This article looks at the 40 most overcrowded cities in the world and discusses companies that are playing a key role in managing challenges that emanate from rapid urbanization. You can skip our detailed discussion and see the 5 Most Overcrowded Cities in the World here.
If interested, you can also read our article on the 50 Most Populated Countries in the World.
Urbanization’s Dual Impact: Challenges and Opportunities in a Rapidly Expanding World
Around 4.4 billion people, equivalent to 56% of the global population, live in cities according to the World Bank. The urban population is projected to be more than double in size by 2050, resulting in nearly 70% of the world’s population residing in cities. The rapid pace of urbanization brings challenges such as a burden on existing infrastructure, and rising demand for affordable housing, transport systems, jobs, and other basic services. It also increases pollution.
Having said that, more than 80% of the world’s GDP is generated by urban areas, and urbanization, if managed well, can lead to sustainable growth in cities through innovation and increased productivity. Several large corporations are already leading the way in this realm through their sustainable practices.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been at the forefront of Asia-Pacific’s digital transformation. In 2014, the company partnered with the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) in India to transform it into a smart city and empower its residents with solutions to make citizen services more responsive and increase the productivity and efficiency of the government. Before this, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) had already created a dashboard for the SMC that provided an overall view of the city’s key performance indicators and also covered aspects related to citizen complaints, healthcare, and work on ongoing projects.
The IT staff in Kobe, Japan received nearly 40,000 calls a day during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking information that needed an immediate response. The local government used Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Power Platform to build an application that was capable of responding to most queries, except the most complex ones, resulting in a 90 percent decrease in calls in the following months. This not only resulted in a better experience for Kobe’s citizens but also helped save costs for the local administration.
Raleigh in South Carolina this year announced the adoption of artificial intelligence to tackle the city’s burgeoning traffic and invested in NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s Metropolis platform which is designed to make cities more efficient and safer through various ways, including effective management of traffic and smart parking. The city had long been working with NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) to analyze traffic and find ways to reduce congestion on the roads and intersections.
Under the new system, the city administration uses NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s DeepStream platform to get real-time data on the number of vehicles entering and exiting each roads, and then this information is visualized and passed on to Raleigh’s vendors that manage the traffic lights to ensure traffic flows smoothly without any bottlenecks. James Alberque, the GIS and Emerging Technology Manager at the City of Raleigh, says that the system operates with great accuracy levels of up to 95%. Hundreds of cameras are installed across Raleigh with sights set on the flow of traffic, parking utilization, license plate tracking, waiting time at bus stops, and even road flooding after rains.
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Methodology
The most overcrowded cities in the world are ranked in ascending order of the population density per square mile in these urban areas. The data is as of August 2023 and has been sourced from Demographia World Urban Areas. Note: This ranking is based on the urban area definition, which includes both the city center and surrounding suburbs/outskirts. Different definitions of a city (e.g., city proper, metropolitan area) may yield different results
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Let’s now head over to the list of the most densely populated urban areas in the world.
40 Most Overcrowded Cities in the World:
40. Sialkot, Pakistan
Population Density (2023): 44,657 people per square mile
Sialkot is an industrial city in the Punjab province, known for its manufacturing and export of leather goods, sports equipment, and surgical items. It is the 13th most populous city in Pakistan.
39. Jalgaon, India
Population Density (2023): 46,267 people per square mile
Situated in the Indian state of Maharashtra, Jalgaon is popular for the gold produced in the area. It is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world with a population density of 46,267 people per square mile.
38. Karachi, Pakistan
Population Density (2023): 46,657 people per square mile
With a population of over 20 million in 2023, Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan, and by some estimates, the fourth most populous urban area in the world.
37. Dakar, Senegal
Population Density (2023): 46,800 people per square mile
Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal. It is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world, with a population density of 46,800 people per square mile.
36. Bogotá, Colombia
Population Density (2023): 47,244 people per square mile
Bogotá is the capital of Colombia, with a population of over 10 million people spread across only 217 square miles, making it one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
35. Douala, Cameroon
Population Density (2023): 48,090 people per square mile
Douala is the largest city and economic capital of Cameroon, which attracts residents from across the country. The city has one of the highest costs of living in Africa.
34. Varanasi, India
Population Density (2023): 48,194 people per square mile
Varanasi is a city in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, and is widely regarded as the spiritual capital of the country. With a population density of 48,194 people per square mile, it is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
33. Patna, India
Population Density (2023): 48,275 people per square mile
Patna is an ancient city located on the banks of the Ganges River in the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. It has a population in excess of 3.3 million people and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world.
32. Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population Density (2023): 48,393 people per square mile
Kananga is the capital of DR Congo’s Kasai-Central Province. It is the fourth most populated urban area in the country and is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
31. Larkana, Pakistan
Population Density (2023): 49,083 people per square mile
Larkana is a historical city in Pakistan’s Sindh province and is home to Mohenjo-daro, an archaeological site from the Indus Valley Civilization. It has a population density of 49,083 people per square mile.
30. Alexandria, Egypt
Population Density (2023): 49,133 people per square mile
Alexandria in Egypt is one of the most ancient cities in the world. It is also among the most densely populated, with 49,133 people living per square mile.
29. Gaya, India
Population Density (2023): 49,538 people per square mile
Gaya is a holy city in the Indian state of Bihar and is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world with a population density of 49,538 people per square mile.
28. Tongcheng, China
Population Density (2023): 50,364 people per square mile
Tongcheng is a city under the jurisdiction of Anqing city in China’s Anhui province. The urban area has a population of a little over half a million people, but is densely populated.
