Ranked: The World’s Largest Cities By Population
Top Cities By Population: A Global Ranking
In the past hundred years, there has been a drastic increase in urban development worldwide.
Currently, over 4.3 billion individuals reside in cities, which makes up about 55% of the global population.
However, identifying the world's biggest city can yield diverse responses based on the criteria utilized to establish city limits and determine their populations.
The image above utilizes information gathered from the most recent authoritative population surveys and estimations to evaluate and categorize the leading cities based on the three prevailing indicators.
Top Cities By Population
The initial measurement we consider relies on the core area of the city, indicating the official jurisdiction.
Based on the definition given by the United Nations, a city proper refers to the sole administrative area that encompasses the core of a city with historical significance.
The measurement of this kind has identified Chongqing, a city in China, as the top performer. Chongqing's administrative region is as vast as the country of Austria, and it is home to a whopping 32.1 million people residing in its urban areas.
Chongqing is home to an exceptionally extensive monorail network, known for its impressive length and bustling activity, encompassing a remarkable 70 stations. The city's Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport also stands proudly in the list of the world's 50 busiest airports. Moreover, Chongqing has cemented its position as one of the leading global centers for scientific research, securing a spot among the top 50 hubs in the world.
Several Chinese cities outperform others in this aspect.
Delhi, the inaugural city outside of China, has been undergoing extraordinary urban growth at an unprecedented rate.
According to the United Nations, by 2050, India is expected to witness a substantial increase of more than 400 million individuals residing in urban areas. This figure surpasses the projected 250 million urban dwellers in China and 190 million in Nigeria.
Biggest Cities: Urban Area
This assessment mostly disregards borders and perceives a city as a continuous, linked urban region.
According to Demographia, urban areas operate as a cohesive economic entity, connected by patterns of commuting, social interactions, and economic exchange.
Based on this measure, Tokyo is at the top of the list:
Around 10% of the Japanese population resides within the confines of the urban center. However, if we take into account the wider Tokyo metropolitan region, which encompasses cities such as Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba, the total population of Tokyo exceeds a staggering 37 million inhabitants, constituting roughly 30% of the entire nation's populace.
As a result, despite having a highly extensive railway network, trains in Tokyo experience an astonishing level of congestion, reaching a staggering 200% occupancy rate during rush hours in the most densely populated regions. Additionally, Tokyo is renowned for its Shibuya Crossing, which holds the distinction of being the most heavily trafficked intersection worldwide.
Biggest Cities By Metro Area
Tokyo is also at the forefront when it comes to metropolitan areas.
This metric is analogous to urban zone, although it is commonly determined by recognized institutions, either for statistical reasons or governing purposes.
In America, this is represented by metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), such as the grouping of Chicago-Naperville-Elgin or Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler.
With the ongoing increase in the global urban population, upcoming cities in Africa and Asia are anticipated to compete for the title of being the largest.
According to the UN, urban areas will be home to approximately 68% of the global population by 2050.
