The world’s population has reached 806.19 crores, which is around 8.2 billion according to 2023 data, and it is growing continuously. This rapid increase is especially visible in cities around the world, where more people are moving in almost every day to live, work, and build their futures. Two big reasons behind this trend are globalisation and urbanisation. These forces are making cities more crowded than ever, giving rise to megacities which are huge urban areas with millions of people.
As of now, Tokyo is one of the most populous cities in the world, according to World Population Review. The current population of the city, according to 2024 data, is more than 37 crores or 3 million.
Here, is a list of the 10 most populous cities in 2025. It’s an overview of how urban growth is changing the world and introducing new ways of life.
Also Read | List of Average IQ in Every State of the USA
11 Largest Cities by Population
As expected, the top three largest cities by population belong to three of the most populous countries in the world. Japan, India, and China. Here they are:
| Rank | City | Country | Population (2024) | Population (2023) | Growth Rate |
| 1 | Tokyo | Japan | 37,036,200 | 37,115,000 | -0.21% |
| 2 | Delhi | India | 34,665,600 | 33,807,400 | 2.54% |
| 3 | Shanghai | China | 30,482,100 | 29,867,900 | 2.06% |
| 4 | Dhaka | Bangladesh | 24,652,900 | 23,935,700 | 3% |
| 5 | Cairo | Egypt | 23,074,200 | 22,623,900 | 1.99% |
| 6 | Sao Paulo | Brazil | 22,990,000 | 22,806,700 | 0.80% |
| 7 | Mexico City | Mexico | 22,752,400 | 22,505,300 | 1.10% |
| 8 | Beijing | China | 22,596,500 | 22,189,100 | 1.84% |
| 9 | Mumbai | India | 22,089,000 | 21,673,100 | 1.92% |
| 10 | Osaka | Japan | 18,921,600 | 18,967,500 | -0.24% |
| 11 | Chongqing | China | 18,171,200 | 17,773,900 | 2.23% |
Source: World Population Review
With a population of slightly over 1.4 billion, China remains the country with the second-largest population globally, although it began to experience a decline in 2023. Two of China's major cities, Tokyo and Shanghai, have populations of 37 million and 30.4 million, respectively.
Similarly, Mumbai, India's financial hub, has a population of more than 22 million, while Delhi, the capital, is home to 34.6 million people.
Which Are the Most Populous Countries in the World?
The world’s most populous city is Tokyo, Japan, home to an astonishing 37 million people. Despite having the largest urban population, Japan as a country ranks as the 12th-most populous in the world. This shows how densely packed Tokyo is compared to the rest of the country.
On the other hand, when we look at the most populous countries, India holds the top spot with a population of approximately 1,463,865,525 as of April 2025. It is closely followed by China, with a population of 1,416,096,094. Here is the list of top 11 most populous countries in the world.
| Position | Country (or Dependency) | Population (2025) | Yearly Change | Net Change | Land Area (Km²) | Median Age | World Share |
| 1 | India | 1,463,865,525 | 0.89% | 12,929,734 | 2,973,190 | 28.8 | 17.78% |
| 2 | China | 1,416,096,094 | −0.23% | −3,225,184 | 9,388,211 | 40.1 | 17.20% |
| 3 | United States | 347,275,807 | 0.54% | 1,849,236 | 9,147,420 | 38.5 | 4.22% |
| 4 | Indonesia | 285,721,236 | 0.79% | 2,233,305 | 1,811,570 | 30.4 | 3.47% |
| 5 | Pakistan | 255,219,554 | 1.57% | 3,950,390 | 770,880 | 20.6 | 3.10% |
| 6 | Nigeria | 237,527,782 | 2.08% | 4,848,304 | 910,770 | 18.1 | 2.89% |
| 7 | Brazil | 212,812,405 | 0.38% | 813,832 | 8,358,140 | 34.8 | 2.59% |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 175,686,899 | 1.22% | 2,124,535 | 130,170 | 26 | 2.13% |
| 9 | Russia | 143,997,393 | −0.57% | −823,030 | 16,376,870 | 40.3 | 1.75% |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 135,472,051 | 2.58% | 3,412,284 | 1,000,000 | 19.1 | 1.65% |
| 11 | Mexico | 131,946,900 | 0.83% | 1,085,893 | 1,943,950 | 29.6 | 1.60% |
This data is sourced from Worldometer, and it showcases how population growth is distributed differently across cities and countries. While some cities like Tokyo dominate urban rankings, other nations like India show their immense numbers spread across diverse regions and urban areas.
The strain on infrastructure, resources, and services in these megacities is becoming more pronounced, posing challenges for city planners and policymakers. As the trend towards urban living continues, finding sustainable solutions to accommodate this growth will be crucial for the future of these cities.
READ| Why There Are 50 Stars on the United States Flag and What Each One Represents
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation