The largest capital city in the world by population. The largest capitals in the world
List of cities in the world by population with a population of over 4 million 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), Karachi (23,500,000) and Beijing (21,150,000). There are two Russian cities among the largest cities: Moscow (10th place) and St. Petersburg (43rd place). The table shows the population of cities without taking into account the suburbs.
Cities by population
# | City | Population (people) | City area (km 2) | Population density (person / km 2) | 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 | Turkey Turkey |
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 | New York | 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 | St. 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 | Turkey Turkey |
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 | PRC Links
An excerpt characterizing the List of cities in the world by populationNapoleon 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, does not make a single attempt to attack for a month. Napoleon's position is the most brilliant. In order to fall on the remnants of the Russian army with double strength and exterminate it, in order to negotiate a favorable peace or, in case of refusal, to make a threatening movement on Petersburg, in order even, in case of failure, to return to Smolensk or Vilna , or stay in Moscow - in order, in a word, to keep 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 plundering, to prepare winter clothes, which would be enough in Moscow for the entire army, and to correctly collect provisions for the entire army that were in Moscow for more than six months (according to French historians). Napoleon, the most brilliant of geniuses and having the power to direct the army, historians say, did nothing of the sort.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 presented to him that which was the most stupid and pernicious of all. Of all that Napoleon could do: spend the winter in Moscow, go to St. Petersburg, go to Nizhny Novgorod, go back, north or south, the way that Kutuzov went later - well, whatever you think up is more stupid and more pernicious than what he did Napoleon, that is, to remain in Moscow until October, leaving the troops to rob the city, then, hesitating whether to leave or not to leave the garrison, leave Moscow, approach Kutuzov, do not start a battle, go to the right, reach Maly Yaroslavets, again without experiencing the chance to break through , to go not along the road along which Kutuzov went, but to go back to Mozhaisk and along the devastated Smolensk road - nothing could be more stupid than this, more detrimental to the army, 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 undertake, would completely destroy the whole French army, like what Napoleon did. The brilliant 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. Quite falsely (only because the consequences did not justify the activities of Napoleon) historians present to us the strength of Napoleon weakened in Moscow. He, just as before, as after, in the 13th year, used all his skill and strength to do the best for himself and his army. Napoleon's activity during this time is no less amazing than in Egypt, in Italy, in Austria and in Prussia. We do not know correctly about the extent to which the genius of Napoleon was real in Egypt, where forty centuries looked at his greatness, because all these great feats are 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 there is no reason for us to recognize his genius in order to hide our shame, thank God. We have paid to have the right to simply and directly look at the matter, and we will not cede this right. His activity in Moscow is as amazing and ingenious as elsewhere. Orders after orders and plans after plans come from him from the moment he enters Moscow until he leaves it. The absence of residents and deputations, and the fire of Moscow itself, do not bother him. He does not lose sight of either the good of his army, or the actions of the enemy, or the good of the peoples of Russia, or the administration of the valleys of Paris, or diplomatic considerations about the forthcoming conditions of peace. In military terms, immediately after entering Moscow, Napoleon strictly orders General Sebastiani to follow the movements of the Russian army, sends corps along different roads, and orders Murat to find Kutuzov. Then he diligently orders the strengthening of the Kremlin; then he makes an ingenious 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 policy and his generosity and, writing a letter to Emperor Alexander, in which he considers it his duty to inform his friend and brother that Rostopchin badly ordered in Moscow, he sends Yakovlev to Petersburg. Having set out in the same detail his views and generosity before Tutolmin, he sends this old man to St. Petersburg for negotiations. |
12,043,977 people
The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, opens the rating of the largest cities by population. The population density is 14,763 people per square kilometer. At the same time, the total number reaches more than 12 million people. The area of the city reaches 815.85 km2. It should be noted that this metropolis is one of the oldest on our planet. It was founded in the 7th century. At that time, the city was part of the Buddhist kingdom called Kamarupa. Most likely, the name is due to the emergence of the Dhakeshwari temple.
