If you are stuck in a New York City subway car on a hectic Monday morning, you might want to believe that it is one of the busiest and most populated areas on the Earth. But – speaking statistically – the arena does not even make a cut in the top 10 busiest and biggest city in the world.
Looking across the globe, there are multiple megalopolises and metropolises that outdo New York city in terms of population and cityscape area. As you navigate down this list – which has been prepared with the help of statisticians and updated data from UN sources – you will get clarity concerning the ‘key factors’ that ensure the cities mentioned below make the cut.
Please read this definitive list well
A Listicle Of The Biggest City In The World
Before you proceed, do understand that the data used in this content was last updated in 2021. The rest of the data – has been taken from the UN websites.
#1 – Tokyo, Japan
Officially premiering at the topmost rank – it is quite difficult to believe that a comparatively small country, Japan, could have a city that lists out as the biggest city in the world. It is, without a doubt, a humbling experience to stand at the top.
The key features that have a role in its success are – its infrastructure (which accumulates a massive workforce from all over Japan), its top-notch transportation system, and the strong framework of government and corporate offices that line up Tokyo streets – to name a few.
- Shinjuku of Tokyo is the busiest railway station in the world.
- It is one of the safest cities in the world – both for its domestic and international residents. The crime rate is the lowest, and the ones targeting foreign tourists are a rarity.
- Capsule hotels or apartments are a Tokyo special invention due to the lack of space.
- As per records, Tokyo is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. Stand at the Shibuya Crossing, and it will not be surprising to see over two and a half thousand people crossing it precisely at the same time.
Founded in – 1603 (under the name of Edo)
City population – 37,340,000
Urban metropolitan population – 13.96 million
Places of interest – Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Ueno Park and Zoo, Senso-Ji Temple, Ginza District, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Skytree, cruising on the Sumida river, Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba, Imperial Palace, Edo-Tokyo Museum, National Art Centre, National Museum of Western Art and a lot more!
Airport – Tokyo Haneda Airport
#2 – New Delhi, India
Not just one of the biggest city in the world but also the most populous city of the Indian subcontinent and the second-most highest GDP contributor of the Indian domain – New Delhi, or officially the National Capital Territory, is the capital city of the Indian subcontinent.
Those who wish to take a digital time machine may go back to 2017 – when its total wealth was touted to be over $450 billion and housed close to 18 billionaires and 23,000 millionaires! Thus, one may state that – since the Mughal times through the British and now under the Indian government – it has been one of the most ‘high return on investment areas.
- The city has been inhabited since the 6th century BCE, and according to UN statistics is supposed to retain the spot of the populous city through 2030.
- Surprisingly, none of the other biggest city in the world or other sets of modern cities make their appearance in the oldest epics of the world (Delhi finds its appearance in the Mahabharat).
- Anangpal Tomar of the Tomar dynasty founded New Delhi. The Delhi Museum shows an inscription of the same with evidence of Anangpur Village of Haryana as the capital city of the Tomar dynasty.
- The current capital city of India is divided into Purani Dilli – depicting the areas that were mostly under medieval Mughal Rule, and Nai Dilli – what we know as today’s city and which developed massively under British Rule.
- Shah Jahan, during his shifting of the capital, named the earlier settlements of Delhi (the outskirts of Delhi) Shahjahanabad. In 1803, the British India Company captured Delhi from the Mughals.
- 12th December 1911 – one of the current biggest city in the world – New Delhi became the British India capital. The foundation stone of the newly created government complex was laid by King George V in 1911. The city was built within the span of 1912 – 1929.
- Delhi is also on the list of ‘largests’ and ‘only’ – The Lotus Temple is the only Baha Temple in Asia. Delhi also hosts Asia’s ‘largest’ spice market (Khari Baoli) and fruit and vegetable market (Azadpur Mandi).
