The cities on this list of the 14 biggest cities in the world by population show us just how fast things are developing nowadays. Just like the 20 biggest cities in the United States some of these cities had their very humble beginnings not too long ago in historical terms. Other items on the list are as old as civilization. However, one thing brings them together – they are absolutely packed with the population. All of these places have more residents than many smaller countries and a lot of them have a similar size too.
Overpopulation is a huge problem nowadays. Some cities expand more and more until they reach a point where they can not progress further, but their population continues to grow. This makes it denser than ever which promptly decreases the quality of life in there due to being the perpetuating factor in the rise of many negatives such as crime and poverty. Aside from that, housing becomes more and more expensive and unavailable to everyone to the point where nowadays we can see people living in cage-like apartments in certain parts of the world. You couldn’t possibly like to spend the bigger part of your life in something with the size of a cheap college dorm room, right?
On the other hand, a bigger population means a huge boost for the economy, given that the people residing in this city can afford to live normally. With more people there are more clients for businesses and more tax money which should usually be spent on providing a better life for the growing population. Another positive side is the diversification of businesses and services. While many of them would not have been available without a big enough target demographic, others try to innovate and top the competition which can only benefit the population. What is more, with the flow of people of various cultures into the city, the cultural diversity and availability grows stronger which allows a better immersion for the people who are interested.
Even so, it is safe to say that every coin has two sides. Let’s take a loot at how it played out for these cities.
14. Shenzhen
Population: 10,467,400
Shenzhen has been actively populated since ancient times but the recent growth spurt in China’s economics has expanded is more than ever. Currently, the city offers the amenities that any city of its size should, combined with a diverse and beautiful cityscape.
13. Lahore
Population: 11,318,745
Lahore is the capital city of the Punjab province in Pakistan. The oldest documents speaking of its existence date back to the 10th century which makes it more than a millennium old. Today Lahore is a modern city that is also considered Pakistan’s educational capital.
12. São Paulo
Population: 11,895,893
The largest city in Brazil, SãoPaulo is also one of the wealthiest in the country. It is also the second biggest city in both continents of America and the seventh in size globally.
11. Cairo
Population: 11,922,949
Cairo, aside from being the eleventh of the 14 biggest cities by population, is Egypt’s capital city. It has a great cultural value related to Ancient Egypt due to its location in proximity of some of the main nodes of the ancient civilization.
10. Dhaka
Population: 12,043,977
Dhaka or Dacca, depending on who you ask, is the capital city of Bangladesh and currently one of the leading cities as far as growth is concerned. While struggling with many hurdles along its development, Dhaka is quickly shaping up as a modern city.
9. Moscow
Population:12,197,596
The capital of the biggest country on the planet is nothing but impressive in size and population. Other than that, it is also one of the most expensive cities in the world and also the coldest and northernmost megacity in the world.
8. Mumbai
Population:12,655,220
Aside from being the eighth most populous city in the world, Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) is also the most populous city in India. It is also the richest city in India, having the most billionaires and millionaires in the country.
7. Guangzhou
Population:12,700,800
Guangzhou (or Canton) is a transport hub of national importance located in South China. Its history ranges back at least to 206BC which makes it one of the oldest cities on our list.
6. Lagos
Population:13,400,000
Lagos is the fastest growing city in Africa, reaching the 6th position in our list of the biggest cities in the world by population. Located in Nigeria, this metropolis is also an important port for the country.
5. Istanbul
Population:14,377,019
The transcontinental city of Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and one of the largest in the world. It is undeniably the heart of all of its home country’s affairs and also a very popular tourist destination.
4. Tianjin
Population:14,722,100
Tianjin is one of China’s five central cities aside from being the fourth most populous in the world. It is also thought to have been settled around 320 BC which makes it another one of the oldest on the list.
3. Beijing
Population:21,516,000
Also known as Peking, Beijing is the People’s Republic of China’s capital city. Furthermore, it is the second largest city proper and the third most populous city worldwide. It is also one of the oldest inhabited regions which the human remains found in its caves prove.
2. Karachi
Population:23,500,000
Karachi is pretty much the heart of Pakistan. It’s the largest, most populous city in the country as well as being a main seaport and a center for the country’s financial affairs. Before the construction and finalization of Islamabad, Karachi was also Pakistan’s capital.
1. Shanghai
Population:24,150,000
You probably already knew that Shanghai would be the winner in this list of the 14 biggest cities in the world by population. After all, it is the biggest city in China and the biggest worldwide which makes it common knowledge.
