:

1. . The largest agglomeration on the planet in terms of area, it occupies 11,875 square kilometers. The financial capital of America and the state of the same name.
2. Boston - Providence, USA. With all suburbs - 9189 sq. km.
3. Tokyo - Yokohama, Japan (Tokyo-capital). The agglomeration of the largest cities in Japan is located over a large area - 8547 km².
4. Atlanta. This American city with its agglomeration is located on 7296 square kilometers. It is the capital and largest city of the state of Georgia.
5. Chicago. Together with the suburbs it occupies 6856 km². It is the second most important financial center in the United States.
6. Los Angeles. The American city with surrounding territories is located on 6299 sq. km. Capital of the state of California.
7. Moscow, Russia. The Moscow agglomeration with all its suburbs of continuous development occupies 5,698 square kilometers.
8. Dallas - Fort Worth. Represents conurbation of many small cities, is located on 5175 square kilometers.
9. Philadelphia. 5131 sq. km.
10. Houston, USA. 4841 square kilometers.
11. Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China. Quite a long city - 4144 sq. km.
12. Shanghai, China. 4015 sq. km.
13. Nagoya, Japan. 3885 sq. km.
14. Guangzhou - Foshan, China. 3820 sq. km
15. Washington, USA. The capital of America covers an area of ​​3,424 square kilometers.

Largest cities by population density

From year to year urban overpopulation problem is becoming more and more acute. Over the past 20 years, Southeast Asia's largest cities have seen population growth average more than two percent per year. Which city surpasses all others in terms of population density? We have compiled information on this subject in the following list.

Top 10 largest cities by population density:

1. Manila, capital of the Philippines. It is the most densely populated city in the world - 43,079 people/km², and in one of the districts this figure reaches 68,266 people/km². Moreover, more than 60% of the population lives in urban slums.
2. Calcutta, India. The population density is 27,462 per square kilometer. Over the past 10 years, the number of residents has decreased by 2%. A third of them live in urban slums.
3. Chennai, India. Density - 24,418 people per square kilometer. A quarter of all residents live in slums.
4. Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. 23,234 people per square kilometer. The annual population growth is 4.2%, which is one of the highest rates in the world.
5. Mumbai, India. 20694 The standard of living here is slightly higher than in other cities of the country. Therefore, population growth is predictable.
6. Seoul, capital of South Korea. This city is also densely populated - 16,626 people/km². The capital of Korea is home to 19.5% of the country's total population.
7. Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. 14,469 people/km² Back in the 80s, the density was 8,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, and by 2018 it had almost doubled.
8. Lagos, Nigeria. 13,128 people per km².
9. Tehran, capital of Iran. 10456 inhabitants per 1 square kilometer.
10. Taipei, capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan). 9951 people per km².

Information about the largest cities is presented in the video

The size of a city is determined by its population. This is why there are many cities that are large in size and yet are called small because of the lack of inhabitants. Although it is not always good that the size of a city is estimated only by the number of people per capita. Here are the ten largest cities in the world based on population.

1. Tokyo, Japan - 37 million people

As the richest city in the entire world, there is no doubt that the Japanese city may be the largest city in the world. Tokyo has grown quite a lot from its very humble beginnings in both economy and population. The population is over 37 million people.

2. Jakarta, Indonesia - 26 million people

As the largest political and financial center in the country, Jakarta is undoubtedly the second largest city in the world with a population of approximately 26 million people.

3. Seoul, South Korea - 22.5 million people

It is not surprising that Seoul has been growing rapidly recently, and its development is not only limited in the economic sphere, but also in population and technology. The population is 22.5 million.

4. Delhi, India - 22.2 million people

Delhi comes in fourth and is almost equal in population to Seoul with 22.2 million.

5. Shanghai, China - 20.8 million people

China is known for its vast territory and dense population. Shanghai has the fifth largest population with 20.8 million people.

6. Manila, Philippines - 22.7 million people

Manila ranks sixth in the list of largest cities in the world.

7. Karachi, Pakistan - 20.7 million people

Being the cultural center of Pakistan, Karachi makes it the seventh largest city in the world, with a population of 20.7 million.

8. New York, USA -20.46 million people

Who hasn't heard of New York? Yes, it is the most populous city in the US at 20.46 million people. New York City largely stands out in terms of cultural diversity as it is home to many people from different parts of the world.