Founded in – 1052
City population – 31,181,000
Urban metropolitan population – 20,591,874
Places of interest – Qutab Minar, India Gate, Hauz Khas Village, Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort, Akshardham Temple, Museum of Illusions, Baha – E – Lotus Temple, National Gallery of Modern Art, Garden of Five Senses, Lodhi Garden, Waste to Wonder Prak, streets of Chandni Chowk, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Rail Museum, Nizamuddin Dargah, Indian Parliament, Connaught Place, the Raisina Hill Rashtrapati Bhawan, Jama Masjid, Mughal Gardens – the list will never end!!
Airport – Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi Airport)
#For the unaware – the Rajpath or British times Kingsway (that runs from Raisina Hills to the National Stadium of Delhi has been renamed as Kartavya Path – honoring the sacrifices of Indian freedom fighters and India forging out its identity against the British bondage of the past.
#3 – Shanghai, China
One of the biggest city in the world – Shanghai is famed for its blend of cosmopolitan architecture with green spaces, all with the capacity to house the longest shopping district in the world. Do try visiting Nanjing road! That apart – it is one of the world’s largest seaports and a crucial industrial center for the country.
- Shanghai has the largest metro system in the world. Last placed under construction – Line 15, which intercuts the city has 459 stations and 479 miles of metro railway, with more coming up.
- If you notice the buildings of Shanghai, you will find them specifically of the ‘Art Deco’ types; a feature found restricted to this city.
- Shanghai is the only Chinese city offering a 144-hour Visa Free option for tourists from the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada – planning to extend the same to others.
Founded in – 1291
City population – 27,796,000
Urban metropolitan population – 2,315,474
Places of interest – Shanghai Promenade, Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, pagodas at Longhua Temple, Shanghai Museum, Oriental Pearl Tower, Tianzifang, People’s Square, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Shanghai Circus World, Nanjing Road are just some of the few spots in one of the biggest city in the world.
Airport – Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
#4 – Sao Paolo, Brazil
When looking at parameters such as ‘largest’ or ‘biggest’ – Sao Paolo takes the crown in multiple domains. As one of the biggest city in the world – it is not just one of the constantly growing metropolis but also the largest city in the Southern and Western Hemisphere.
- Last time checked in 2014; this city had the largest Japanese diaspora in the world
- This Brazilian city is the largest Portuguese-speaking city in the world.
- Speaking about historical factors – the Portuguese colonized this area in the 16th century. Though founded by the Portuguese, this was simply a small village area that was turned suddenly into a city area after the Gold Rush of the 18th century.
- This city is one of the major cultural and financial centers with an ethnically diverse population comprising – Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Arabic, and Spanish.
Founded in – 1554 (known then as Sao Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga)
City population – 22,043,028
Urban metropolitan population – 10,021,295
Places of interest – Monument to the Independence of Brazil, Praca da Se, Altino Arantes Building, Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Latin America Memorial, Edificio Copan, Luz Station, Ema Gordon Klabin Cultural Foundation, Ibirapuera Park, Theatro Municipal, to name a handful.
Airport – Congonhas Sao Paulo International Airport
#5 – Mexico City, Mexico
The profile of one of the biggest city in the world – officially termed as – Distrito Federal, Mexico City is not just the largest city within the domains of the Americas but also the oldest of the capital cities of the Incidentally; it is only one of the two capitals to have been found by the Amerindians – another of the pair being Quito, Ecuador.
- Among the mega-cities – it is the only one that houses above 6,000 acres of UN-protected ancient farmlands
- It is the world’s largest Spanish-speaking city and was originally founded by the Aztecs as a capital city (under the name Tenochtitlan) and rebuilt under the Spanish rule of Cortes (as the capital city of New Spain).
Founded in – 1521 under the Aztec rule
City population – 21,919,000
Urban metropolitan population – 12,294,193
Places of interest – Coyoacan Market, Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Palacio des Bellas Artes, Frida Kahlo Museum, Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Zocalo, Chapultepec Castle, Museo Soumaya, Murale des Diego Rivera en la Secretaria de Educacion Publica and National Palace to name some.
