The Largest Cities In The World

Perhaps you’ve often wondered: What constitutes the largest city in the world, or what distinguishes a metropolis from an ordinary city or capital? Is it a million residents, two, maybe five, or even ten? AdmiGram.com will try to answer your question about the world’s largest cities as accurately as possible. The challenge lies in the impossibility of gathering all demographic data simultaneously.

Today, statisticians rely on census data (which may occur once every 10-15 years), correlating them with a fixed number of mobile phone subscribers. This methodology allows for the most accurate determination of the number of people living within a specific city’s boundaries. As you can see, precise demographics are very complex.

The largest cities in the world

São Paulo, Brazil

Urban population: around 13 million people

São Paulo is a major Brazilian metropolis located in the southeastern part of the country. It is the largest city in the world where its residents speak Portuguese. For comparison, in all of Portugal, the homeland of the city’s founders, there are half as many people as in the entire São Paulo metropolitan area. São Paulo is often called the Latin American Chicago for its dynamism and business-oriented atmosphere.

Mumbai, India

Urban population: around 16 million people

Mumbai is the business capital of India. It hosts the largest port on the Indian Ocean, towering skyscrapers housing the world’s major corporations, and serves as the center of Bollywood film production. Apart from the achievements of modern civilization, Mumbai boasts numerous historical landmarks such as the Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Colaba, and more.

Lagos, Nigeria

Urban population: around 17 million people

Lagos is one of the largest, most picturesque, and intriguing cities in Africa. It’s home to a huge multinational population, numerous major companies, financial institutions, and startups. The city is known for its massive flow of traffic and intense movement, especially during rush hours. The reason lies in the fact that Lagos consists of numerous districts spread apart from each other and connected by highways.

Moscow, Russia

Urban population: around 18 million people

Moscow is a fascinating city blending a rich history with modernity, featuring a vast number of historical landmarks and cutting-edge architecture. It’s often dubbed as a country within a country for its urban concept: the city is serviced by 5 airports, 9 train stations, 3 river ports, and serves as the hub for all the intellectual, financial, and economic resources of the country.

New York City, United States

Urban population: around 20 million people

New York City is a breathtaking metropolis that never sleeps. It’s so full of life that even the night shines brighter than the day. The city stands as the financial capital of the world, housing the stock exchange, banking institutions, major corporations, and renowned for its cultural uniqueness. One can indulge in a diverse array of global cuisine, music, art, and culture here 24/7.

Karachi, Pakistan

Urban population: around 21 million people

Two hundred years ago, Pakistan’s largest city was just a fishing village. Today, Karachi is a unique metropolis and one of the world’s largest cities. Unfortunately, Karachi’s uniqueness lies predominantly in its stagnant architecture and technological aspects dating back to the 1960s. It’s a very poor, dirty city where buildings rarely surpass five stories in height.

Delhi, India

Urban population: around 22 million people

Delhi isn’t far from Karachi in terms of poverty and sorrow on its streets. However, its business center, fueled by foreign investment, is developing rapidly with modern infrastructure, shopping centers, and high-rise offices. This sharply contrasts with what one might observe in the streets of the old city. By the way, Delhi has long surpassed all imaginable and unimaginable records in air pollution.

Beijing, China

Urban population: around 23 million people

Beijing, the capital of China, embodies an incredible contrast between ancient history and the achievements of modern civilization. It’s among the most beautiful cities globally in terms of cultural monuments, green spaces, and the number of skyscrapers per hectare. Frankly, as of today, this world’s largest metropolis, despite its drawbacks, is one of the most superior places to live on our planet.

Shanghai, China

Urban population: around 28 million people

Shanghai is the largest and one of the most dynamically developing cities globally, synergizing energy, history, and modernity. It’s a city of incredible technological innovations and a rich cultural heritage. Emerging from a fishing village, Shanghai has transformed into the wealthiest city globally. It’s Asia’s true gem in a modern setting. In terms of concentrated capital, it’s only surpassed by London and New York.

Tokyo, Japan

Urban population: around 40 million people

Tokyo is the world’s largest city, an enormous metropolis always ready to amaze its guests and enthusiasts. It’s a city where culture has most accurately preserved its ancient traditions while being imbued with modern influences. It’s an incredible place with its unique pace of life and labyrinthine districts adorned with millions of shops, cafes, and offices on its streets. A genuine city of the future where life never pauses for a moment.

image on top: Jerry Wang / Unsplash