List of cities in the world by population. The largest city in the world The city with the largest percentage

There are 251 countries located in the most beautiful corners of our planet. About 2.5 million cities, large and small, provincial and developed, touristic and unknown, have been living their full lives for many centuries and even millennia. Each city is unique and interesting in its own way, but today we want to introduce you to the largest cities on our planet.

We will begin our story with the largest cities by area, and, of course, we will mention the megacities with the largest population in the world.

Chongqing (China) CITY AREA: 82,400 km²

Chongqing is a city in China that covers an area of 82,400 km². It is not only the largest and most populous, but also the most ancient city in China. Life in Chongqing has been in full swing for about 3 thousand years. The city is home to almost 40 million people, but there are much fewer registered residents. The metropolis combines the historical value of ancient architecture with the latest technologies. This is one of the largest industrial centers in China, there are 5 automobile factories here, which is why the city’s environment suffers greatly and the air is polluted. If you want to see the ancient city, then you need to hurry, because in a couple of years it may not exist. Old neighborhoods are disappearing every year, being replaced by new buildings.

Hangzhou (China) CITY AREA: 16,840 KM²

Due to the warm and humid climate, the city is simply surrounded by greenery and flowers all year round. The city of Hangzhou has existed for 2 thousand years. It was from this city that the maritime silk road began for many years. Also, for a very long time, Hangzhou was the only seaport in China. These days, this metropolis specializes in light industry. Here you can also buy handmade souvenirs. The main attraction of the city is the Chen Family Ancestral Temple - Chenjiatsi. This amazing monument of Chinese architecture of the nineteenth century. It was built in 1890 during the reign of the Qing Dynasty. Walking through the ancient complex of buildings, you can enjoy Chinese art and architecture. Believe me, there will be something to see here. Hangzhou is also home to the Huaisheng Mosque, one of the oldest in China.

Beijing (China) CITY AREA: 16,410 KM²

Beijing is the capital of China, which is slightly inferior to Hangzhou in terms of territory it occupies. Beijing ranks third in terms of population living in the city (21.5 million people). It is noteworthy that this city is the largest cultural and technologically developed center of the country. Despite the rapid development of the construction industry, a large number of ancient architectural monuments have been preserved in Beijing. The Forbidden City, the most famous palace complex in China, is most popular among tourists. It was the Chinese capital that had the honor of hosting the Summer Olympic Games in 2008. Yes, and the Winter Olympic Games were not the issue. They will be held in Beijing in 2022.

Kinshasa (Congo) CITY AREA: 9,965 km²

Kinshasa is the capital of the Republic of Congo. This is one of the African cities where almost 60% of the city's territory is sparsely populated rural areas. Kinshasa is a city of contrasts, where abject poverty coexists with the luxury of fashionable areas. Kinshasa is not the safest city for tourists, but if you still decide to visit it, you will be interested in taking a look at the Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame. Of course, it cannot compare with the Paris Cathedral, but it is the best that this city can offer you. This is where the architectural attractions of Kinshasa end, but there are a lot of natural attractions in Kinshasa, including Livingston Falls, numerous wildlife parks and the Congo River itself.

Brisbane (Australia) CITY AREA: 5,950 km²

The picturesque city of Brisbane is the capital of one of the most prosperous states of Australia - Queensland. This city is considered one of the most important cities in Australia. Brisbane is home to the country's third most important airport. Brisbane is a very warm and cozy city, summer here lasts almost all year round, and many fragrant parks and golden beaches attract tourists from all over the continent. Nature lovers will certainly be interested in visiting Fraser Park or strolling through the evergreen forests of Lamington National Park. Both of these sites are under UNESCO protection.

Istanbul (Türkiye) CITY AREA: 5,461 km²

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, located on the banks of the Bosphorus. This luxurious city is located simultaneously on two continents - Europe and Asia. Istanbul amazes with its wealth and grandeur. Every year up to 10 million tourists come here to see all the beauty with their own eyes. There are so many attractions in Istanbul that it is simply impossible to see them in one day. The undoubted decoration of this city is the mosques, the luxury of which will not leave anyone indifferent. St. Sophia Cathedral, Blue Mosque, luxurious Dolmabahce Palace, Sultan's Topkapi Palace, Museum of Palace Mosaics and this is not the whole list of what you must see in Istanbul.