Airport – Benito Juarez International Airport (Mexico City International Airport)
#6 – Cairo, Egypt
The city that forms the backdrop to the Great Pyramid of Giza (the only remaining one of the 7 Wonders of the World) – this is one the biggest city in the world and the largest in the Middle East and Africa.
- The core city of Cairo – was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979
- The stone gates, mosques, and mausoleums of Cairo dating back to 130CE.
- Cairo is a host to the largest food court in the world – the Oasis restaurant!
Founded in – 969 CE
City population – 21,323,000
Urban metropolitan population – 8.1 million
Places of interest – Start your tour with a visit to the world’s longest Nile River, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Khan-Al-Khalili, Al Azhar Park, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo Citadel, Cairo Cave Church, and end your tour only when you have clicked yourself with the Pyramids of Giza.
Airport – Cairo International Airport
#7 – Dhaka, Bangladesh
Known as the Rickshaw Capital of the world(an estimated 1 million rickshaws circulate in Dhaka city alone) due to that being the primary mode of travel in Dhaka – this capital city situated on the banks of the Buriganga river is one of the biggest city in the world and also one of the most densely populated capitals.
- The city is a storehouse of tumultuous history from – the Mughal times to British history and till its independence as a separate nation in 1971.
- The Merchants of Eurasia called it the Venice of the East back in the golden times, while currently, it is called the City of Mosques due to the number of mosques that it has dating back from the 17th century.
- Artists specifically design the rickshaws of Dhaka – as a form of mobile street art (once in art seen around the world).
- Back in the 17th century, Dhaka was the Mughal capital of Bengal Subah. Also, after the partition of then British India – Dhaka became the administrative capital of East Pakistan (as was the division made in 1947). After Bangladesh came into existence – Dhaka has been the capital city.
- Dhaka has been inhabited since the 1st Millenium and is the largest city in the Eastern part of South Asia.
- Dhaka is one of the biggest city in the world and also the most densely industrialized in Bangladesh – contributing up to 35% to the national economy.
Founded in – 1608
City population – 21,741,000
Urban metropolitan population – 10,356,500
Places of interest – Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, Dhakeswari National Temple (Bangladesh’s National Temple), Sonargaon, Bangladesh National Museum, Jatiyo Sangshad Bhawan (House of Parliament of Bangladesh – designed by the famous Louis Kahn), Ramna Park, Shankari Bazar to name a few.
Airport – Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka International Airport)
#8 – Mumbai, India
Call it the ‘City of Dreams’ that has extended its sense of hope to Indians and foreigners alike, or statistically refer to it as the Commercial Capital of India – this is a city that does not sleep.
As one of the biggest city in the world – this does have its share of issues, but not without serving as the nerve of the Indian economy.
- The Portuguese acquired the land in 1534 and gifted it to King Charles of England in 1661. The Portuguese had named it ‘Bombaiam’
- Till the 17th century, this was the 7-island area inhabited by the Koli fisherman group who worshipped Mumbadevi (thus the origin of the name).
- It is the gateway to the country’s trading activities – via the Arabian seaport.
- One has to accord credit to the British for joining the 7 islands and forming the current Mumbai city. Multiple causeways, extensions, and reclaimed lands have created this current city.
- The Bombay Municipal Corporation was established in 1872, while the Bombay Port Trust was established in 1873.
- Bombay was previously known as the Manchester of India because of the numerous cotton mills the British had set up in the colonial Bombay province.
- According to the 2015 records of the National Geographic Channel – the city offers 200 trains that run along 300 km of track making over 2000 trips – carrying more passengers per kilometer than any other railway network in the world.
- It was named the Alpha World City in 2008 – for housing the maximum number of millionaires and billionaires worldwide. The world’s richest man – Gautam Adani, lives in Mumbai.
- The specialty of Mumbai heritage buildings is – their blending of Art Deco and Victorian styles.
