The population of the world is increasing very rapidly, especially the urban population. It won’t be wrong to say that more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas. The urban population is now 3.9 billion, which was 746 million in 1950. According to a report by the United Nations, 54% of the world’s population now lives in cities and it is expected to become around 66% by 2050. The difference of population between the rural areas and urban areas is still growing. The world’s cities are growing at a rapid pace, especially the African and Asian cities. The UN report also says that China, India and Nigeria will make 37% of the urban population of the world. It also mentions that India will be on the top of the chart by 2050, with 404 million people living in the urban areas. China will be on the second place with 292 million urban population and Nigeria on number three with 212 million urban people. In this article, we have compiled a list of world’s most populated cities.
10
Istanbul
The capital of Turkey, Istanbul is the ninth country on the list with around 7.8 million inhabitants. The city is partly in Europe and partly in Asia, with about three quarters of population living on the European side. It is the most important seaport of Turkey and the largest city of the country by population. The name Istanbul was given to the city by the Ottoman Empire when they conquered it in 1453. The metropolitan Istanbul has the grandeur of the ancient world melded with the allure of the modern.
9
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city in China as far as the land is concerned, and is also one of the most populated cities of the world, with around 19.4 million inhabitants. And the number is still growing at a very fast pace year by year. Shanghai is also one of the world’s largest seaports as two major rivers of China meet and then flow into the East China Sea in the north of the city. The city has inhabitants of the native Chinese origin who live mostly in the south, while most of the foreigners live in the north and the outlying suburban areas of the city. The major reconstruction of Shanghai is still underway and the goal of this is to transform the city into one of the world’s most advanced cities.
8
Beijing
The capital of China, the UN ranks Beijing at number nine in the urban population chart with just under 20 million inhabitants. Located in the north of China, it is the second largest city of the country by urban population. Beijing is also the country’s political, educational and cultural center. The major headquarters of most of the government institutions are in Beijing. It is also close to Tianjin, the port city of China, and is partially bordered with Hebei Province; Beijing is also the most important transportation center and is the country’s entry port.
7
Osaka
This Japanese city is ranked seventh with the population above 20 million. It is considered as the economic center of Japan and is the third largest city of the country as far as population is concerned. It is located in the Kansai region of Japan, in the very mouth of the Yodo River and Osaka Bay.
6
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo, with around 21 million people is at number six. The city was a small town until the mid 19th century, when it became a main commercial center of the coffee industry of Brazil. The population of the city is very diverse culturally and a large number of inhabitants of the city are mainly from Italy and Japan. The modern Sao Paulo is a dynamic metropolitan area known for its thrilling nightlife.
5
New York City
With Over 22 million inhabitants, New York is the first American city in the list. It is a multicultural city. New York also reflects freedom, capitalism and democracy of America. It titled as “the city that never sleeps” and a huge number of tourists come to visit it for architectural landmarks, museums and much more.
4
Mumbai
Mumbai is at number four with around 22.8 million urban dwellers. It is also the second Indian city in the list. Mumbai is the richest city of India. The level of living in this city is very high and attracts a lot of tourists annually from all over the world. Also the entertainment industry of the country is mainly in Mumbai, which makes it the most cosmopolitan city of India.
3
Mexico City
With around 23.4 million urban dwellers, Mexico City is the third most populous city of the world. It is the largest city in Mexico and North America. It is also called the most important political, cultural, financial and educational center of Mexico. When the Spanish conquered the land in 1521, Mexico City was named the capital of all of the Spain’s American colonies. When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico City became the capital of the country.
2
Delhi
The Indian capital Delhi is at number two with 25 million dwellers. UN has predicted that the population of the country will rise and by 2030 it will reach 36 million. The city is one of the most important cultural and political centers of India. Throughout the history of the country, Delhi has remained the epicenter of power struggle. Many kingdoms and empires were created and destroyed by many foreign and indigenous rulers who came to India.
1
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, tops the list with 38 million people. It is basically a metropolitan conglomeration of two cities Tokyo-Yokohama. The size of the city is not that big as its population size. Also the modernization, disasters and wars have destroyed the older buildings, leaving no evidence of its past. The new Tokyo is a city full of skyscrapers and neon lights, due to which it is also called the city of lights.