Top 20 Largest Cities in The World 2023

Have you ever wondered what the biggest cities are on Earth? We have been around the world and seen many of the world largest cities, and even the list surprised us!

It is perhaps unsurprising that the bulk of the world’s most populous cities is located in China and India, the world’s two most populous nations. Shanghai and Beijing have 25 million and 22 million or 0.025 billion and 0.022 billion populations, respectively, whereas Mumbai and Delhi have populations of 21.5 million and 27 million, respectively. 

As the world population continues to grow and urbanization continues to expand, the world’s largest cities have become more and more populated. According to the United Nations, the world’s urban population lives in cities that have populations of over 10 million people. This means that the top 20 largest cities in the world have populations of over 15 million people.

Largest Cities In Asia

China and India are two of the most populated countries in the world, and as such, most of the cities on this list are located in those countries. The cities of Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Dhaka, and Beijing are all located in Asia and each has a population of over 20 million people. Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Cairo, and Mumbai are all located in South America and the Middle East, respectively, and each have a population of over 20 million people.

In addition to the cities in Asia, South America, and the Middle East, the United States is also home to one of the top 20 largest cities in the world: New York City. With a population of over 18 million people, New York City is the 11th largest city in the world.

In addition to the cities listed above, there are several cities in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Argentina that have populations of over 15 million people. Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Buenos Aires are all cities with populations of over 15 million people, making them some of the most populated cities in the world.

What is the largest city in the world by population?

The urban area environments are home to most of the population according to the top biggest cities in the world in 2023. Researchers classify the world’s largest cities as “megacities” if they have a population of above 10 million people. The World Population Review, a website that simplifies demographic data into simply digestible statistics, rates Tokyo as the city with the largest population in the world for 2023, with over 37 million population. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, a flourishing urban metropolis renowned for its busy streets and neon-lit skyscrapers. Osaka, another Japanese city with a population of almost 20.5 million, is in 10th place.

There are also a handful of non-Asian cities that are part of the worlds top biggest cities with large populations, such as Mexico City with over 21 million residents, Cairo with almost 19.5 million residents, and Buenos Aires with about 15.5 million residents. Istanbul is considered the most populous city in Europe, more than 14.5 million people living in Istanbul. It is followed by Moscow, with over 12 million inhabitants, and Paris, with 11 million inhabitants, including the Paris metropolitan area. In addition to their cultural significance, these cities attract millions of tourists annually. 

Biggest Cities In The World

There are many famous and culturally rich cities with low populations according to the top 20 world’s biggest cities, which typically results in a higher standard of living for their citizens. Barcelona, Sydney, Berlin, and Vancouver are all cities with fewer than five million citizens, but they are all top-rated urban living options. There are also some relatively small cities with significant cultural, historical, or political reputations, such as Sarajevo with 314,000 residents, Edinburgh with 502,000 residents, and Venice with 631,000 residents, proving that small cities can be highly significant regardless of their population size.

The world’s population is constantly growing, and cities are becoming more and more populated. But which cities have the largest populations? According to the United Nations, the 20 largest cities in the world are Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Dhaka, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Cairo, Beijing, Mumbai, Osaka, New York City, Chongqing, Karachi, Istanbul, Kinshasa, Lagos, Buenos Aires, Calcutta, Manila, and Tianjin.

Breakdown

Urban population is an important indicator of global population, describing how many people live in cities or urban areas. Currently, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this number is expected to increase in the coming years. The cities on this list are some of the most populated cities in the world. Cities in China and India dominate the list, but there are several cities in the United States, South America, Africa, and elsewhere.

Top 5 Biggest Cities In The World

The largest city in the world is Tokyo, Japan, with a population of 37,274,000 people. This city is the most populous city in the world, and it is one of the most densely populated cities. Tokyo is not just the most populous city in Japan, but it is also the most populated city in the world.

Delhi, India is the second-largest city in the world, with a population of 32,066,000 people. This city is the capital of India and is the largest city in India. It is also the most populous metropolitan area in the world. Delhi is home to many important landmarks and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Shanghai, China is the third-largest city in the world, with a population of 28,517,000 people. This city is the most populous city in China and is the largest economic center in the country. Shanghai is a major port city, and it is one of the most important cities in the world.

Dhaka, Bangladesh is the fourth-largest city in the world, with a population of 22,478,000 people. This city is the capital and largest city in Bangladesh, and it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Dhaka is home to many important landmarks, and it is one of the most important cities in South Asia.

Sao Paulo, Brazil is the fifth-largest city in the world, with a population of 22,430,000 people. This city is the largest city in Brazil and is one of the most populous cities in South America. Sao Paulo is home to many important landmarks, and it is one of the most important cities in Latin America.

Top 10 Largest Cities In The World

Mexico City, Mexico is the sixth-largest city in the world, with a population of 22,085,000 people. This city is the capital and largest city in Mexico, and it is one of the most populous cities in the world. Mexico City is home to many important landmarks, and it is one of the most important cities in Latin America.

Cairo, Egypt is the seventh-largest city in the world, with a population of 21,750,000 people. This city is the capital and largest city in Egypt, and it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Cairo is home to many important landmarks, and it is one of the most important cities in Africa.

Top 20 Largest Cities In The World

The other cities on the list include Beijing, Mumbai, Osaka, New York City, Chongqing, Karachi, Istanbul, Kinshasa, Lagos, Buenos Aires, Calcutta, Manila, and Tianjin. These cities are all important cities in their respective countries, and they are all densely populated.

The population of cities is an important indicator of the world population. While some of these cities are located in densely populated countries such as China and India, others are located in more rural areas. For example, Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is the 20th largest city in the world, with a population of 1.5 million people. This city is located in a rural area, but it is still one of the most populated cities in the world.

Conclusion

The 20 largest cities in the world are all densely populated and are important economic, cultural, and political centers. These cities have a combined population of over 500 million people, and they cover an area of over 17,000 square miles. The population of these cities is growing, and they are expected to continue to be important centers of global population. The population of these cities is an important indicator of the world population, and they are important to understand the global urbanization trends.

Below are the top 20 largest cities in the world by population according to World Population Review: 

City Rank	Population
1. Tokyo, Japan	37,274,000
2. Delhi, India	32,066,000
3. Shanghai, China	28,517,000
4. Dhaka, Bangladesh	22,478,000
5. Sao Paulo, Brazil	22,430,000
6. Mexico City, Mexico	22,085,000
7. Cairo, Egypt	21,750,000
8. Beijing, China	21,333,000
9. Mumbai, India	20,961,000
10. Osaka, Japan	19,060,000
11. New York City, United States	18,867,000
12. Chongqing, China	16,875,000
13. Karachi, Pakistan	16,840,000
14. Istanbul, Turkey	15,636,000
15. Kinshasa, Republic of Congo	15,628,000
16. Lagos, Nigeria	15,388,000
17. Buenos Aires, Argentina	15,370,000
18. Calcutta, India	15,134,000
19. Manila, Philippines	14,406,000
20. Tianjin, China	14,012,000

Largest Cities in the World  FAQs