Urban centers have been proliferating across the world as large populations settle in cities to take advantage of better economic opportunities, modern infrastructure, and other amenities. Asian cities have particularly recorded outstanding growth, and most of the largest cities are currently situated on the continent such as Shanghai, Beijing, Dhaka, Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi, and Guangzhou. The only African city on the list is Kinshasa.
10. Mumbai - 12.4 million
Mumbai lies on the western coast of the Indian Subcontinent, and has approximately 12.4 million inhabitants. Mumbai developedaround a fort established by the British in the 17th century. Its naturalharbor facilitated its growth, and by the 18th century, Mumbai was home to athriving manufacturing sector. The largest population of billionaires andmillionaires for any Indian City reside in Mumbai. Mumbai hosts such importantfinancial institutions as the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank ofIndia. As an art center, Mumbai hosts the Bollywood industry as well as theMarathi cinema industry.
9. Tianjin - 12.7 million
Tianjin lies in China's northern coastal region, andit has over 12 million residents. Tianjin developed as a trading center afterthe Grand Canal was opened in the era of the Sui Dynasty. The city saw particular growth under the Qing Dynasty as well as the Republic of China, and it has servedas a treaty port since 1860. Tianjin is also a gateway to Beijing, and Europeanarchitecture reflects its colonial history. The city's GDP in 2014 was 1.572trillion yuan with the highest GDP per capita in the country at $17,126.
8. Manila - 12.8 million
A city proper is a locality defined according to legal or political boundaries and an administratively recognised urban status that is usually characterised by some form of local government. In some cases, cities proper may not include suburbs or even parts of the urban core whereas in other cases the boundaries may include non-contiguous urban settlements or even rural areas.
The city of Manila was first founded by the Spanish in 1571. Because of this, the city is home to many historic sites dating back hundreds of years as well as a unique mix of architectural styles. The design of the city was carefully planned by American architect and urban planner, Daniel Burnham in 1905. Today, the city is the capital of the Philippines and listed as an alpha-global city. Manila sits on the shores of Manila Bay, and is renown for its harbor. The city is prone to natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons.
7. Moscow - 13.1 million
Moscow is Russia's largest city as well as the country's capital. Situated on the banks of the Moskva River in central Russia, the city is the world's northernmost megacity. The city has been the seat of power for a multitude of states before being named as the capital of Russia and the home of the Government of Russia. The city is known for its well-developed transit network, large green areas, and stunning architecture.
6. Tokyo - 13.6 million
![The The](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125867148/685352160.jpg)
Tokyo lies on the eastern coast of Honshu, the largest ofthe four islands that make up Japan. The city is the Japanese capital and oneof Japan's forty-seven prefectures. The city was initially called Edo but wasrenamed in 1868 when the Japanese imperial family relocated there from Kyoto.Tokyo's metropolis has an estimated 13,617,445 residents. Tokyo is home tofifty-one of the Fortune Global 500 firms, and it is ranked 4th in the GlobalCities Index. The inhabitants of Tokyo are almost all Japanese with communitiesof Chinese and Koreans. Tokyo is home to headquarters of large corporations andfinancial institutions while the manufacturing sector is mainly concentrated inYokohama, Chiba, and Kawasaki.
5. Dhaka - 14.5
The city now known as Dhaka has been a prominent commercial center since the 17th century and has been the capital of several empires and countries before becoming the capital of the newly independent Bangladesh in 1971. With a population of 14.5 million people, it is the largest city in Bangladesh and one of the major cities of South Asia. The city's population has grown tremendously over the past several decades emerging as a megacity by the 21st century. It is the major financial, political, and cultural center of the region.
4. Istanbul - 14.6 million
Istanbul had a fascinating history having beenestablished around 660 BCE as Byzantion and reestablished in 330 CE asConstantinople. Istanbul was a capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, andOttoman Empires, the latter which transformed it into an Islamic center. Thecity was positioned along the infamous Silk Road which facilitated thesettlement of diverse peoples in its territory. Istanbul has over 14 million inhabitants,and it attracts millions of tourists yearly as one of the most sought-afterEuropean tourist destinations. Istanbul has also earned a reputation as ahistorical, arts, cultural, and entertainment hub.
