This article explores the unique beauty and significance of the top 10 largest cities globally. From bustling metropolises to vital cultural hubs, each city discussed herein stands as a symbol of human progress and creativity, encapsulating the dynamic spirit of our evolving world.
A city is a large human settlement generally characterized by high population density, a diverse population, and a developed urban infrastructure. The top 10 biggest cities in the world are usually considered centers of culture, economy, and politics. The criteria used to determine the top ten biggest cities in the world can vary depending on the source. Some sources use population figures to rank cities, while others use the size of the urban area or metropolitan region.
Some sources also take into account factors such as economic activity, political significance, and cultural importance. Additionally, different sources may use different methods to measure and define these factors for the top ten biggest cities in the world, leading to variations in rankings.
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10 Megacities That Make the World Go Round
In the contemporary era dominated urbanization, cities are not only expanding but also reaching unprecedented levels of population This article delves into the distinctive charm and importance of the world’s top 10 largest cities. From vibrant metropolises to essential cultural hubs, each city highlighted here serves as a testament to human progress and ingenuity, embodying the ever-evolving essence of our global landscape.
1. Tokyo, Japan
- Population: 37.4 million (2023)
- Area: 2,194 km2
- Prime Minister: Fumio Kishida
- Demonym(linguistic): Tokyoite
- Divisions: 23 special wards, 26 cities, 1 district, and 4 subprefectures
- Highest elevation: 2,017 m (6,617 ft)
- Literacy: 99%
With over 37 million people living there, Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the most populous city in the world. With its ancient temples and towering towers, this bustling city seamlessly blends the past with the present. Tokyo is well known for its cutting-edge infrastructure and technological advancements as a major economic center on the planet. The main cultural center of Japan is Tokyo.
The Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park has exhibits that showcase the culture and history of Japan and Asia. Ueno Park is also home to a zoo, two major art museums, and a science museum. There are science and art museums near the Imperial Palace, and there are other museums throughout the city.
Performances of theatrical works are frequent, including anything from classical Kabuki to contemporary theater, as well as symphonies, operas, and other Western dance and music styles. Topping the long list of notable colleges and universities in the metro area is the University of Tokyo. Tokyo serves as both a major international transportation hub and Japan’s main transportation hub. A complex network of electric railways, subways, bus lines, and roads connects it.
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2. Delhi, India
- Population: 29.3 million
- Area: 1,483 km2
- Prime Minister: Narendra Modi
- Demonym(linguistic): Hindi
- Divisions: 11 districts and 33 sub-divisions
- Highest elevation: 239 m
- Literacy (2011): 86.21%
The capital of India, Delhi, is the second-largest city in the world by population, with more than 31 million inhabitants. Rich in history, Delhi is home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Red Fort and Qutub Minar. This city serves as a fusion of many cultures, customs, and culinary traditions.
Delhi is the metropolis and capital of central India. The city of Delhi consists of two parts: Old Delhi, the historic city in the north, and New Delhi, the capital of India since 1947, and a building built in the early 20th century as the seat of British India.
Delhi, one of the country’s major urban agglomerations, is located about 100 miles (160 km) south of the Himalayas along the Yamuna River, a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River, primarily on its west bank. Old and New Delhi, the adjacent metropolitan area, and the surrounding rural areas are included in the territory of the state capital. The state of Uttar Pradesh borders the area on the east, while the states of Haryana are on the north, west, and south.
Delhi, one of the country’s major urban agglomerations, is located about 100 miles (160 km) south of the Himalayas along the Yamuna River, a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River, primarily on its west bank. Old and New Delhi, the adjacent metropolitan area, and the surrounding rural areas are included in the territory of the state capital. The state of Uttar Pradesh borders the area on the east, while the states of Haryana are on the north, west, and south.
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3. Shanghai, China
- Population: 26.3 million
- Area: 6,340 km2
- Prime Minister: Li Qiang
- Demonym (linguistic): Mandarin Chinese and English
- Divisions: 16 districts
- Highest Elevation: 4m
- Literacy: 98.52%
Shanghai is the most populous city in China and the third largest in the world, with over 27 million inhabitants. As a major financial center, Shanghai is a symbol of China’s rapid economic growth. The cityscape is a masterpiece of modern architecture, with iconic landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and Jin Mao Tower.
Shanghai is a luxury playground for the fit, with Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury fashion houses, and luxury hotels. The Huangpu River divides the city into two parts: Pudong and Puxi. The Pudong skyline looks like it was ripped from The Jetsons; on the Puxi side, you can walk along the Bund waterfront district and get a taste of old Shanghai. The dining scene is phenomenal; take advantage of tours that focus on local foods, such as dumplings. Also, don’t miss the chance to fill your suitcase with custom clothing from custom shops.
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4. Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Population: 21.8 million
- Area: 1,521 km2
- Mayor: Ricardo Nunes
- Division: 32 boroughs, each in turn divided into 96 wards (districts).
