The 30 Largest Cities In The World
Urban centers spread around the world as large populations settle in cities to take advantage of better economic opportunities, modern infrastructure, and other amenities. Asian cities in particular have recorded excellent growth, and most major cities are currently located on the continent, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Delhi, Mumbai, Tokyo, Karachi and Guangzhou. The only African city in the list is Lagos.
10. Mumbai – 12.4 million
Mumbai is located on the west coast of the Indian peninsula and has about 12.4 million inhabitants. Mumbai developed around a fort built by the British in the 17th century. The natural harbour facilitated its growth and by the 18th century Mumbai was home to a thriving industry. The largest population of billionaires and millionaires of any Indian city lives in Mumbai. Mumbai is home to such important financial institutions as the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India. As an arts hub, Mumbai hosts the Bollywood industry and the Marathi film industry.
9. Guangzhou – 13.5 million
Guangzhou is recognized as the educational, economic, technological and cultural center of southern China. Its location on the Pearl River facilitated its growth as a port hub. Its history spans more than 2200 years and it was an important terminus on the Silk Road. The city’s administrative region had approximately 13,501,100 residents in 2015 and is recognized as an Alpha – Global City. Foreign expats, as well as illegal immigrants, have moved to Guangzhou from Guangzhou in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe in recent years, giving the city the reputation of the ” capital of the third world.”
8. Tokio-13,6 miljoen
Tokio ligt aan de oostkust van Honshu, de grootste van de vier eilanden die Japan vormen. De stad is de Japanse hoofdstad en een van de zevenenveertig Japanse prefecturen. De stad heette aanvankelijk Edo maar werd hernoemd in 1868 toen het Japanse keizerlijke gezin daarheen verhuisde vanuit Kyoto. De metropool van Tokyo heeft naar schatting 13.617.445-inwoners. Tokio is de thuisbasis van eenenvijftig van de Fortune Global 500-kantoren en staat op de ranglijst 4e in de Global Cities-index. De inwoners van Tokio zijn bijna allemaal Japanners met gemeenschappen van Chinezen en Koreanen. Tokio is de thuisbasis van het hoofdkantoor van grote bedrijven en financiële instellingen, terwijl de productiesector vooral geconcentreerd is in Yokohama, Chiba en Kawasaki.
7. Istanbul-14 miljoen
Istanbul heeft een fascinerende geschiedenis opgebouwd rond 660 BCE als Byzantion en heropgericht in 330 CE als Constantinopel. Istanbul was een hoofdstad van de Romeinse, Byzantijnse, Latijnse en Ottomaanse rijken, de laatste die het vormde tot een islamitisch centrum. De stad was gepositioneerd langs de beruchte Zijderoute die de vestiging van diverse volkeren op zijn grondgebied vergemakkelijkte. Istanbul heeft meer dan 14 miljoen inwoners en trekt jaarlijks miljoenen toeristen aan als een van de meest gewilde Europese toeristische bestemming. Istanbul heeft ook een reputatie opgebouwd als een historisch, kunst-, cultureel en entertainmentcentrum.
6. Karachi – 14.9 million
Karachi serves as the capital of Sindh province and the greater urban area has 14.9 million inhabitants. The city is strategically located on the Arabian Sea and is home to Port Bin Qasim and Port of Karachi, which are among Pakistan’s largest ports. The town was founded as a fortified village in 1729, called Kolachi, and it gained prominence with the occupation of the British. The people of Karachi belong to different ethnic groups, races and religions, making it the most diverse and secular city in Pakistan. Karachi’s formal economy was valued at $ 113 billion in 2014 and it generates about 20% of the nation’s GDP.
5. Tianjin-15.2 million
Tianjin is located in the northern coastal region of China and has more than 15 million inhabitants. Tianjin developed as a trading center after the Grand Canal opened in the Sui dynasty era. The city grew especially under the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China, and it has served as a treaty port since 1860. Tianjin is also a gateway to Beijing, and its European architecture represents its colonial history. The city’S GDP in 2014 was 1.572 trillion yuan with the highest GDP per capita in the country at $ 17,126.