Anchorage (USA, Alaska) CITY AREA: 5,099 km²

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. But he appeared completely by accident. In 1914, the territory on which the city stands was chosen for the construction of a railway, and this determined its fate. Anchorage has one of the busiest airports in the world in terms of cargo traffic - Ted Stevens International Airport. Due to a major earthquake in 1964, there are almost no architectural sights left in the city, but in these places the nature is simply magical and if you go to Kunai Island, you can go fishing and admire the mountain scenery. The city has several museums, a zoo and the Lake Hood Sea Airport, but tourists still prefer the wild nature of Alaska.

The largest cities in the world are divided into two categories - by area and by population. We introduced you to the first category, and now it’s the turn to tell you about the cities with the largest population.

Shanghai (China) POPULATION: 24,150,000

Shanghai is the largest city in China and the world in terms of population, the number of which is growing every year. As of 2016, approximately 24,256,800 people live in Shanghai. This fastest growing city in China is the heart of the country's trading industry and a leader in cargo transportation. Eastern Paris is what tourists call Shanghai for its hospitality and comfort; its streets amaze with the abundance of all kinds of shops, cafes and restaurants. Of the many attractions in Shanghai, you must see the Jade Buddha Temple, stroll through the Garden of Joy, visit the Shanghai TV Tower, walk along Nanjing Street and climb Mount Sheshan (She).

Karachi (Pakistan) POPULATION: 23,500,000

Karachi is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. This city of 3,527 km² is home to almost 23 million inhabitants. The city is also the main economic center and seaport of Pakistan. The port of Karachi is home to one of the main attractions of the city - a fountain that produces one of the highest jets of water in the world at 189 m. The city has a great variety of both cultural and historical attractions. The National Museum of Pakistan will surprise you with its color and traditions, the old city and the Kharadar quarter will envelop you in their tranquility, and if you want to touch religion, be sure to visit the Mausoleum of Kuaidi-Azam, the tomb of Abdullah Shah Ghazi and the tomb of Chaukondi.

Dhaka (Bangladesh) POPULATION: 16,600,000

Sunny Dhaka is the capital of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and one of the largest Asian cities in terms of population. How could it be otherwise if this beautiful city accommodates 16.6 million people. This exotic Asian city is a center for water tourism, as it itself is located on the banks of a large river called Burigangi. The most famous and popular attraction of the city is Dakeshwari - a Hindu temple that attracts fans of Hinduism from all over the world.

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List of cities in the world by population with a population of more than 4 million people as of January 2015. There are 3 cities with a population of more than 20 million people and 16 cities with a population of more than 10 million people. The largest cities are Shanghai (24,150,000 people), Karachi (23,500,000) and Beijing (21,150,000). Among the largest cities there are two Russian ones: Moscow (10th place) and St. Petersburg (43rd place). The table shows the population of cities excluding suburbs.