- Literacy: 99%
- Highest Elevated:
- Demonym: Paulistan
Sao Paulo, the largest metropolis in both Brazil and South America, is home to more than 22 million people. It is also known for its thriving cultural scene, which hosts several festivals and events throughout the year. The city also has a diverse culinary scene that draws inspiration from many different ethnic backgrounds. Southeastern Brazil’s Sao Paulo is home to the state’s capital and largest metropolis. It is the largest industrial center in Latin America.
The city is located on the plateau of the Brazilian Highlands, which juts inland from the Serra do Mar, which rises as part of the Great Escarpment not far inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Low mountains to the west and a small basin surrounding the city. It is located about 30 miles (50 km) inland from its port of Santos on the Atlantic Ocean and about 220 miles (350 km) southwest of Rio de Janeiro. The name of the city comes from the fact that Jesuit missionaries created it on January 25, 1554, the anniversary of the conversion of St. Paul.
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5. Mumbai, India
- Population: 20.1 million
- Area: 603.4 km2 (233 sq mi)
- Prime Minister: Narendra Modi
- Demonym (linguistic): 42% of the population speaks Marathi, Hindi, and almost 30%
- Highest Elevation: 14 m
- Literacy: 89.73%
- Division: 7 zones, each consisting of 3 to 5 wards
- Elevation: 14 m (46 ft)
Being home to the hub of the Bollywood film industry, it is the city of many people’s dreams. Mumbai’s appeal stems from its resilience, as it manages to thrive in the face of many difficulties. Bombay, often known as Bombay, is the capital of the state of Maharashtra in southwestern India. It serves as a major port in the Arabian Sea and its financial and commercial center.
Located on the coast of Maharashtra, Mumbai is India’s most populous city and one of the largest and most densely populated urban areas in the world. It was built on the site of an ancient settlement and took its name from the local goddess Mumba-a form of Parvati, consort of Shiva, one of the main deities of Hinduism, whose temple once stood in what is now the south-eastern part of the city.
It became known as Bombay during the British colonial period; the name is possibly an Anglicized corruption of Bombay or possibly Bom Baim (“Good Harbour”), probably the Portuguese name for the locality. The name Mumbai was officially restored in 1995, although Bombay remained in common use. Mumbai, long the center of India’s cotton textile industry, subsequently developed a highly diversified manufacturing sector that included an increasingly important information technology (IT) component.
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6. Beijing, China
- Population: 21.76 million
- Area: 16,411 km2
- Prime Minister: Li Qiang
- Demonym (linguistic): Mandarin Chinese and English
- Divisions: 16 districts
- Highest Elevation: 44 m
- Literacy: 97.15%
Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the world’s most important historical cities. It is the sixth-largest city in the world, with almost 21 million inhabitants. Iconic sites like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China serve as a showcase for the city’s rich heritage. Few cities in the world have functioned as the political and cultural center of such a vast region for as long as China.
As Beijing has played a significant role in Chinese history over the past eight centuries, almost every major building in the city, regardless of date, is significant from a national historical perspective. Because of Beijing’s importance, it is difficult to understand China without some knowledge of Beijing.
Already more than 2,000 years ago, the site north of present-day Beijing was an important military and trade center for China’s northeastern frontier. In 1267, during the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty (1206–1368), a new city built northeast of the old one—called Dadu—became the administrative capital of China.
During the first five decades of the succeeding Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the capital was Nanjing (Nanking), and the old Mongol capital was renamed Beiping (Pei-ping; “Northern Peace”); however, the third Ming emperor restored it as the imperial seat of the dynasty and gave it a new name, Beijing (“Northern Capital”).
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7. Cairo, Egypt
- Population: 20.4 million
- Area: 3,085 km2
- Prime Minister: Moustafa Madbouly
- Demonym (linguistic): Egyptian Arabic
- Divisions: four Areas and 38 Districts
- Highest Elevation: 23 m
- Literacy: 73.09%
Over 20 million people call Cairo, the largest city in Africa and the Middle East, home. A city rich in history, it is home to the magnificent Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Cairo’s bustling bazaars give tourists a glimpse into the city’s dynamic culture. Cairo is a city of great physical differences.
Tall skyscrapers and lush vegetation coexist on the well-watered coast. In the older parts of the interior to the east, below the foothills of the Eastern Desert and the rocky outcrops of the Muqaam Hills and Al-Jabal al-Amar (Arabic: Red Mountain), the brown and ocher colors of the landscape and structures there predominate.
The city contrasts east and west, old and new. In the southwest corner of the city, near Memphis, are the pyramids of Giza, and in the northeast, an obelisk marks the site of Heliopolis, where Plato once studied. Overlooking the Nile River are contemporary icons such as high-rise hotels and Western-style residential buildings.
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8. Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Population: 23.21 million
- Area: 306.38 square kilometers (118.29 sq mi).
- Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed
- Demonym (linguistic): Bangla, English
- Divisions: Dhaka is a district (of 92 wards) in Bangladesh.
