A city and a town can be easily differentiated by examining factors such as infrastructural development and population, so, which are the largest cities in the world? The New World Encyclopedia describes a City as an urban area with a high population density and a particular administrative, legal, or historical status.
The world’s population is now hovering around eight billion people. That’s a lot of people walking around, trying to make a go of this thing called life. And, inside this magnificent, sentient sea, there are numerous megacities that provide community, opportunity, and identity.
The 10 largest metropolitan areas (estimated population in 2022) are listed below. They can appear overpowering at first glance. However, these tangible organisms can give a lifetime of gentle sifting, gradually revealing new jewels with each street, canal, market, monument, and so on. All you have to do is jump in.
The 10 Largest Cities in the World
1. Tokyo, Japan – 37,274,000
Tokyo, Japan, the world’s most populous metropolitan area, has a mind of its own. Japan’s capital city is located on the island of Honshu’s east-central coast, within the Kant region. This fast-paced, yet humble; congested, yet clean; contemporary, yet steeped in spiritual tradition; two-time Summer Olympic host city must be seen to be believed.
You may be standing in Shibuya Crossing (one of the world’s most dangerous junctions) one moment and dining in a quiet, old-school, four-stool-top restaurant down a narrow and historic lane the next.
The next thing you know, you’re admiring one of the city’s many Buddhist shrines before turning the corner and encountering a sensory overload of neon lights and brightly-colored business signs. What other city than Tokyo?
2. Delhi, India – 32,065,760
Delhi is the National Capital Territory of India and the country’s largest metropolis (by population). The historic city of Old Delhi (in the north) and the capital city of New Delhi (in the south) make up this metropolitan agglomeration.
Having said that, Delhi shows numerous other layers that have been piled upon themselves over time in the form of old monuments, mosques, shrines, tombs, and other types of interesting architecture.
This massive settlement is located along the Yamuna River (which flows into the Ganges) and about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of the majestic Himalayan Mountains. Apart from being India’s political center, Delhi is also a significant commercial, transportation, and cultural hub.
3. Shanghai, China – 28,516,904
Shanghai (), sometimes known as Shà ng-Hi, is the most populous city in China, the world’s most populated country. This significant seaport is located in East-Central China, on the coast of the East China Sea, on the Yangtze River’s southern bank.
Shanghai was one of the first regions to receive Western trade ships, which aided its development into the nation’s commercial and industrial backbone that it is today. The gorgeous metropolis skyline is instantly identifiable and flawlessly blends old and new (in a similar fashion to the city’s street-level culture).