4. Lagos-16 million
Lagos began as a settlement called Eko, the main trading hub of the Benin Empire. The Portuguese renamed the area as Lagos in 1427 and in 1851 the British annexed the area. Lagos is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa and the world with over 16 million inhabitants. The city is home to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, one of the largest in Africa and about 82% of all international airline flights in West Africa originate from Lagos. The city of Lagos internally generates 75% of its revenue, and it contributes 32% of Nigeria’S GDP. The city is located in the center of the country’s film sector, popularly known as Nollywood. Numerous films are shot in the Festac region of Lagos. The city is shaping up to be a global city complete with cultural festivals and tourist destinations.
3. Delhi – 16.7
The city of Delhi consists of two regions. Old Delhi is located in the North, and it is the historical Delhi while New Delhi was established in Britain as the capital in the 20th century. The National Capital Area includes the two divisions, the surrounding metropolitan area and also the adjacent rural areas. Delhi is located on the Western Bank of the Yamuna river. Delhi has had inhabitants from the 6th century BC, and it has been the capital of various empires and kingdoms. Delhi’s wealth is estimated at $ 450 billion, and it is home to 23,000 millionaires in addition to 18 billionaires. The proper population of the city was over 16.7 million in 2011.
2. Beijing-21.5 million
Beijing is the capital of China and is located on the North China Plain in the north-central region of the country. The city, also called Beijing, has an eventful history from being one of the four great ancient capitals of China to foreign occupation and from a civil war in the 20th century. Beijing established itself as an industrial sector in the aftermath of the communist revolution of 1949. Automobiles, textiles, petrochemicals, aerospace equipment and semiconductors are some of the products produced by the city’s industrial sector. Beijing has more than 20 million inhabitants. As a cultural center, Beijing has one of the seven World Heritage sites listed on the UNESCO list.
1. Shanghai-24 million
Shanghai’s population of 24 million makes it the best populated city not only in Asia but also in the world. Shanghai is strategically located in the Yangtze River Delta and the city’s port is ranked as the world’s busiest with 37 million TEUs in 2016. Qinglong Town, founded in 746, preceded Shanghai and grew as a trading port in Imperial China. Shanghai’s economic potential made it a center of conflict in the 19th century as the British and French fought to control the city. The Japanese also invaded Shanghai during the 2nd World War. Shanghai is an economic and trade hub in modern China and it reports double-digit growth since 1992 excluding the global recession of 2008 and 2009. Shanghai’s three main service sectors are real estate, financial services and retail, while manufacturing accounts for about 40% of total output. Shanghai is home to numerous industrial zones, such as the Shanghai Hongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone. Shanghai attracts populations of local immigrants as well as foreign settlers from Japan, the US and Korea.
1 Shanghai 24,256,800
2 Beijing 21,516,000
3 Delhi 16,787,941
4 Lagos 16,060,303
5 Tianjin 15,200,000
6 Karachi 14,910,352
7 Istanbul 14,160,467
8 Tokyo 13,513,734
9 Guangzhou 13,080,500
10 Mumbai 12,442,373
11 Moscow 12,380,664
12 São Paulo 12,038,175
13 Lahore 11,126,285
14 Shenzhen 10,467,400
15 Jakarta 10,075,310
16 Seoul 9,995,784
17 Wuhan 9,785,392
18 Kinshasa 9,735,000
19 Cairo 9,278,441
20 Dhaka 8,906,039
21 Mexico City 8,874,724
22 Lima 8,693,387
23 London 8,673,713
24 New York City 8,537,673
25 Bengaluru 8,443,675
26 Bangkok 8,280,925
27 Ho Chi Minh City 8,224,400
28 Dongguan 8,220,207
29 Chongqing 8,189,800
30 Nanjing 8,187,828