The capital of the Russian Federation ranks 9th in the ranking of the most densely populated megacities in the world. According to preliminary data, there are 12,452,000 people in this city. The first mention of the current capital falls on 1147. At present, the area of the metropolis is 2561.5 km2. The city of federal significance includes many industrial plants, enterprises and vehicles. You might be interested to get acquainted with the dirtiest cities in Russia.
The next in the top 10 largest cities in terms of population is the Indian metropolis of Mumbai. Its area is only 603 square kilometers. At the same time, 12,478,477 citizens of India live on the territory of the settlement, founded in 1507. Thus, there are 20,694 people per square kilometer. This place is really noisy and a lot of fuss. Not at all, there is something to see due to the developed infrastructure and many attractions.
Istanbul is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. It was founded in 667 BC. The current mayor is Kadir Topbash. The area of the metropolis reaches 5343 square kilometers. In total, the city includes 13,854,740 people. The density is 2,400 people per square kilometer. It should be noted that Istanbul is a well-known and popular tourist center, which annually gathers a huge number of tourists and travelers.
14.04 million people
- Scientific and technical;
- Economic;
- Political;
- Educational and cultural;
- Transportation center of the People's Republic of China.
The area of the settlement is 7,433 square kilometers. In 2016, the population was 13,080,500. In 2017, the figure rose to over 14 million citizens.
Next in the ranking is the Nigerian city of Lagos with a population of 15,118,780. The port city is located in the southwest of the country. It is the largest in area - 999.6 square kilometers. In total, 13 million people live in it and close to 21 million in the agglomeration. In Africa, this city cannot be compared with any metropolis. The average cost in a three-star hotel will cost 5,000 rubles. Being in this place, you must definitely visit the island of Lagos.
The largest city in India in terms of population is Delhi - a multinational place in which various cultural currents develop. This is his property. Being in this place, you can expand your worldview and learn a lot of new things that are useful for self-knowledge. The area reaches 1,484 square kilometers. In total, 16 million people lived in the city in 2016. The most interesting places include:
- Lal Qila;
- Qutub Minar.
There are many museums!
21.5 million people
Another large city subordinate to the PRC, whose population reaches over 21.5 million citizens. The total area of the territory is 16,411 square kilometers, that is, this settlement is also one of the largest in size in the world. Located in the southern part of the country. The Forbidden City is one of the most interesting sights. On the territory of Beijing there is a lively, pleasant atmosphere of cheerful people who are hospitable to travelers. In this place you can spend an unforgettable vacation, both with the whole family and on your own.
In the world today there are more than 2.6 million cities, the population of which can be estimated at tens of millions of inhabitants, and may not exceed twenty citizens. In the world ranking of the most populated cities, Russia is in eleventh place with 12.3 million people living in Moscow. The first ten places were distributed among such countries as China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey, Japan.
1. Chongqing
The first place in the ranking of the largest cities in terms of population in the world is occupied by Chongqing, which has 53.2 million people and an area of 82.4 thousand km 2. The settlement is located, in terms of the number of inhabitants and territory, far ahead of all other cities, in China at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialingjiang rivers, in total, about eighty rivers flow through the city with suburbs. The city is 470 km long and 450 km wide. The urbanized zone of Chongqing occupies 1473 km2. The city consists of 26 districts, 8 counties and 4 autonomous regions.
2. Shanghai
The second place among the largest cities in terms of population is also occupied by the Chinese city, which is Shanghai. 24.152 million people live on an area of 6.34 thousand km2. Located in the eastern part of the country in the Yangtze River Delta, the city is a major seaport and the most important cultural and financial center of the state. Shanghai is divided into 17 districts, to the east of the city is the East China Sea. The economic development of this settlement is carried out according to a unique system, which includes several selected growth zones corresponding to certain areas of industry, trade or science.
