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Top Ten Most Populous Cities – Then, Now, and the Future

by | Sep 21, 2020 | Cities, NewPost, Original Articles, Top Ten Lists

Top Ten Most Populous Cities – Then, Now, and the Future

By Luming Zhao

Human civilization has been defined by the rise of cities. In fact, the word derives from the Latin term civitas, or “city.”

 

Throughout history, the great cities of the world have driven economic, political, cultural, and social change. Simply put, our world would not be the same without the rise of cities.

 

Today, cities account for about 80% of global GDP, and account for some 55% of the world’s population. By the year 2050, according to the UN, more than two-thirds of the world will live in cities.

 

Cities, like nations, can benefit from population size. When leveraged well, sizable cities can become centers of trade and  innovation. On the flip side, populous cities pose immense challenges to governments to provide infrastructure, healthcare, education and other needs.

 

These Three Top Ten lists of the world’s most populous cities from three different eras (2020, 2035 forecast, and 1950) offer a snapshot of the changing dynamics of our world.

 

The Top Ten Most Populous Cities – 2020

 

    1. Tokyo, Japan                    37.4 Million
    2. Delhi, India                       29.3 Million
    3. Shanghai, China              26.3 Million
    4. Sao Paulo, Brazil             21.8 Million
    5. Mexico City, Mexico         21.6 Million
    6. Cairo, Egypt                     20.4 Million
    7. Dhaka, Bangladesh         20.2 Million
    8. Mumbai, India                  20.1 Million
    9. Beijing, China                  20 Million
    10. Osaka, Japan                  19.2 Million

 

The Top Ten Most Populous Cities – 2035 (Forecast)

 

    1. Jakarta, Indonesia              38 Million
    2. Tokyo, Japan                      37.8 Million
    3. Chongqing, China              32.2 Million
    4. Dhaka, Bangladesh            31.2 Million
    5. Shanghai, China                 25.3 Million
    6. Karachi, Pakistan               24.8 Million
    7. Kinshasa, DRC                   24.7 Million
    8. Lagos, Nigeria                    24.2 Million
    9. Mexico City, Mexico           23.5 Million
    10. Mumbai, India                    23.1 Million

 

The Top Ten Most Populous Cities – 1950

 

    1. New York, USA                   12.3 Million
    2. Tokyo, Japan                      11.2 Million
    3. London, UK                        8.3 Million
    4. Osaka, Japan                     7 Million
    5. Paris, France                      6.2 Million
    6. Moscow, SU                       5.3 Million
    7. Buenos Aires, Argentina    5.1 Million
    8. Chicago, USA                     4.9 Million
    9. Kolkata, India –                   4.6 Million
    10. Shanghai, China –              4.2 Million

Sources: United Nations, Oxford Economics.

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