Founded in – There is no specific data available, but it existed way before the Portuguese era when it came to the limelight. The last historical data available showed it to be present in the 3rd century as an important center for Mauryan Empire.
City population – 20,668,000
Urban metropolitan population – 12,691,836
Places of interest – The Gateway Of India, UNESCO Heritage Sites such as the Elephanta Caves, and Victoria Terminus. The other sites are – Juhu Beach, Colaba Causeway, Marine Drive, National Museum of Indian Cinema, Bandra Worli Sea Link, Haji Ali Dargah, Kanheri and Mahakali caves, and Siddhivinayak Temple, to name a few.
Airport – Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Mumbai International Airport)
#9 – Beijing, China
One of the world’s biggest city in the world – especially as a Capital City, Beijing has made a name for itself in the international and domestic forums. As a city that hosts the maximum of billionaires in China in the residential position, this is the cultural and financial hub of China.
- The salient aspect of China is its blending of historical architecture and modern buildings, with it hosting some of the world’s biggest shopping malls.
- Beijing has officially served as the Capital (with the name alluding to the Northern Capital) for the states of Ji, Yan, and finally, the United Republic of China.
- This houses the maximum number of Fortune 500 companies worldwide and acts as the powerhouse of most of China’s State-owned companies.
Founded in – 1045 BC (was called Jicheng then)
City population – 20,897,000
Urban metropolitan population – 11,716,620
Places of interest – The Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, the infamous Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the Palace Museum, to name a few.
Airport – Beijing Capital Airport
#10 – Osaka, Japan
Termed the ‘Nation’s Kitchen’, the Osaka Prefecture on the mouth of Yodo river (the Bay of Osaka), which was officially recognized as a municipality in 1889, is the tenth biggest city in the world.
- Located in the Kansai region, this city has been the highlight due to its infrastructure, street bars, and modern architecture, and, despite the crunch, it has some of the most open spaces.
- It was temporarily the Imperial Capital in the 7/8th centuries, with still connections to the ancient cities of Kyoto and Kobe. In fact – it was Japan’s First Capital.
- Currently – it is the second-largest city in Japan and is considered one of the crucial centers for research, fine arts, culture, and finance.
- Osaka served as the focal point of – the industrial chain in Japan, with its other facets being – a major port, transportation hub, and food arena depicting flavors of Japan.
Founded in – 1889
City population – 19,111,000
Urban metropolitan population – 2,592,413
Places of interest – Osaka Castle, Shi Tenno – Ji (Japan’s first Buddhist temple), Dotonbori Food District, Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine, National Bunraku Theatre, and Hideyoshi’s Castle.
Airport – Osaka Itami Airport
What Criteria Makes For a City Area?
When reading about the biggest city in the world – it is natural to think of the parameters that frame this distinction and the benefits of a cityscape. As per the Economist Intelligence Unit’s liveability index, the required parameters are – healthcare, infrastructure, stability, education, environment, and culture.
Compared to the outskirts, despite the pollution and the unwanted agglomeration, the cities make the cut in the desirability index.
Where does the world stand?
According to the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs – more than half of the world’s population (almost 55%) lives in the city. Also, by 2050 – this could jump up to a massive 68%, given the current rate of city migration. The current growth rate also suggests that – between 2015 – 2050, there will be urbanization of close to 35% in India, Nigeria, and China specifically.
Analyzing the current data – the Americas and the South Eastern ends of the world make up a massive part of the urban agglomerations. At the same time, the African domain remains the most rural.
In fact – coming straight from the UN reports about the population in the cities by 2030 – “ Urban areas are supposed to project 60% of the global population – with one in every three people living in cities with half a million inhabitants.”
Clearly – urban agglomerations seem to be threatening the cityscape with dire consequences.
Wrapping up
Do you belong to any of the cities mentioned above? Otherwise, do you regularly travel to any of them for professional or personal engagements? Well – what’s your experience in some of the biggest city in the world?
Would you like to share some of your regular snippets with us? Please do leave your comments and likes below and keep checking out this space for more.