3. Karachi
The third position in the ranking of the largest cities is occupied by Karachi, a port city in Pakistan with a population of 23.5 million people. It is an important banking and industrial center in the country, significantly influencing the economic development of the state. The area of the city occupies 3530 km2. Karachi is the largest educational center in South Asia. The settlement is located on the coast of the Indian Ocean, in particular, the Arabian Sea. The city belongs to the province of Sindh and has a three-level principle of division, it includes 18 tehsils.
4. Beijing
The capital of China, Beijing, with a population of 21.7 million people, ranks fourth in the world in terms of the number of inhabitants. The area of the territories is estimated at 16.8 thousand km 2. For China, the city has the most important political, cultural, and transport significance. The administrative division provides for the presence of 14 regions and 2 counties. Beijing's architecture has a whimsical mix of styles, including a fusion of 50s developments with the latest skyscrapers with a futuristic look. The rich history of the city has made it a world tourist destination with a steady increase in the flow of foreign tourists.
5. Delhi
Located in northern India on the Jamna River, Delhi, with a population of 16.3 million, ranks fifth in the ranking. The settlement is distinguished by its multinational composition and a mixture of cultural traditions. The economy of the city is completely dependent on the activities of various ethnic groups. There are more than 60,000 monuments of world significance in Delhi. The area of the city occupies 1483 km 2 , the territory is divided into three city corporations. Delhi has nine districts, each of which includes three districts. The city is a national capital region.
6. Lagos
Nigeria's most populated city, Lagos, is the sixth most populous city in the world. With a population of 15.1 million people, the settlement is recognized as the largest in Africa. Until 1991, the city with an area of 999.5 km 2 was the capital of Nigeria. Lagos has a complex location, occupying the territory of the islands and the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The city includes 16 local government territories, almost completely occupying the state of the same name. Almost 50 percent of Nigerian industry is located in this locality, the city is recognized as the center of the national film industry.
7. Istanbul
The seventh place in the world in terms of population is occupied by Istanbul, the number of inhabitants of which is 13.8 million people. An important cultural and industrial center of Turkey, a major port of the country is located on the banks of the Bosphorus. The area of the settlement covers the territory of 5343 km 2. The city is located in Europe and Asia, on the territory of the first there are two urban areas, in the second - 35 districts. Most of the residents profess Islam, while the townspeople are loyal to foreign citizens who unintentionally violate religious traditions.
8. Tokyo
In eighth place in the ranking of large cities in the world is Tokyo with 13.3 million inhabitants. The capital of Japan has an area of 2.188 km 2 and is located on the island of Honshu on the Pacific coast. The city is a prefecture of the country and has the most important economic, cultural and financial significance for the state. Tokyo occupies one of the leading places in the world in terms of urban economic growth. The city includes 23 special districts, 26 cities, 1 county and 4 districts. Part of the administrative divisions of Tokyo is located on other islands.
9. Guangzhou
Located in the south of China, the city of Guangzhou and the administrative center of Guangdong province with a population of 13 million people covers an area of 7434 km 2. The settlement is a large commercial and industrial center, a seaport of the South China Sea, as well as a city with more than 2000 years of history. Administratively, Guangzhou is divided into ten districts and two counties. The tourism industry has a significant impact on the economic development of the city, the settlement is known beyond the borders of China and is popular with foreign guests.
10. Mumbai
Mumbai occupies the tenth place in the ranking of the largest cities. The settlement, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, has a population of 12.4 million people. The area of territories exceeds 600 km 2 . Mumbai is located in the western part of India and is an important international transport center and a major seaport. In the life of the state, the settlement plays a decisive cultural and economic significance. Mumbai consists of two parts, the city itself and the suburbs, which are administratively divided into 23 districts.
It's a little paradoxical, but our school knowledge of demography becomes obsolete in a matter of years. The world is developing so fast that many of the leading cities of the eighties and even the nineties are not even in the top ten in terms of population today!
But dynamically developing cities located in South and East Asia confidently move to the first positions. However, first things first.
10. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh
The tenth position in the ranking of world cities by population is occupied by Dhaka, which is the capital of Bangladesh. A little more than 12 million people live in the metropolis, and they are concentrated on a fairly small area of 815 square meters. km, which roughly corresponds to the area of Volgograd or Tyumen. Just imagine that 12 million people live in Russian Tyumen! How will they live there? And if you add the poverty that prevails in Bangladesh to the terrible overcrowding, it becomes not surprising that the standard of living in Dhaka is extremely low and often people are forced to live in unsanitary conditions.
However, in Dhaka, as in any metropolis, there is a respectable business center and numerous historical sights, since Dhaka is a fairly ancient city, founded in the seventh century. It is here that the largest Hindu temple in Bangladesh is located, which is called Dhakeshwari. 90% of the population of Dhaka profess Islam, so there are also enough beautiful mosques and minarets here. Instead of car taxis in Dhaka, cycle rickshaws are used - up to four hundred thousand of these cabs go to work every day.
9. Moscow, the capital of Russia
The population of this city today is 12 million 450 thousand people and continues to grow steadily. Refuting the classic thesis that it is not made of rubber, Moscow annually grows one hundred, or even two hundred thousand new residents. It has long gone beyond the Moscow Ring Road, and in the new part of the agglomeration - New Moscow, another 2-3 million will fit quite well. Today, our capital is in no way inferior to the leading megacities of the world. Relatively recently, the Russian Manhattan even appeared here - a complex of business buildings Moscow-City. Its largest building, the Federation Tower, is the largest skyscraper in Europe, with 95 floors and 374 meters in height.
The city is served by 5 airports, 9 railway stations and, of course, the most beautiful subway in the world, which includes more than two hundred stations. Unlike eastern metropolises, Moscow is a clean, spacious and livable city. Such metropolitan attractions as Red Square, the Kremlin, the Ostankino TV Tower and St. Basil's Cathedral are easily recognizable by residents of all countries of the world. Although Moscow is only in ninth place in terms of population, we still love it a hundred times more than any other metropolis!
8. Mumbai, India
The population of Indian Mumbai is only slightly larger than Moscow's and amounts to 12 million 480 thousand people. The area of this metropolis is very small - only 600 square meters. km, which corresponds to the area of Voronezh or Kazan. Accordingly, the population density in Mumbai is the highest among the cities in this rating. It is very difficult to live in such crowded conditions, but people come to this city from all over India, because there is work and entertainment here. The symbol of Mumbai is a complex of film studios, which, by analogy with Hollywood, was called Bollywood. He produces thousands of famous Indian films a la Zita and Gita with music and of course dancing. Mumbai is India's water gate through which about half of India's maritime passenger traffic passes.
There is also a well-developed railway transport and a traditional for Asia transport by auto rickshaws. Mumbai is a city of contrasts: skyscrapers here are adjacent to slums and the standard of living of local residents can also differ greatly. There are many European-style buildings in the metropolis, since in the colonial era the city was a stronghold of the British. Until recently, it was called in the English manner - Bombay, and only in the mid-1990s it was officially given the Indian name - Mumbai.
7. Guangzhou, China
13 million 80 thousand people live in this metropolis. In Europe, it is known as Canton, and the locals call their metropolis Yangchen, which means "city of goats." They do not see anything shameful in this - the Chinese, after all. In the Middle Ages, the Silk Road began in Guangzhou, and today it is one of the leading centers of world trade. It is here that the famous Canton Fair takes place every year, where up to 150 thousand goods from all over the world are exhibited. The local Qingping market is huge even by Chinese standards.
Along with traditional goods, here you can buy exotic animals, fish and even insects for gastronomic purposes. Guangzhou is a tourist mecca, annually it is visited by at least 4 million tourists, which roughly corresponds to the traffic of the whole Crimea. The metropolis combines ancient history and ultra-modern urban environment. Guangzhou is home to China's largest Yuexiu Park, China's revered Chen Family Ancestral Temple, and an impressive 610-meter-high hyperboloid TV tower. In general, Guangzhou is a beautiful, dynamic and livable city, and the locals are really lucky!