- Highest Elevation: 1,052 meters (3,451 ft) altitude,
- Literacy: 74.91%
Dutch and Portuguese traders Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is the eighth-largest metropolis in the world, with more than 18 million inhabitants. A city of contrasts where traditional rickshaws and modern cars coexist side by side on the same street In Bangladesh, Dhaka serves as a center for art, music, and literature.
It is located in the south-central region of the country, immediately north of the Buriganga River, a branch of the Dhaleswari River. Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and one of the largest metropolises in South Asia. The Dhak tree, which was historically widespread in the region, or Dhakeshwari (“Hidden Goddess”), whose shrine is located in the western part of the city, are two possible sources for the name Dhaka.
The history of the city dates back to the first millennium AD, but it became famous only in the 17th century when it served as the capital of the Muslim Mughal dynasty in the province of Bengal (1608–39 and 1660–1704). It was the epicenter of a thriving maritime trade that attracted Portuguese, English, French, Armenian, and Dutch merchants.
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9. Mexico City, Mexico
- Population: 22.28 million
- Area: 1,485 square kilometers (573 square miles).
- President: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
- Demonym (linguistic): Spanish
- Divisions: 16 alcaldías (each like a city unto itself)
- Highest Elevation: 2240 m
- Literacy: 99%
Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is the ninth-largest city in the world, with a population of over 21 million. This dynamic city is a blend of ancient Aztec heritage and modern Mexican culture. The Zocalo, one of the largest city squares in the world, is a testament to its historical importance.
The city center lies at an elevation of about 7,350 feet (2,240 meters), but total elevations average over 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). Mountain slopes of volcanic origin occupy about half of the territory of the Federal District, mainly in the south, where ancient lava beds called pedregales form the basis of much of the modern development. The city and its metropolitan area also extend into the surrounding Neo-Volcanica slopes, including the western mountain ranges of Monte Alto and Monte Bajo.
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10. Osaka, Japan
- Population: 19.2 million
- Area: 225.21 square kilometers
- Prime Minister: Kishida
- Demonym (linguistic): Osaka-ben
- Highest Elevation: 37.5 m
- Literacy: 99%
In the Yodo River Delta, Osaka is located next to Saka Bay on the eastern edge of the Inland Sea. Its metropolitan area covers the deltas of the Yodo, Yamato, and other rivers, as well as the alluvial uplands. Kobe is located about 20 miles (30 km) west of Saka on the northern coast of Saka Bay.
The region has a temperate climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Annual precipitation is about 54 inches (1,360 mm). In September, typhoons can appear in the region, which can sometimes be very destructive.
With more than 19 million inhabitants, Osaka, the second entry from Japan on this list, is the tenth-largest city in the world. Known for its cuisine and lively street food scene, Osaka provides a unique dining experience. In addition, its cultural attractions, such as Osaka Castle, attract millions of visitors each year.
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Key points
- The top 10 biggest cities in the world are all located in Asia or South America.
- The most populous city in the world is Tokyo, Japan, with a population of over 37 million people.
- The fastest-growing city in the world is Dhaka, Bangladesh, which is expected to have a population of over 30 million people by 2030.
- The top 10 biggest cities in the world are home to some of the world’s most important economic and cultural centers.
- These cities also face some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as poverty, pollution, and crime.
- The total population of the top 10 biggest cities in the world is over 180 million people.
- The average population density of the top 10 biggest cities in the world is over 10,000 people per square mile.
- The top 10 biggest cities in the world account for over 5% of the world’s total population.
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FAQs on Top 10 Biggest Cities in the World
Q. What is the most populous city in the world?
The most populous city in the world is Tokyo, Japan, with over 37 million residents in its metropolitan area.
Q. Which country has the most cities on the list?
Japan has two cities on the list of the top 10 biggest cities in the world: Tokyo and Osaka.
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Q. Are there any American cities on the list?
No, none of the top 10 biggest cities in the world are located in the United States.
Q. Is Shanghai the largest city in China?
While Shanghai is the most populous city in China, it is not the largest in terms of land area. That title goes to Beijing.
Q. What is the significance of Delhi in Indian history?
Delhi has served as the capital of various empires and dynasties throughout Indian history, making it a city of great historical and cultural importance.
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Q. How does Cairo’s population compare to other African cities?
Cairo is the largest city in Africa by population, surpassing other major cities on the continent.
Q. What are the factors that contribute to a city’s size?
Several elements, such as a city’s economic importance, cultural importance, and geographical location, influence its size. Cities with strong economies and rich cultural heritage tend to attract more visitors. Cities tend to be larger when they are located in vital areas such as important ports or crossroads.
Conclusion
In addition to being symbols of human development, the top ten largest cities in the world are also thriving centers of history, culture, and invention. Each city has a distinct personality and appeal that attract millions of visitors from around the world. These places, from the crowded streets of Tokyo to the historic treasures of Cairo, continue to shape and inspire the globe.
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