Based on World Population Review data, here are the most populous cities in the world:
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15. Calcutta
Calcutta in India, population 14,850,066
The capital of the West Bengal state is India’s third largest city after Delhi and Mumbai.
Calcutta impresses with its size and population density, but offers very poor living conditions due to air pollution and great poverty.
14. Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires in Argentina, population 15,153,729
Buenos Aires is the largest metropolis in Argentina and is also known as the “most European city” in South America.
It is a very diverse city with different quarters, such as San Telmo or Palermo.
13. Istanbul
Istanbul in Turkey, population 15,190,336
The Bosporus divides Istanbul into east and west – Europe and Asia. It is one of the most historic cities in the world and has more than just a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
12. Chongqing
Chongqing in China, population 15,872,179
This port city is located at the crossroads of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers on a group of hills and is therefore also known as the “hill city.”
It is a city of contrasts: progressiveness, tradition, urban and rural life go hand in hand in Chongqing.
11. Karachi
Karachi in Pakistan, population 16,093,786
The country’s economic and financial capital is cosmopolitan on the Arabian Sea.
Due to its vastness, Karachi is not easy to explore on foot. Its residents say the city never sleeps.
10. Osaka
Osaka in Japan, population 19,165,340
The port city is located on the main island of the Japanese archipelago Honshu and is particularly known for its modern architecture and its yatasi, street bars. Osaka is also home to the country’s first Buddhist temple, Shi Tenno-ji.
9. Mumbai
Mumbai in India, population 20,411,274
The capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra is also the economic center of the country.
Even if the standard of living here is higher than in other Indian cities, there is still poverty on the streets of Mumbai.
8. Beijing
Beijing in China, population 20,462,610
Beijing has been the capital of the country for over 800 years. A city between modernity and tradition, with a history going back more than 3,000 years.
Its Chinese name Beijing means “Northern Capital”. Parts of the Great Wall of China also run through Beijing.
7. Cairo
Cairo in Egypt, population 20,900,604
The capital of the country can look back on millennia of history. So in Cairo you can see the remains of ancient Egypt as well as the sand-colored buildings of more recent times.
6. Dhaka
Dhaka in Bangladesh, population 21,005,860
Dhaka is the capital and the center of the country, which also served as the Bengali capital during the Mughal Empire.
The city is located on the banks of the Buriganga River and is about a similar size to Berlin. Numerous mosques and palaces still bear witness to ancient times.
5. Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico, population 21,782,378
Mexico City lies between several mountain ranges and is shaped by the high altitude and the legacy of the Aztecs.
It is a city between tradition and modernity. Its vastness offers many opportunities for exploration. However, some neighborhoods are still not entirely safe.
4. São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil, population 22,043,028
The economic capital of Brazil is the largest city in South America. The megalopolis is in constant motion. But here too, rich quarters border directly on poor quarters.
3. Shanghai
Shanghai in China, population 27,058,479
In barely 20 years this city has literally exploded and become the largest city and economic capital of the country.
In Shanghai, the typical Chinese quarters are hidden between dizzying skyscrapers that shoot out of the earth along the Huangpu River.
2. Delhi
Delhi in India, population 30,290,936
Delhi, the capital of India, is located in the north of the country and has a huge metropolitan area.
Delhi is loud, full of scents, colorful and the streets lined with historical monuments.
1. Tokyo
Tokyo in Japan, population 37,393,129
Originally called Edo, Tokyo is known as the “Capital of the East”. The city is located on the eastern coast of the Japanese main island of Honshu.
The huge metropolis is composed like a mosaic of very different quarters, each with their own special features.
Those are the 15 cities with the largest and most densely populated areas in the world.