As of 2024, Tokyo, the capital of Japan, stands as the world's most populous city, boasting a population exceeding 37 million residents. Following closely behind are New Delhi in India and Shanghai in China, occupying the second and third positions, respectively.
The global population has surpassed the 8 billion milestone and shows no signs of slowing its rapid expansion. Consequently, cities worldwide are witnessing substantial increases in population. Key drivers of this phenomenon include globalization and urbanization. Consequently, cities are experiencing unprecedented levels of congestion, resulting in the emergence of megacities with populations exceeding tens of millions.
The following list presents the top 10 largest cities by population as of 2024, highlighting the enduring trend of urban growth and its profound implications on global demographics.
Top Largest Cities by Population
As anticipated, the foremost three cities in terms of population size hail from Japan, India, and China. Here is the ranking:
- Tokyo (Population: 37,435,192)
- Delhi (Population: 29,399,142)
- Shanghai (Population: 26,317,105)
- Sao Paulo (Population: 21,846,508)
- Mexico City (Population: 21,671,909)
- Cairo (Population: 20,484,966)
- Dhaka (Population: 20,283,551)
- Mumbai (Population: 20,185,063)
- Beijing (Population: 20,035,454)
- Osaka (Population: 19,222,664)