Cities by population

#	City	Population (persons)	City area (km 2)	Population density (persons/km 2)	A country
1	Shanghai	24,150,000 (with rural suburbs)	6 340,50	3 809	PRC PRC
2	Karachi	23 500 000	3 527,00	6 663	Pakistan Pakistan
3	Beijing	21,516,000 (with rural suburbs)	16 410,54	1 311	PRC PRC
4	Delhi	16 314 838	1 484,00	7 846	India India
5	Lagos	15 118 780	999,58	17 068	Nigeria Nigeria
6	Istanbul	13 854 740	5 461,00	6 467	Türkiye Türkiye
7	Guangzhou	13 080 500	3 843,43	3 305	PRC PRC
8	Mumbai	12 478 447	603,40	20 680	India India
9	Tokyo	13 370 198	622,99	14 562	Japan Japan
10	Moscow	12 197 596	2 561,50	4 814	Russia, Russia
11	Dhaka	12 043 977	815,80	14 763	Bangladesh Bangladesh
12	Cairo	11 922 949	3 085,10	3 864	Egypt Egypt
13	Sao Paulo	11 895 893	1 521,11	7 762	Brazil Brazil
14	Lahore	11 318 745	1 772,00	3 566	Pakistan Pakistan
15	Shenzhen	10 467 400	1 991,64	5 255	PRC PRC
16	Seoul	10 388 055	605,21	17 164	The Republic of Korea The Republic of Korea
17	Jakarta	9 988 329	664,12	15 040	Indonesia Indonesia
18	Kinshasa	9 735 000	1 117,62	8 710	Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo
19	Tianjin	9 341 844	4 037,00	2 314	PRC PRC
20	Mexico City	8 874 724	1 485,49	5 974	Mexico Mexico
21	Lima	8 693 387	2 672,30	3 253	Peru Peru
22	Bangalore	8 425 970	709,50	11 876	India India
23	London	8 416 535	1 572,15	5 354	UK UK
24	NY	8 405 837	783,84	10 724	USA USA
25	Bangkok	8 280 925	1 568,74	5 280	Thailand Thailand
26	Dongguan	8 220 207	2 469,40	3 329	PRC PRC
27	Tehran	8 154 051	686,00	11 886	Iran Iran
28	Ahmedabad	8 029 975	475,00	11 727	India India
29	Bogota	7 776 845	859,11	9 052	Colombia Colombia
30	Ho Chi Minh City	7 681 700	2 095,60	3 667	Vietnam Vietnam
31	Hong Kong	7 219 700	1 104,43	6 537	PRC PRC
32	Baghdad	7 180 889	4 555,00	1 577	Iraq Iraq
33	Wuhan	6 886 253	1 327,61	5 187	PRC PRC
34	Hyderabad	6 809 970	621,48	10 958	India India
35	Hanoi	6 844 100	3 323,60	2 059	Vietnam Vietnam
36	Luanda	6 542 944	2 257,00	2 899	Angola Angola
37	Rio de Janeiro	6 429 923	1 200,27	5 357	Brazil Brazil
38	Foshan	6 151 622	2 034,62	3 023	PRC PRC
39	Santiago	5 743 719	1 249,90	4 595	Chile Chile
40	Riyadh	5 676 621	1 233,98	4 600	Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
41	Singapore	5 399 200	712,40	7 579	Singapore Singapore
42	Shantou	5 391 028	2 064,42	2 611	PRC PRC
43	Saint Petersburg	5 225 690	1 439,00	3 631	Russia, Russia
44	Pune	5 049 968	450,69	6 913	India India
45	Ankara	5 045 083	1 910,92	2 282	Türkiye Türkiye
46	Chennai	4 792 949	426,51	21 057	India India
47	Abidjan	4 765 000	2 119,00	2 249	Cote d'Ivoire Cote d'Ivoire
48	Chengdu	4 741 929	421,00	11 260	PRC PRC
49	Yangon	4 714 000	598,75	7 873	Myanmar Myanmar
50	Alexandria	4 616 625	2 300,00	2 007	Egypt Egypt
51	Chongqing	4 513 137	1 435,07	3 145	PRC PRC
52	Calcutta	4 486 679	200,70	24 252	India India
53	Xi'an	4 467 837	832,17	5 388	China Links . geogoroda.ru. Retrieved July 14, 2016. An excerpt characterizing the List of cities in the world by population Napoleon enters Moscow after a brilliant victory de la Moskowa; there can be no doubt about victory, since the battlefield remains with the French. The Russians retreat and give up the capital. Moscow, filled with provisions, weapons, shells and untold riches, is in the hands of Napoleon. The Russian army, twice as weak as the French, did not make a single attack attempt for a month. Napoleon's position is most brilliant. In order to fall with double forces on the remnants of the Russian army and destroy it, in order to negotiate an advantageous peace or, in case of refusal, to make a threatening move towards St. Petersburg, in order to even, in case of failure, return to Smolensk or Vilna , or stay in Moscow - in order, in a word, to maintain the brilliant position in which the French army was at that time, it would seem that no special genius is needed. To do this, it was necessary to do the simplest and easiest thing: to prevent the troops from looting, to prepare winter clothes, which would be enough in Moscow for the entire army, and to properly collect the provisions that were in Moscow for more than six months (according to French historians) for the entire army. Napoleon, this most brilliant of geniuses and who had the power to control the army, as historians say, did nothing of this. Not only did he not do any of this, but, on the contrary, he used his power to choose from all the paths of activity that presented itself to him that which was the stupidest and most destructive of all. Of all the things that Napoleon could do: winter in Moscow, go to St. Petersburg, go to Nizhny Novgorod, go back, north or south, the way that Kutuzov later went - well, whatever he could come up with, was stupider and more destructive than what he did Napoleon, that is, to remain in Moscow until October, leaving the troops to plunder the city, then, hesitating, to leave or not to leave the garrison, to leave Moscow, to approach Kutuzov, not to start a battle, to go to the right, to reach Maly Yaroslavets, again without experiencing the chance of breaking through , to go not along the road that Kutuzov took, but to go back to Mozhaisk and along the devastated Smolensk road - nothing more stupid than this, nothing more destructive for the army could be imagined, as the consequences showed. Let the most skillful strategists come up with, imagining that Napoleon’s goal was to destroy his army, come up with another series of actions that would, with the same certainty and independence from everything that the Russian troops did, would destroy the entire French army, like what Napoleon did. The genius Napoleon did it. But to say that Napoleon destroyed his army because he wanted it, or because he was very stupid, would be just as unfair as to say that Napoleon brought his troops to Moscow because he wanted it, and because that he was very smart and brilliant. In both cases, his personal activity, which had no more power than the personal activity of each soldier, only coincided with the laws according to which the phenomenon took place. It is completely false (only because the consequences did not justify Napoleon’s activities) that historians present to us Napoleon’s forces as weakened in Moscow. He, just as before and after, in the 13th year, used all his skill and strength to do the best for himself and his army. Napoleon's activities during this time were no less amazing than in Egypt, Italy, Austria and Prussia. We do not know truly the extent to which Napoleon’s genius was real in Egypt, where forty centuries they looked at his greatness, because all these great exploits were described to us only by the French. We cannot correctly judge his genius in Austria and Prussia, since information about his activities there must be drawn from French and German sources; and the incomprehensible surrender of corps without battles and fortresses without siege should incline the Germans to recognize genius as the only explanation for the war that was waged in Germany. But, thank God, there is no reason for us to recognize his genius in order to hide our shame. We paid for the right to look at the matter simply and directly, and we will not give up this right. His work in Moscow is as amazing and ingenious as everywhere else. Orders after orders and plans after plans emanate from him from the time he entered Moscow until he left it. The absence of residents and deputations and the very fire of Moscow do not bother him. He does not lose sight of the welfare of his army, nor the actions of the enemy, nor the welfare of the peoples of Russia, nor the administration of the valleys of Paris, nor diplomatic considerations about the upcoming conditions of peace. In military terms, immediately upon entering Moscow, Napoleon strictly orders General Sebastiani to monitor the movements of the Russian army, sends corps along different roads and orders Murat to find Kutuzov. Then he diligently gives orders to strengthen the Kremlin; then he makes a brilliant plan for a future campaign across the entire map of Russia. In terms of diplomacy, Napoleon calls to himself the robbed and ragged captain Yakovlev, who does not know how to get out of Moscow, sets out to him in detail all his policies and his generosity and, writing a letter to Emperor Alexander, in which he considers it his duty to inform his friend and brother that Rastopchin made bad decisions in Moscow, he sends Yakovlev to St. Petersburg. Having outlined his views and generosity in the same detail to Tutolmin, he sends this old man to St. Petersburg for negotiations.

There are more than 200 different countries in the world, which contain a huge variety of urban settlements, differing from each other in area and population. In our article you can get acquainted with the list of the world's largest cities.

Rating by area

Chongqing

Chongqing is a large and ancient city in China, even though it is not the capital of that country. Its area is 82,400 square meters. km, so it is among the top most densely populated cities in the world. Chongqing was built approximately 3000 thousand years ago. The architecture of Chongqing is quite peculiar and unique, because it combines two eras at once: modern skyscrapers and buildings, as well as ancient buildings and structures from the Ming and Qing dynasties (for example, the Dazu rock reliefs, the Arhat Temple, the Diaoyu Fortress, the Furong Cave). Chongqing has a fairly developed infrastructure, there are about 5 automotive factories, many small factories, and famous world companies.

Chongqing

Hangzhou

Hangzhou is one of the provincial cities of China, located 200 km from Shanghai. Hangzhou ranks second in area - 16,900 sq. km. Currently, this city is the main supplier of tea in all of China; the bulk of the country's tea plantations are concentrated here. Also, when coming here, you can look at the unique Lake Xihu, visit natural parks and reserves, for example, the National Tea Museum, the Flower and Fish Contemplation Park, Songchen Park, as well as historical architectural monuments - the city's railway station, Liuheta Six Harmonies Pagoda, Baochu Pagoda .

Hangzhou

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, as well as the third largest city in the world - 16,801 sq. km. Beijing is the largest railway and road junction, the largest political, economic and historical center of the country. The architecture of the city is striking in its diversity: here you can see a huge number of ancient buildings, monuments and national parks, for example, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the National Museum of China, the Summer Imperial Palace, and the Beijing TV Tower.

