Tokyo, Japan, is the most populous city in the world, with an astonishing population exceeding 37 million residents. This figure is significant, as it is more than four times the population of New York City, which ranks #52 among the largest cities in the world. Following Tokyo, New Delhi in India and Shanghai in China hold the second and third positions, respectively, in terms of population size.
Forecasts suggest that by 2030, New Delhi is projected to gain an additional 10 million residents. This growth could enable the city to surpass Tokyo and become the largest city in the world. The expected increase in population is due to several factors, including a high birth rate and migration from rural areas to urban centers in search of better opportunities.
What are the most populated cities in the world? Here is a list of the most populated cities in the world.
Most populated cities in the world, 2025
Rank City Country 2025 Population 2024 Population Change
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%
Have you read?
The World’s Best Medical Schools.
The World’s Best Universities.
The World’s Best International High Schools.
The World’s Best Business Schools.
The World’s Best Fashion Schools.
The World’s Best Hospitality And Hotel Management Schools.
Add CEOWORLD magazine as your preferred news source on Google News
Follow CEOWORLD magazine on: Google News, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.License and Republishing: The views in this article are the author’s own and do not represent CEOWORLD magazine. No part of this material may be copied, shared, or published without the magazine’s prior written permission. For media queries, please contact: info@ceoworld.biz. © CEOWORLD magazine LTD