6. Istanbul, Turkey
This city is home to 13 million, 855 thousand people. It is characterized by rapid growth - the population of the metropolis annually increases by 300-400 thousand. This is largely due to the fact that the standard of living in Istanbul is about 70% higher than in Turkey as a whole. Istanbul attracts residents of the state with high salaries and, of course, an interesting life. The metropolis is located on both banks of the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black and Marmara Seas. It is interesting that it was founded and initially developed on the Asian coast, but today the lion's share of the population is concentrated in the European part.
The metropolis is a very popular tourist destination, ranking third in terms of attendance among cities around the world. Its symbol is the Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century. No less popular tourist sites are the Beylerbey Palace, the Suleymaniya architectural complex and, of course, the famous Istanbul Grand Bazaar. There is also a business high-rise center in the city, and Istanbul skyscrapers have a special oriental flavor, however, like this whole great city.
5. Lagos, the capital of Nigeria
The African city of Lagos is home to 15 million 119 thousand people, and the population density is breaking all records, reaching 17 thousand inhabitants per square kilometer. One can only wonder how people manage to live in such cramped conditions. The city is divided into 16 regions, and it is not governed by the mayor, as everywhere else, but by a whole governor, since the population of the metropolis is drawn to a small country. Nigerians consider it a happiness to live in the capital, because there is at least some work here. But from the point of view of Europeans, Lagos can hardly be called attractive for life.
In many places it is better for whites not to appear, just as there are districts only for whites or only for rich blacks. The lion's share of the population of Lagos lives in slums, in terrible poverty, the locals eat very poorly and suffer from infectious diseases. Malaria is still widespread here, carried by the famous tse-tse fly. The city also has a rich downtown with skyscrapers and road junctions. It is the multi-storey center that appears on the brochures of this greatest metropolis of modern Africa.
4. Delhi, the capital of India
16 million 315 thousand people live in Delhi. This is the oldest city among the megacities of this rating - its age exceeds 5 thousand years. It is divided into 9 administrative regions. In the most prosperous of them, New Delhi, the government quarter and the skyscrapers of the business center are located. Nothing here reminds you that you are in a rather poor Asian country. Meanwhile, the largest part of the population is concentrated in the southern and western parts of the metropolis, where people huddle in miserable shacks. Delhi's slums are horribly overcrowded and often devoid of amenities.
Suffice it to say that there is one toilet for 27 families, and there are even fewer wells from where the people of Delhi get water. The capital of India is an amazing combination of squalid slums, modern skyscrapers and majestic buildings of bygone eras. Ancient Hindu temples, huge mosques, fortresses and citadels of ancient kings, lively markets where you can buy exotic food and goods... Needless to say, there is something for a tourist to see here, but a European person will most likely not want to live in this overpopulated place.
3. Beijing, the capital of China
The population of the city is 21 million 516 thousand people. This city is very ancient - presumably it was founded in the 5th century BC and has always played an important role in the life of the Celestial Empire. Nowadays, it is from here that huge China is ruled and the city fully corresponds to its status as the capital of the greatest state in the world. Beijing is developing rapidly - every year new quarters for ordinary Chinese and huge business skyscrapers are being built here. The tallest building in the city is the China World Trade Center at 74 floors, but the China Zun mega skyscraper, 106 floors high, is already being completed, which promises to become a real gem of architecture.
Beijing is modern and at the same time ancient. Every year, millions of tourists visit the world-famous Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the summer imperial palace and hundreds of other attractions. Despite its Asian location, Beijing is a city of wide avenues and vast parks. There are practically no slums traditional for Asia, and the lion's share of the population lives in high-rise buildings familiar to Russians.
2. Karachi, Pakistan
23 million 520 thousand people live in this city. It is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the world - its population has doubled in the last 20 years. The full age of Karachi is a little over two hundred years, during which it has grown from a fishing village into one of the largest cities in the world. This is impressive, if not phenomenal, growth. A feature of the metropolis is its multinational composition, which largely determines the diversity of lifestyles. Pashtuns, Punjabis, Urdu, Bengalis, Afghans and even Jews live here, which gives the city a special flavor.
The standard of living in Karachi cannot be called high, and the criminal situation is quite difficult - Europeans are strongly discouraged from appearing in some areas. Since the city is quite young, the local sights are mostly replicas. The locals are proud of the giant fountain that spouts to a height of about two hundred meters, the Zoroastrian towers of silence and a huge pool of crocodiles. Along with the poor neighborhoods in Karachi, there are fashionable areas and a business center. Therefore, it is perhaps a classic Asian city of contrasts.
1. Shanghai, China
And the greatest city of our time is Chinese Shanghai, which is home to 24 million 150 thousand people. The metropolis impresses with its futurism - it is dominated by the highest skyscraper in China with a height of 632 meters and 121 floors, which is called the "Shanghai Tower". In general, in terms of the number of skyscrapers, the Shanghai Pudong district has long surpassed Manhattan and continues to develop dynamically. The history of Shanghai has more than seven centuries, so there are enough impressive historical buildings. Thousands of believers annually visit the local temple of Confucius, with the construction of which this great city began. And Mount Sheshan with its ancient pagodas seems to have come to the present from ancient Chinese fairy tales. In the very center of Shanghai, the mountain looks absolutely incredible! The metropolis is the commercial, scientific, financial and economic center of China, as well as its sea gates. Local residents live, if not richly, then quite decently - the average salary here is 700-750 dollars, which is very good by Asian standards. Shanghai has a special status in China, so a large part of the taxes collected in the city remains here. That is why the municipal authorities have funds for capital construction, the development of housing and communal infrastructure. As a result, the city is developing rapidly, its population is growing and is already breaking world records. Thus, if you are asked, what is the largest city on Earth? You can safely answer - this is Shanghai, which is home to more than 24 million people!
In every country in the world - a huge number of cities. Small and big, poor and rich, resort and industrial.
All settlements are remarkable in their own way. One is famous for its landscapes, the other is famous for entertainment, the third is for history. But there are also cities that are famous for their area. So, here are the largest cities in the world by area.
The largest city in the world
This title belongs to the city of Chongqing, it is located in the central part of China, and its area is 82,400 square meters. km, although this includes not only the territory of the city itself, but also the area of \u200b\u200bthe territory subordinate to the city. According to official figures, the city occupies an area 470 km long from east to west and 450 km wide from north to south, which corresponds to the size of a country like Austria.Chongqing is administratively divided into 19 districts, 15 counties and 4 autonomous counties. According to 2010 data, the population is 28,846,170 people. But more than 80 percent of the inhabitants live in rural areas; only 6 million people live in the city itself.
Chongqing is one of the ancient cities in China, with a history of more than 3,000 years. In the late Paleolithic era, primitive people already lived here. This is due to the fact that the city was founded on the spot where the Jialingjiang River flows into the full-flowing Yangtze.
The city is surrounded by three mountains: Dabashan in the north, Wushan in the east and Dalushan in the south. Because of the hilly landscape of the area, Chongqing was nicknamed the "mountain city" (Shancheng). It is located at an altitude of 243 meters above sea level.
The largest cities in the world
Often the degree of urbanization reaches the point that expanding cities are so closely intertwined with industrial, transport and cultural ties and merge into one. Such a cluster of "merged" cities is called an urban agglomeration.
One of the largest is the New York agglomeration, formed around one major city, the core of New York. Its total area is 30,671 sq. km, the population is almost 24 million people. The Greater New York agglomeration also includes Northern New Jersey, Long Island, Newark, Bridgeport, the five largest New Jersey cities (Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Paterson and Trenton) and six of the seven largest cities Connecticut (Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury).