Beijing

Brisbane

Brisbane is the largest Australian city with a total area of 15,800 sq. km, located in the state of Queensland on the banks of the Brisbane River of the same name. This city is considered an important economic center. Brisbane's architecture combines modern houses and skyscrapers with old colonial style. Here you can see, for example: the Story Bridge, Brisbane Botanical Garden, Wreck Island, Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.

Brisbane

Sydney

Sydney is a major administrative, political and economic center of Australia with a total area of 12,200 sq. km, located on the south-eastern shore of Sydney Harbor, which is part of the Tasman Sea. This city is the capital of the state of New South Wales. Sydney's architecture is colonial, but there are also modern monuments and buildings, just like in any other metropolis. In Sydney you can see, for example: the Opera House, Queen Victoria's House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Maritime Museum, Taronga Zoo.

Sydney

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, Australia. The total area of the settlement is 10,000 sq. km. Melbourne is located in the southern part of the country on the banks of the Yarra River. The city is the "sporting and cultural" center of Australia. Melbourne's architecture combines Victorian and modern styles. Tourists can visit many museums, national parks, gardens, and see beautiful buildings and structures, for example: the ring tram, the Royal Botanical Garden, the open zoo, Federation Square, the Memorial Monument, and the Princess Theatre.

Melbourne

Kinshasa

Kinshasa is the capital of the Republic of Congo, located on the banks of the Congo River. The area of the city is 9960 sq. km. About 60% of the urban area is occupied by poor rural buildings, as well as green spaces. Tourists coming to Kinshasa can visit the following attractions: Albertine Rift crater lakes, bonobo chimpanzee nursery, Lukaya Park, Kinsuka Falls.

Kinshasa

Naypyitaw

Naypyitaw is the capital of Myanmar, located near the former capital city of Yangon. The total area of the urban district is 7060 sq. km. The unofficial name of Naypyitaw is "The Royal Country". The architecture of the city is built in a typical Asian style. The main historical monument is the Golden Tower - a Buddhist temple. Tourists can also visit: Mahabodhi Temple, Zoological Garden, Botanical Park.

Naypyitaw

Istanbul

Istanbul is located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait and is one of the largest cities in Turkey, with a total area of 5461 sq. km. This city is considered the former capital of the Roman and Byzantine empires. Istanbul is a famous tourist center. There are a huge number of palaces, mosques, historical churches and other places of magnificent beauty, for example: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Mosque, Golden Horn Bay, Bosphorus Strait.

Istanbul

Anchorage

Anchorage is a city located in the state of Alaska, USA. The area of the city territory is 4415 sq. km. Anchorage is the northernmost city in the United States and is the largest transport hub. The main attractions of Anchorage are: the deer farm, the village of Ekluta, the Iditarod headquarters.

Anchorage

Karachi

Karachi is a major port in the southern part of Pakistan with a total area of 3530 sq. km. Karachi is the financial, banking and industrial center of the country. There are several automobile factories and textile factories located here, and publishing activities are well developed. The main tourist places in Karachi are: St. Patrick's Cathedral, railway station, Three Swords Monument, Ranikot Fort.

Karachi

Moscow

Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation, whose area is 2500 sq. km. The city is a major economic, industrial and educational center of the country. In Moscow you can visit quite a lot of interesting and unique historical places, for example: Red Square, the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Bolshoi Theater, the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, the New and Old Arbat.

Moscow

Ranking by population

Shanghai

Shanghai is one of the most populous cities in China, with a population of 24.1 million people. Shanghai is located on the banks of the Yangtze River in the eastern part of the country. The city is one of the most important economic, industrial, and cultural centers of China, as well as the largest seaport of global importance. Famous sights of Shanghai are, for example: the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the French Quarter, the Bund, and the Jin Mao Tower.

Shanghai

Lima

Lima is the capital of Peru, located on the Pacific coast at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Population: 11.9 million people. Lima is the economic, political and cultural-historical center of the country. The city has a fairly well developed tourism industry. Millions of tourists from all over the world come here every year. The main attractions of Lima are: the Cathedral, the Lima balconies, the Government Palace, the Larco Museum, the University of San Marcos, and the memorial cemetery.

Lima

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo or "Chicago of Latin America" is a city located in the southeastern part of Brazil, with a population of 10.8 million people. Sao Paulo was founded by a group of Jesuits (members of the Catholic community). The city is named after the Apostle Paul. Sao Paulo has a huge number of modern skyscrapers, offices, industrial zones, as well as various architectural monuments and nature reserves (the most popular are the Singing Sands, the Cathedral, and the Butantan Nature Reserve).

Sao Paulo

Mexico City

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico with a population of 8.8 million people. This city is the main political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Mexico City is a very beautiful and colorful city, which is rich in a wide variety of attractions, for example: the Palace of Fine Arts, Chapultepec Palace, Constitution Square, Mexico City Cathedral, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, National Palace.

Mexico City

NY

New York is a large US city located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The population is 8.5 million people. New York is sometimes called the "Big Apple" and is an important economic, industrial, and tourist center. The most popular cultural and historical sites of the city are: the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan, Central Station, Central Park, Broadway Street, Brighton Beach.

Bogota

Bogota is the capital of Colombia, one of the oldest cities in the country. The number of inhabitants is 8 million people. The city is divided into 4 main districts: north, south, central and El Occidente (the part of Bogota where only wealthy people and billionaires live). The most popular places: National Museum of Colombia, Bogota Cathedral, Faenza Theater, José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden.

Bogota

London

London is the capital of Great Britain, located on the banks of the Thames River. Population - 7.7 million people. London is the world's leading financial, industrial and cultural centre. The main attractions of the city are: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Tower, Westminster Abbey.

London

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is one of the largest cities in Brazil, with a population of 6.4 million people. “Rio” is located on the coast of Guanabara Bay, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Rio de Janeiro is a city of colors, carnivals, dancing and endless smiles. The main attractions of the city are included in the list of objects protected by the World Organization UNESCO: the statue of Jesus Christ, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach.

Rio de Janeiro

Saint Petersburg

St. Petersburg is the “northern” capital of Russia, one of the top largest cities in the country. Population - 5.3 million people. St. Petersburg is rich in history; only here a huge number of architectural monuments built in the style of early classicism and modernism are collected. The most famous places in the city are: Catherine Palace, Winter Palace, Church of the Intercession on Blood, Kazan Cathedral, Hermitage, cruiser Aurora, Peterhof.

Saint Petersburg

Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Catalonia, Spain. Population: 2 million people. The city is also the largest Mediterranean port and tourist center in Europe. In Barcelona you can enjoy the views of: Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Tibidabo, Casa Batllo, National Palace, Casa Mila.

Barcelona

In our article you got acquainted with the largest cities in the world by area, as well as by population. We also described the most famous attractions of each city that tourists usually visit.

The size of a city is determined by its population. This is why there are many cities that are large in size and yet are called small because of the lack of inhabitants. Although it is not always good that the size of a city is estimated only by the number of people per capita. Here are the ten largest cities in the world based on population.

1. Tokyo, Japan - 37 million people

As the richest city in the entire world, there is no doubt that the Japanese city may be the largest city in the world. Tokyo has grown quite a lot from its very humble beginnings in both economy and population. The population is over 37 million people.

2. Jakarta, Indonesia - 26 million people

As the largest political and financial center in the country, Jakarta is undoubtedly the second largest city in the world with a population of approximately 26 million people.

3. Seoul, South Korea - 22.5 million people

It is not surprising that Seoul has been growing rapidly recently, and its development is not only limited in the economic sphere, but also in population and technology. The population is 22.5 million.

4. Delhi, India - 22.2 million people

Delhi comes in fourth and is almost equal in population to Seoul with 22.2 million.

5. Shanghai, China - 20.8 million people

China is known for its vast territory and dense population. Shanghai has the fifth largest population with 20.8 million people.

6. Manila, Philippines - 22.7 million people

Manila ranks sixth in the list of largest cities in the world.

7. Karachi, Pakistan - 20.7 million people

Being the cultural center of Pakistan, Karachi makes it the seventh largest city in the world, with a population of 20.7 million.

8. New York, USA -20.46 million people

Who hasn't heard of New York? Yes, it is the most populous city in the US at 20.46 million people. New York City stands out to a large extent in terms of cultural diversity as it is home to many people from different parts of the world.

According to the latest official information, there are 2.5 million cities in the world. According to data for 2015, the largest city in the world by area is Chongqing, by number of inhabitants - Shanghai, by length - Mexico City, by height - La Rinconada.

Each settlement is remarkable in its own way. So, one is famous for its landscapes, another for its enchanting entertainment, and the third for its history. There are also those that are known for their scale. In this article, the emphasis will be on them.

Largest city in the world by area

As mentioned earlier, this is Chongqing. It is located in China (its central part), its area reaches 82,400 square meters. km (except for the territory of the city itself, this also includes the area of the territory under its jurisdiction). According to official data, Chongqing occupies an area of 470 km in the direction from east to west. Its width from north to south is 150 km (for comparison: Australia has the same dimensions).

The largest city in the world by area is divided into districts (19 units), counties (15 units, of which 4 are autonomous). The population density, according to data for 2010, reaches 28,846,170 people, but over 80% of the population mainly live in rural areas, and there are only 6 million urban residents.

History of Chongqing

This city is recognized as the oldest in China. Its history has been going on for 3 thousand years. During the Late Paleolithic period, this is where the primitive representatives of the human race lived. The reason for this is the location of the city at the confluence of the Jialingjiang River and the deep Yangtze River. The largest city in the world by area is surrounded by three mountains: Dabashan (from the north), Wushan (from the east), Dalushan (from the south). Due to its hilly landscape, it was called a mountain city (Shancheng). Chongqing rises 243 meters above sea level.

10 largest cities in the world

There are quite a lot of them on a global scale. In this regard, the article will present only the ranking of cities by area. So, tenth place belongs to London (1.57 thousand km). It is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland. This city is also recognized as the largest city in the British Isles. Its location is r. Thames (64 km from the mouth). The city extends across the flat land of the famous London Basin. The highest point above sea level (245 m) is Westerham Heights (extreme southeast).

This city is one of the largest British ports and the main industrial center. Its area is 1.56 thousand square meters. km. Year of foundation - 43 AD e. (the era of the Roman invasion of Britain under the leadership of Emperor Claudius). Presumably, by the time of the invasion there was already a very modest settlement in size, but during archaeological excavations no evidence of this was found. Although the predominant part of London's historical center has not been excavated, therefore the fact of the existence of the settlement in the above period cannot be completely denied.

Ninth, eighth and seventh place in the ranking

Ninth place belongs to Tehran (1.6 thousand sq. km). It is the capital and largest city of Iran, the first of all the impressive cities in Asia. From north to south the city stretches for 26 km, from west to east - 40 km. The height difference of the mountain line is 700 m.

As a result of excavations, it was discovered that the existence of a settlement on the territory of the city dates back to 6 thousand BC. e. The settlers headed to the slopes of Elbrus, thereby escaping the sultry heat of the existing saline deserts.

Eighth place- Bogota (1.8 thousand sq. km) is the capital of Colombia. Founded in 1538 (by the Spanish conquistador G. Jimenez de Quesado). Its name translates as “fertile land.” The city is located in the basin of the western slope of the Eastern Cordillera. The height above sea level is 2610 m. This is the largest city in Colombia, which combines futuristic architecture, colonial churches, various museums with the fact that it is recognized as a city of tramps, drug dealers, eternal traffic jams and slums.

Seventh place- Ankara (2.52 thousand sq. km) is the capital of Turkey. Location - Atlantic Plateau (confluence of the Çubuk and Ankara rivers) at an altitude of approximately 938 m above sea level. This is one of the oldest cities in Asia Minor. It is located at the crossroads of trade routes that connect Europe with Asia. This city is the second most important and potential Turkish economic center. The development of Ankara is determined by its very convenient location at the transport junction, the presence of a significant number of civil servants, students, banking, trade structures, and industrial facilities.

Sixth, fifth and fourth place in the ranking

Sixth place- Alexandria (2.7 thousand sq. km) is the main seaport, the second largest city in Egypt, which stretches 32 km along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Year of foundation - 332 BC. e. (A. Makedonsky). This is the most important financial, industrial and commercial center of Egypt.

Fifth place- Karachi (3.5 thousand sq. km) is a port city located in the southern part of Pakistan. It is the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world. Karachi is the capital of Sindh. Population density is 12-18 million people.

Fourth place- Istanbul (5.3 thousand sq. km) is the former capital of the Byzantine, Ottoman, Roman, and Latin empires. It is a significant seaport, cultural, commercial and industrial center of Turkey. It is the only city located on two continents at once - Europe and Asia. This is the largest city in Europe.