3. Karachi - 18 million
Karachi serves as the capital of Sindh Province, andits greater metropolitan area has 18 million residents. The city enjoysstrategic location on the Arabian Sea, and it is home to Port Bin Qasim andPort of Karachi which are among Pakistan's largest ports. The city wasestablished as a fortified village in 1729 called Kolachi, and it gainedprominence with the occupation of the British. Karachi's residents belong todifferent ethnicities, races, and religions making it Pakistan's most diverseand secular city. Karachi's formal economy was valued at $113 billion in 2014,and it generates about 20% of the nation's GDP.
2. Beijing - 18.5 million
Beijing is the capital of China, and it sits on the North China plain in the country's north-central region.The city, also called Peking, has an eventful history from being one of theFour Great Ancient Capitals of China to foreign occupation as well as civil warin the 20th century. Beijing established itself as an industrial sector in theaftermath of the Communist Revolution of 1949. Automobiles, textiles,petrochemicals, aerospace equipment, and semiconductors are some of theproducts produced by the city's industrial sector. Beijing is home to over 20million residents. As a cultural center, Beijing boasts of seven World HeritageSites listed by UNESCO.
1. Shanghai - 24.1 million
Shanghai's population of 24.1 million makes it the toppopulous city proper not only in Asia but in the world as well. Shanghaistrategically lies in the Yangtze River Delta and the city's port is ranked asthe world's busiest having handled 37 million TEUs in 2016. Qinglong Town,founded in 746, preceded Shanghai and it grew as a trading port in ImperialChina. Shanghai's economic potential made it a center of conflict in the 19thcentury as the British and French fought to control the city. The Japanese alsoinvaded Shanghai during the 2nd World War. Shanghai is an economic and tradinghub in modern day China, and it has reported double-digit growth since 1992excluding the global recession of 2008 and 2009. Shanghai's top three servicesectors are real estate, financial services, and retail while manufacturingaccounts for about 40% of the total output. Shanghai hosts numerous industrialzones such as the Shanghai Hongqiao Economic and Technological DevelopmentZone. Shanghai attracts populations of local immigrants as well as foreign settlersfrom Japan, the US, and Korea.
The Largest Cities in the World
Rank | City | Country | Population |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Shanghai | China | 24,153,000 |
2 | Beijing | China | 18,590,000 |
3 | Karachi | Pakistan | 18,000,000 |
4 | Istanbul | Turkey | 14,657,000 |
5 | Dhaka | Bangladesh | 14,543,000 |
6 | Tokyo | Japan | 13,617,000 |
7 | Moscow | Russia | 13,197,596 |
8 | Manila | Philippines | 12,877,000 |
9 | Tianjin | China | 12,784,000 |
10 | Mumbai | India | 12,400,000 |
11 | Sao Paulo | Brazil | 12,038,000 |
12 | Shenzhen | China | 11,908,000 |
13 | Guangzhou | China | 11,548,000 |
14 | Delhi | India | 11,035,000 |
15 | Wuhan | China | 10,608,000 |
16 | Lahore | Pakistan | 10,355,000 |
17 | Seoul | South Korea | 10,290,000 |
18 | Chengdu | China | 10,152,000 |
19 | Kinshasa | Congo D.R. | 10,125,000 |
20 | Lima | Peru | 9,752,000 |
21 | Jakarta | Indonesia | 9,608,000 |
22 | Cairo | Egypt | 9,500,000 |
23 | Mexico City | Mexico | 8,919,000 |
24 | Tehran | Iran | 8,847,000 |
25 | Baghdad | Iraq | 8,765,000 |
26 | Xian | China | 8,705,000 |
27 | London | UK | 8,674,000 |
28 | New York City | USA | 8,550,000 |
29 | Nanjing | China | 8,460,000 |
30 | Bangalore | India | 8,444,000 |
By Benjamin Elisha Sawe
On WorldAtlas.com