Largest cities by area in North America
But New York is not the largest city in North America, or even in its own country. The total area of the center of the largest agglomeration is only 1214.9 sq. km, it consists of 5 districts: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island. The population does not exceed 8.5 million people. Therefore, New York ranks only third in the list of the largest cities by area in North America.
Second place goes to Los Angeles - the city of angels, located in the south of California, its area is 1302 square meters. km. The city is the center of Greater Los Angeles - an agglomeration with a population of over 17 million people. It is also better known as the center of the film industry and entertainment in the field of music and computer games.
The largest city in North America by area is Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. The area of the city is almost 1500 sq. km, and 9 million people live in this territory, it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The city was built in a seismically hazardous zone, and earthquakes occur here quite often, which leads to low buildings and, accordingly, its length and area.
Once on the territory of the modern Mexican capital there was a settlement of the Aztec tribe, called Tenochtitlan. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish conquerors founded a new city in its place, from which Mexico City grew.
Largest cities in South America
One of the largest cities in terms of area is Sao Paulo, its area is 1523 sq. km. But it is the third largest city in South America. It is located in the southeast of Brazil along the Tietê River. With a population of 11.3 million, it is the most populated city in the Western Hemisphere.
Sao Paulo is a city of contrasts, on the one hand it is the most modern city in Brazil, built up with skyscrapers made of glass and concrete (this is where the tallest building in the country is located - the Miranti do Vali skyscraper). On the other hand, the city traces its history back to the 16th century, and many “echoes of the past” have been preserved on its territory - ancient buildings, museums, churches, which are harmoniously combined with modern buildings.
Second place belongs to the city of Bogota - the capital of Colombia. The largest city in the country, its area is 1,587 sq. km. Bogotá was founded by Spanish colonizers in 1538. The city is located on the site of an Indian fortress called Bakata and became the capital of New Grenada, this is the name Quesada gave to the conquered territory. In 1598, Bogotá became the capital of the Captaincy General of Spain, and in 1739 of the Viceroyalty of New Grenada.
This is a city of futuristic architecture, combined with colonial-style churches and insignificant historical buildings, inhabited by an unfavorable contingent: homeless people, thieves and robbers. Bogota and its suburbs are home to 7 million people, which is one sixth of the total population of Colombia. But Bogota is only the second largest city in South America.
The palm is occupied by Brasilia. The area of the capital of the Republic of Brazil is 5802 square meters. km. True, it became the capital quite recently - on April 21, 1960, becoming the third capital of the country, after Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. The city was specially planned and built in the central part in order to use inactive areas, attract population and develop distant areas. The capital is located on the Brazilian plateau, far from the main political areas.
The construction of the city began in 1957 according to a unified plan focused on progressive construction technologies and the foundations of modern urban planning. It was conceived as an ideal city. In 1986, the city of Brasilia was named a "patrimony of mankind" by UNESCO.
The largest cities in Europe by area
London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, England, as well as the largest city in the British Isles by area. The metropolis has an area of 1572 sq. km. They fit 8 million people. City of fog London plays a major political, cultural and economic role in the life of the UK. The city has Heathrow International Airport, a major port on the Thames, attractions: among them is the complex of the Palace of Westminster with a clock tower, the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral.London from a bird's eye view
But London ranks only third in the list of the largest cities in Europe. The second place is firmly entrenched in the capital of our Motherland - Moscow. Its area is 2510 sq. km, with a population of 12 million people, according to official figures. This is the largest city not only in Russia, but also in Europe, it is also among the top ten cities in the world in terms of population.
The city is not only the political and administrative, cultural and tourist center of the country, but an important transport hub for the entire country. The city is served by 5 airports, 9 railway stations, 3 river ports.
Istanbul is the largest city in Europe. One of the largest cities on the planet and the largest city in Turkey. Istanbul is the former capital of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires. The city is located on the banks of the Bosphorus. Its area is 5343 sq. km.
Until 1930, the internationally accepted name of the city was Constantinople. Another name, which is still used in the title of the Patriarch of Constantinople, is Second Rome or New Rome. In 1930, the Turkish authorities ordered that only the Turkish version of the name Istanbul be used. Russified version - Istanbul.
