11. Chongqing, China | Most Populated Cities
City population: 16,874,740
Being the largest city in South-West China, this Yangtze River port used to be the capital of Nationalist China. The population growth occurred when the eastern part of the Sichuan province was incorporated into the city.
12. Karachi, Pakistan
City population: 16,839,950
Karachi, the capital of Pakistan, has experienced the fastest growth rate out of any metropolis, increasing by 3% annually. Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, Uganda and various Central Asian countries have contributed to this population increase. Today, Karachi is Pakistan’s economic and financial capital and a major seaport.
13. Istanbul, Turkey | Populated Cities
City population: 15,636,243
Istanbul, known as Constantinople till 1930, had a population as high as 500,000 in 500 A.D., making it the world’s largest metropolis then. The modern city’s population grew fast, increasing from less than a million in 1950 to 9 million by 2000. It is unique among cities because it is located on both the European and Asian continents, with the Strait of Bosphorus separating them.
14. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
City population: 15,628,085
The largest city on the African continent, Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The metropolis grew slowly from about 5,000 people in 1889 to 23,000 in 1923. After 1950, the population doubled every five years. At one time, people migrated from western and central Africa, but today, most migrants are from other parts of the country.
15. Lagos, Nigeria | Most Populated Cities
City population: 15,387,639
Lagos, Nigeria’s capital and a major seaport, has seen such vigorous growth that it’s predicted the population might double by 2050. Over 250 ethnic groups reside in the city of Lagos, including Asians, Europeans, Americans, as well as various African communities.
16. Buenos Aires, Argentina
City population: 15,369,919
The largest city and capital in Argentina, Buenos Aires, is located on the western shore of the Rio de la Plata. The metropolitan region’s population increased from 3 million to over 15 million. Today, Buenos Aires is called the ‘World’s Capital of Theater’ because of the numerous theatres in the city.
17. Kolkata, India
City population: 15,133,888
Kolkata is the largest city and the capital of West Bengal. It is a city of commerce, manufacturing, and transportation located on the Hooghly River. Formerly known as Calcutta, the city is a major urban centre of East India.
18. Manila, Philippines | Most Populated Cities
City population: 14,406,059
Since it was founded in 1571, Manila has been densely populated. However, when the first urban plan was drawn in 1905, the city made provision for only 800,000. Today, Manila is one of the most densely populated metropolises worldwide. The population has been estimated to increase by 60 people every hour. In late 2017, Former President Rodrigo Duterte that Manila would be a “dead city” in 25 years and taking its place would be a new city. He announced that this venture would be a collaboration between the government and private enterprise.
19. Tianjin, China
City population: 14,011,828
The largest coastal city in China, Tianjin became an important trading port in the late 19th century. In the 1970s, Tianjin benefited from economic reforms, which opened China to new foreign investments and established private businesses. Between 1980 and 2000, Tianjin’s population doubled; since then, it has almost doubled again.
20. Guangzhou, China | Most Populated Cities
City population: 13,964,637
Previously known as Canton, Guangzhou draws migrants from all over China. This is because Guangzhou’s urban area is seeing rapid population growth, doubling from 2010 to 2015 and remaining high. Many researchers proclaimed that the permanent population might be close to 25 million if the “functional urban area,” a new way of defining municipal limits, is included.
