What does it mean to be a “city person?” Nowadays, it refers to a lot more than just where a person likes to live. In some countries it can mean survival, when jobs and resources do not extend into the rural areas. Living in a city can be the difference between making a living or not.
More and more people are migrating to cities all over the world because that is where the jobs are. And in some cases, a “city person” can mean one in a million, or more accurately, 1 in 38 million when talking about the largest city in the world.
Peruse this list of the world’s most populated cities (inclusive to the metropolitan areas) and you’ll find that many of them are located in the developing world. This is HUGE in terms of ending poverty. If resources are managed well as these cities continue to grow, then a majority of the country’s population will gain access to basic services they wouldn’t have if they lived rurally.
1. Tokyo, Japan: 38 million
Tokyo has always been Japan’s largest city, and it is easily the most populated in the world. The interesting thing is that it’s endured significant population declines, especially during the second world war, and has still managed to be on top.
2. Jabodetabek, Indonesia: 28 million people
Jabodetabek includes Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, but also its surrounding metropolitan areas. Jakarta is stretching its resources in order to accommodate its growing population. 250,000 more people migrate to the Jabodetabek region every year, many of which live in slums and have little access to water. But the city is where the jobs are, and jobs can mean life.
3. Manila, Philippines: 25 million
The city of Manila is the most densely populated city in the world. Center-city is home to 1.71 million with over 700,000 people per square mile. But when looking at the outer urban areas of metro manila, there are over 25 million people living there. While Manila is on the coast, it’s not a city full of beach huts, there are skyscrapers towering over like most major cities in the US.
4. Delhi, India: 25 million people
Delhi is the capital of India and home to a mere 25 million people. You know, not that many at all. Delhi is one of the fastest growing cities in the world due to high birth rates as well as migration. But as Delhi continues to grow, it will need to find ways to establish a sustainable infrastructure.
5. Shanghai, China: 23 Million people
Shanghai may be known as the “Paris of the East,” except it has just a few more people living there. While Paris may stick out as a big European city, its population of 10.5 million (inclusive to its suburbs) is not even half of the number of people living in Shanghai.
6. Lagos, Nigeria: 21 million people
Lagos is the most populous city in Africa and is a major port on the west coast of the continent. It is home to a diverse population that spans islands, lagoon and further inland. There are people from over 250 different ethnic groups living in Lagos, most of which have migrated from other parts of Nigeria. 66% of the city’s people live in slums, where they have limited to no access to roads, electricity, clean water, or modern waste disposal.
7. Mexico City, Mexico: 21 million people
This city is the cultural and financial center of Mexico, and it holds 20% of the nation’s population. Unfortunately, the city was unprepared for the fast growth its seen in recent years, and shantytowns have popped up along the outskirts of the city, leaving people without basic services.
8. Mumbai, India: 21 million people
Our second on the list from India, this city, also known as Bombay, is a melting pot of cultures, with 16 of India’s major languages being spoken there. Over 70% of its population lives in slums, where slum-dwellers have limited access to electricity, water and health resources.
9. Sao Paulo, Brazil: 21 million people
This Brazilian gem is home to the largest gay pride parade in the world. Historically, the city has been known as a hub for immigration, which has added to its population. To this day, Sao Paulo is rich in diversity.
10. Osaka, Japan: just over 20 million
Osaka Castle is one of the most iconic images of Japan, but beyond the serene imagery, it is a heavily populated metropolis, and the second Japanese city on our list. As you’ll see next in this list a lot of the most populated cities in the world are in Asia.
11. Beijing, China: just under 20 million
The second entrant for China, Beijing is a key element to the rising Asian power’s booming economy. The city’s economy grows 8-10% per year and is expected to increase even further. For those of you keeping score, Beijing makes 8 of the 11 most populated cities in the world in Asia.
12. Cairo, Egypt: 18.5 million
13. New York City-Newark Region, USA: 18.5 million
The New York City metropolitan area is surpassed in size by many cities around the world. Even though we know it to be highly developed, it had its fair share of slums not too long ago. Even today, there is a huge wealth gap between different parts of the city. The average income of Manhattan’s east side is $79,385 while the Bronx’s is $23,073. Notably, New York City is the only “western” traditional “developed world” city to make this list.
14. Seoul, South Korea: 10.44 million
Even though the population of Seoul might be less than NYC, its population density is almost twice as much at 17,000 people per square kilometer. And if you extend the count to include its metropolitan region, its population is over 25 million people.
This list can show us a few lessons. The majority of the world’s largest cities are in the developing world. And, while its not on this list specifically, cities in the developing world are the fastest growing. This means their mammoth populations will continue to grow and stretch local resources.
When housing, health care, public transportation and education are not equally distributed, slums develop on the outskirts of society and poverty becomes an entrenched part of the city. As urbanization continues, and the size of cities continue to grow larger and larger, inclusive and sustainable systems must be created to provide access to these basic needs.
The good news is focusing on these largely populated cities can mean development efforts can reach a larger amount of people faster, meaning great strides are possible towards ending poverty.
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Alex Vinci