Africa's largest cities by area
Cape Town, a city in the southwest of South Africa (South Africa) - its area is slightly inferior to the area of Moscow and is 2,455 square meters. km. It is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, on a peninsula near the Cape of Good Hope, near the foot of the Table Mountain. This city is often called the most beautiful city in the world and the most touristic in South Africa due to its amazing nature.
Tourists choose it for its beautiful beaches and surfing. The city center is home to Old Dutch mansions and ornate Victorian buildings.
The largest city in Africa is Kinshasa - the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, its area is almost 10 thousand square kilometers. Until 1966, this city was called Leopoldville. The population of Kinshasa is over 10 million people. But 60 percent of the city is sparsely populated rural areas that are within the city limits. Densely populated areas occupy a small part of the territory in the west of the city. Nevertheless, Kinshasa is the third largest city in the world by area.
The city is located on the Congo River, along its southern coast, stretching for a long distance. Opposite is the city of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. This is the only place in the world where two capitals of different countries directly face each other on opposite banks of the river.
Kinshasa is also the second most French-speaking city in the world, behind only Paris. But judging by the rate of population growth, after some time it can overtake the French capital. This is a city of contrasts. Here, wealthy areas with skyscrapers, shopping centers and cafes coexist with slums of shacks and shacks.
The largest cities by area in Australia and Oceania
Sydney is Australia's largest city. Its area is 12,145 sq. km. The population of Sydney is approximately 4.5 million people.
By the way, the city is the capital of New South Wales. Sydney was founded in 1788 by Arthur Philip, who came to the mainland with the First Fleet. This place is the first colonial European settlement in Australia. The city itself was named by the colonists in honor of Lord Sydney, who at that time was the Minister of the British Colonies.
The largest cities by area in Asia
One of the largest cities is the city of Karachi with an area of 3527 sq. km. There were settlements on the site of modern Karachi during the time of Alexander the Great. The ancient port of Crocola was located here - Alexander the Great set up camp before going to Babylon. Next was Montobara, Nearchus sailed from here after research.
Later, the Indo-Greek seaport of Barbaricon was formed. In 1729, the fishing town of Kalachi-jo-Gosh became a significant trading center. After 110 years there was a long period of British colonization. Local residents fought against the European invaders, but only in 1940 they were able to become part of an independent Pakistan.
Shanghai occupies almost twice as much territory as Karachi, its area is 6340 sq. km. It is the third largest city in China and the most densely populated, with a population of nearly 24 million people. One of the largest ports in the world is located here, and in general the city is recognized as the largest trading center. The dynamically developing city can boast of its ancient history, it is also the first city in China to which European culture came.
The territory of another Chinese city of Guangzhou is slightly larger than the area of Shanghai, and is 7434.4 square meters. km on land and 744 sq. km at sea. It is the capital of Guangdong Province. With a population of over 13 million, Guangzhou is the fourth largest city in China after Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin. It has more than 2000 years of history, and it was from here, from Canton (this was the former name of the city of Guangzhou) that the famous "Silk Road" began. Ships with outlandish Chinese goods - silk, porcelain and the like - departed from its trading port.
The largest city by area in the world
This is Beijing - the capital of the "Celestial Empire", its area is 16,800 square kilometers, and its population is 21.2 million people. The city is the political and educational center of China, yielding an economic role to Shanghai and Hong Kong. In 2008, the Summer Olympic Games were held here.
Beijing has almost always been the seat of many emperors in its 3,000-year history, and has retained its status as the center of the country to this day. Imperial palaces, tombs, temples and parks have been preserved here. It honors ancient Chinese traditions, regularly restoring ancient buildings, along with sprawling new districts and skyscrapers. Beijing is also considered the safest city in the world. On the Know Everything website, you can also read an article about the most populated cities in the world. And the list of the largest cities by area does not always coincide with the list of the largest cities by population.
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