27. Port Said, Egypt
Population Density (2023): 51,375 people per square mile
Located on the northern end of the Suez Canal, Port Said has a population of over 820,000 residents, with a population density of 51,375 people per square mile.
26. Prayagraj, India
Population Density (2023): 51,872 people per square mile
Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, is a major city in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, and one of the most densely populated cities in the world.
25. Yaounde, Cameroon
Population Density (2023): 52,750 people per square mile
Yaounde is the capital city of Cameroon which is spread over seven hills. It has a population of 4.6 million people and is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
24. Kabul, Afghanistan
Population Density (2023): 53,010 people per square mile
Over the past half a century, Afghans from across the country have migrated to Kabul, a relatively secure zone, to flee the violence in most other parts of the country. As a result, it is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
23. Moradabad, India
Population Density (2023): 53,800 people per square mile
Moradabad is another city on the list from India’s Uttar Pradesh state. It is known for its handicraft industry, especially brass work.
22. Hargeysa, Somaliland
Population Density (2023): 56,040 people per square mile
Hargeysa is the capital of the Republic of Somaliland, a de facto sovereign but unrecognized state in Africa. It has a population density of 56,040 people per square mile.
21. Sylhet, Bangladesh
Population Density (2023): 56,632 people per square mile
Sylhet has a population of over one million people. Located in the northeast of Bangladesh, it is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
20. Chittagong, Bangladesh
Population Density (2023): 56,811 people per square mile
Chittagong is a port city in southern Bangladesh, with a population density of 56,811 people per square mile. It has the busiest port in the Bay of Bengal.
19. Saharanpur, India
Population Density (2023): 57,600 people per square mile
Saharanpur is a city in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, that has developed a reputation for being among the leading cities in the country for wholesale and retail trade. It has a population density of 57,600 people per square mile.
18. Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Population Density (2023): 57,750 people per square mile
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. It is among the world’s most significant financial centers.
17. Surat, India
Population Density (2023): 58,416 people per square mile
Surat is a major commercial hub for textile trade in the Indian state of Gujarat. It has a population of 6.6 million people and is densely populated.
16. Firozabad, India
Population Density (2023): 59,286 people per square mile
Firozabad is located near Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world and the center of the country’s glass-blowing industry.
15. Hyderabad, Pakistan
Population Density (2023): 59,340 people per square mile
Hyderabad is the second largest city in Pakistan’s Sindh province, with a population of nearly 2.8 million. Approximately 59,340 people live per square mile in the city.
14. Herat, Afghanistan
Population Density (2023): 60,250 people per square mile
Herat is the third largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of over 1.2 million people. The city is popular for its rich tradition and ancient sites.
13. Macau, Macau SAR
Population Density (2023): 61,800 people per square mile
Macau is a special administrative region located on the south coast of China. It is a top tourist destination and a major gambling hub. Macau is also among the most densely populated cities in the world, with 61,800 people living per square mile.
12. Al-Mansurah, Egypt
Population Density (2023): 62,063 people per square mile
Al-Mansurah is a city located on the eastern bank of the River Nile. It is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
11. Mumbai, India
Population Density (2023): 62,349 people per square mile
Mumbai is India’s financial capital and a cultural hub located on the country’s west coast. The city has a population of over 25 million that continues to grow due to a high birth rate and rapid rural-to-urban migration.
10. Muzaffarnagar, India
Population Density (2023): 63,273 people per square mile
Muzaffarnagar is a major industrial city in India’s Uttar Pradesh state. It has a population of nearly 700,000 people and a population density of 63,273 per square mile.
9. Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population Density (2023): 65,906 people per square mile
Mbuji-Mayi is the capital of Kasai-Oriental Province and the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a population of 3.5 million people.
8. Asansol, India
Population Density (2023): 66,154 people per square mile
Asansol is the second largest city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world, with a population density of 66,154 people per square mile.
7. Al-Mahallah, Egypt
Population Density (2023): 67,286 people per square mile
Al-Mahallah is the largest city in Egypt’s Gharbia Governorate, with a population of 950,000. It is a major agricultural and industrial city.
6. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population Density (2023): 67,465 people per square mile
Kinshasa is the capital city of DR Congo and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. It is also amongst the world’s fastest-growing cities, with a population over 17 million.
5. Tshikapa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population Density (2023): 72,000 people per square mile
Tshikapa in DR Congo is the capital of Kasai Province and is located only 60 kilometers from the border with Angola. It is one of the most overcrowded cities in the world, with a population density of 72,000 people per square mile.
4. Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Population Density (2023): 75,000 people per square mile
Kutupalong Refugee Camp is an urban area located in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar. It mainly houses Rohingyas who fled persecution in Myanmar. Around 600,000 people live here, with a population density of a staggering 75,000 per square mile.
3. Dhaka, Bangladesh
Population Density (2023): 80,059 people per square mile
Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, is the third most overcrowded city in the world, with a population density of over 80,000 people per square mile.
2. Tanta, Egypt
Population Density (2023): 81,222 people per square mile
Tanta, located between Alexandria and Cairo, is one of the most populous cities in Egypt. It has a population density of 81,222 people per square mile, making it one of the most overcrowded cities in the world.
1. Mogadishu, Somalia
Population Density (2023): 86,102 people per square mile
Civil war has ravaged Somalia for decades now. Several families from rural areas are fleeing to cities seeking shelter, food, and healthcare. More than 4.2 million people live in the capital, Mogadishu, with more arriving every day. With a population density of 86,102 people per square mile, the Somali capital is the most overcrowded city in the world.
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