What Are The Top 10 The Most Populous Cities In The World?

With a population of approximately 37 million people, the Japanese city, Tokyo, which translates to “Eastern Capital,” is the most populous city in the world, according to a new United Nations report by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Asia is home to six of the 10 most populous areas in the world.

As Japan’s population declines and India’s continues to grow, Delhi is expected to surpass Tokyo as the most populous metropolitan area in the world around 2028. At about the same time, India is also expected to overtake China as the country with the world’s largest total population. The report added that India has the largest rural population (893 million), followed by China (578 million).

Currently, 37.26 million people live in Tokyo, compared to 25.87 million in Delhi, they are followed by Shanghai’s 23.48 million, Mexico City’s 21.34 million, and São Paulo with around 20.88 million inhabitants. Mumbai, Kinki major metropolitan area (Osaka and Kyoto), Cairo, New York-Newark, and Beijing all have close to 20 million inhabitants.

In 1990 there were just 10 megacities around the world with populations of over 10 million. There are now 33 megacities and by 2030, 43 similarly sized cities are projected. Any by 2050, the report predicts India will have added 416 million urban residents and China 255 million.

These are the world’s 10 most populous cities, urban areas, or urban agglomerations:

10. Beijing
Country: China
2015 Population: 18.42 million

9. New York-Newark
Country: United States
2015 Population: 18.65 million

8. Cairo
Country: Egypt
2015 Population: 18.82 million

7. Kinki major metropolitan area (Osaka and Kyoto)
Country: Japan
2015 Population: 19.3 million

6. Mumbai
Country: India
2015 Population: 19.32 million

5. São Paulo
Country: Brazil
2015 Population: 20.88 million

4. Mexico City
Country: Mexico
2015 Population: 21.34 million

3. Shanghai
Country: China
2015 Population: 23.48 million

2. Delhi
Country: India
2015 Population: 25.87 million

1. Tokyo
Country: Japan
2015 Population: 37.26 million