Top three ratings

Third place- Buenos Aires (4 thousand sq. km) is the Argentine capital. The year of its foundation is 1580 (the shore of La Plata Bay).

Second place- Kinshasa (10 thousand sq. km) is the capital of Congo. Until 1966, it had a different name - Leopoldville.

The leader of the rating, as mentioned earlier, is Chongqing. It was talked about at the very beginning. These are the largest cities today. The list is gradually changing and being supplemented due to the accelerated growth of a number of settlements.

The largest metropolises by area of our country

For ease of perception, they are presented in the table below.

City name	Area, sq. km

Saint Petersburg
Volgograd





Novosibirsk
Chelyabinsk
Ekaterinburg

Nizhny Novgorod
Krasnoyarsk
Rostov-on-Don

According to official data, these are the largest cities in Russia. Their scale gradually changes as they develop. It would be useful to take a closer look at such largest cities in Russia (by area) as St. Petersburg (the Northern capital) and Moscow.

Capital of the Russian Federation

Moscow is the largest city (by area and population density) in our country. It is the capital of Russia. Moscow is located on the river of the same name. If you look at the map, it is located in the central part of the plain, located in Eastern Europe. Moscow area - 2511 sq. km.

Federal bodies of Russian government are concentrated there. Local self-government is well developed. Moscow is the largest financial center. The predominant part of the country's economy is controlled directly by the capital. The largest banks and offices are also concentrated in it.

As mentioned earlier, the largest city in Europe is Istanbul, but our capital is the largest tourist and cultural European center. Historical and architectural monuments, modern entertainment infrastructure will not leave anyone indifferent. In Moscow there are over a hundred theaters and sixty museums, among which the most outstanding are the Bolshoi and Maly theaters and Sovremennik. Fans of opera and ballet can enjoy wonderful productions and virtuoso performances there.

Particularly popular museums are: the Museum of Anthropology (antiques - a reflection of the everyday life and traditions of the peoples of the world), the Zoological Museum, named after Pushkin.

Every capital guest, without exception, should visit the Tretyakov Gallery. The largest collection of our fine art is displayed there. In general, everything that Moscow is rich with cannot be described; it is better to see it with your own eyes.

Historical chronicles

Moscow is the historical capital of the former Grand Duchy of Moscow. Her exact age is still not known. In the second half of the 13th century, during the reign of Prince Danil Alexandrovich (son of A. Nevsky), Moscow acquired the status of the center of an autonomous appanage principality. At that time, the city was located at a commercial junction, which gave it the opportunity to grow and develop.

In the XIV-XV centuries. Moscow has already become a major craft and trading city. By the end of the 15th century. it received the status of the capital of the largest Russian state.

Northern capital: historical facts, attractions

St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its beauty is strict and lyrical at the same time. It is known that during the first 10 years of its existence it grew rapidly (by 1714 there were about 34.5 thousand buildings there). Magnificent palaces, cathedrals, parks, gardens, and squares with statues surrounded by picturesque greenery were erected. St. Petersburg is a city-museum.

This city has been considered the capital since the time when the entire royal court moved to the banks of the Neva from Moscow (1712). Having seized access to the Baltic, our state entered the circle of countries of the North - traditional exporters of leather, fish, iron, timber, lard, and grain. St. Petersburg has become the largest foreign trade center in Russia. At the end of the Peter the Great era, almost half of the total volume of our exports to Western European countries was exported from here.

Then such an important state enterprise as the mint was transferred from Moscow (1724). Palace manufactories arose in the vicinity of St. Petersburg.

Today, the area of the city of St. Petersburg is 1439 square meters. km, population density is approximately 4.75 million people. The northern capital is located at 60 degrees north. sh., which gives it the status of the world's largest metropolis located at such high latitudes. St. Petersburg extends for 35 km along the coast of the Neva Bay (Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea), touching the mouth of the Neva, about. Neva delta.

The largest cities in the Russian Federation by population density

For clarity, it is better to present the information in a table.

Population density, people	City name
	Moscow
	Saint Petersburg
	Novosibirsk city
	Yekaterinburg city
	Nizhny Novgorod
	Kazan
	Chelyabinsk

	Samara
	Rostov-on-Don

	Krasnoyarsk

	Volgograd

These are the largest cities in Russia in terms of population density as of 2015.

Finally, it is worth recalling that the article examined the largest cities in our country and Europe. A ranking of the 10 largest cities in the world by area is presented.

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