41. New York City, USA | Most Populated Cities
City population: 8,930,002
Since the first U.S. census in 1790, New York has remained the most prominent American city. Today, it’s twice the size of Los Angeles, the second largest metropolis. In the 19th century, New York saw a massive population rise, from 80,000 to 3.4 million. Growth slowed in the 1950s, and people migrated to the suburbs in the 1970s. The decrease in population growth was said to be due to economic problems and a high crime rate. In the 1990s, the population began to grow once again.
42. Wuhan, China
City population: 8,591,611
Being “the Chicago of China,” Wuhan features a central transportation hub, including a railroad, shipping centre, and international airport. Many residents from other parts of China, and places like Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, have migrated to Wuhan for its strong economy and significant industrial zones.
43. Xi An Shaanxi, China
City population: 8,537,646
Xi An Shaanxi is a significant business and industrial centre, with its history embellished with the Qin Dynasty’s terracotta warriors and the legendary Silk Road. The city had grown since 2000, when the population was less than 4 million, mainly due to new investment and employment opportunities.
44. Ahmedabad, India
City population: 8,450,228
The former capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad has grown to over 6 million people in just 40 years. It is a rapidly growing city with an industrial hub, an education centre, and rich history. Located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, the city is becoming a fast-growing tourist destination due to its delicious food and colourful culture. The old part of Ahmedabad city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to a multitude of temples, museums and markets, Ahmedabad is the perfect example of a city which retains its past while rapidly progressing towards the future.
45. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Most Populated Cities
City population: 8,419,566
Kuala Lumpur might rank high in population, but they enrich the city’s culture. Kuala Lumpur is well-known for its food, available as yummy hawker food, creative fine dining experiences, and experimental bars! Moreover, the city’s renowned for its art culture, having grown over the past few years. Whether theatre, music or fine arts, the city provides local talent at all points of time.
46. Hangzhou, China
City population: 8,044,878
Featuring a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hangzhou has been a famous city for ages. The festivals, monuments, museums, and rich cultural history are brought forward in the districts. In its golden age, from 1180-1300 A.D., the population had reached 1.5 million already. Today, the city continues growing, drawing people from all over China for the multiple industries and services.
47. Surat, India
City population: 7,784,276
A port city in Gujarat, Surat is known for its global diamond cutting centre and textiles commercial hub. It attracts tourists interested in colonial history and exotic wildlife. Surat is located 306 km away from the state capital; it boasts multiple attractions like the Diamond Gallery, Surat Castle, and the Science Centre Complex. Also known as ‘the city of flyovers’, Surat will never disappoint.
48. Suzhou, China
City population: 7,764,499
Suzhou was considered one of the world’s ten largest cities back in 100 A.D. and has since been one of the most prosperous cities. Well known for its canal networks, the Suzhou port boasted a 50% increase in cargo handling between 2011 and 2016. Along with a new technology park, the silk and cotton industries provided employment opportunities, followed by which Suzhou experienced heavy migration.
49. Hong Kong, China
City population: 7,643,256
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with over 6000 people per square mile. In comparison, the rest of China’s population density is 142 people per square mile. When the British took control over Hong Kong, the population was only 7,541, reaching a million a century later. When the power transfer from Great Britain to China occurred in 1997, the city had become an important financial centre, harboring a population of 6.5 million. While the citizens are blessed with long life expectancies, the fertility rate is low, due to which population growth has slowed in recent years.
50. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Most Populated Cities
City population: 7,538,200
Being the main population centre of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh boasts over 7 million people. However, since 2010, the capital hadn’t had an official census, a time when 30% of the population was non-Saudi. The highest periods of population increase were between 1965 and 1990— the growth rate has decreased considerably since then.
- Online sources
Citations for websites:
- World Population Review (2022). World City Populations 2022. [online]. Available at: https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities [Accessed date: 06 September 2022].
- Colman Andrews (2018). 50 Largest Cities in the World. [online]. Available at: https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/07/13/50-largest-cities-in-the-world/amp/ [Accessed date: 06 September 2022].
- Shelbi Austin (2019). The 10 Largest Cities in the World. [online]. Available at: https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/slideshows/the-10-largest-cities-in-the-world [Accessed date: 10 September 2022].
- Amancay Tapia, (2021). The 25 Most Populous Cities in the World. [online]. Available at: https://www.newsweek.com/25-most-populous-cities-world-1633845 [Accessed date: 10 September 2022].
- Holidify, (n.d.). Most Populated Cities in India. [online]. Available at: https://www.holidify.com/collections/most-populated-cities-in-india [Accessed date: 10 September 2022].
- Huw Oliver, (2022). The 53 Best Cities in the World in 2022. [online]. Available at: https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-cities-in-the-world [Accessed date: 10 September 2022].
- ListStripe (2022). The 10 Largest Cities in the World by Population 2022. [online]. Available at: https://www.liststripe.com/largest-cities-world/ [Accessed date: 10 September 2022].
- Images/visual mediums
Citations for images/photographs – Print or Online:
Six, S. (2011). Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. [Photograph].
Delso, D. (2013). Kowloon Waterfront, Hong Kong. [Photograph].
Bhadane, R.R. (2017). Minara Masjid, Surat, [Photograph].
Chen, Y. (2019). Hangzhou Skyline against the West Lake. [Photograph].
Fadil, N. (2013). Moonrise over Kuala Lumpur. [Photograph].
Shah, M. (2011). Kankaria Panorama Ahmedabad. [Photograph].
Eichmann, G. (2012). Giant Wild Goose Pagode at Xi’An in China. [Photograph].
Butler, A.J. (2012). Wuhan- panoramio. [Photograph].
Yourdon, E. (2009). Southwest corner of Central Park, looking east, NYC. [Photograph].
Rohwer, L. (2009). Luanda, Angola. [Photograph].
le Bouter, G. (2019). Night view of Ho Chi Minh City. [Photograph].
Fröberg, B. (2018). Azadi Tower, Tehran. [Photograph].
Davenport, J. (2019). Nanjing, China. [Photograph].
Pascal, K. (2021). Chengdu, China. [Photograph].
Marsico, D. (2017). London Skyline. [Photograph].
Iwai, H. (2020). Nagoya city. [Photograph].
Pan, L.C. (2015). Ch’anggyŏng (Changgyeong) Palace, with downtown Seoul in the background.. [Photograph].
Friedrich, W. (1890). Hyderabad, India street scene by Woldemar Friedrich. [Painting].
Mayer, S. (2019). Lima’s historic core. [Photograph].
Maharani, R. (2019). Jakarta, Indonesia. [Photograph].
Gardner, J. (n.d.). Bogota, Colombia. [Photograph].
Adams, P. (2011). Chennai, India. [Photograph].
Bogomyakov, S. (2010). Red Square, Moscow. [Photograph].
Bathwal, K. (2019). Aerial shot of Bangalore city of Nagawara area. [Photograph].
Expedia. (n.d.). Lahore, Pakistan. [Photograph].
Yuetao, H. (2017). Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Guangzhou. [Photograph].
Hulme, D. (2010). Tianjin Eye, a ferris wheel in Tianjin, China. [Photograph].
Chan, R. (2017). Manila, Philippines. [Photograph].
Mortula, L. (2012). Statue of Queen Victoria in front of Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. [Photograph].
Woodhouse, J. (2008). Buenos Aires, Argentina. [Photograph].
Doubek, J. (2019). Shopping District- Lagos, Nigeria. [Photograph].
Kashala, I. (2022). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. [Photograph].
Spatari, A. (2021). Istanbul, Turkey. [Photograph].
Aqib, M.. (2009). Karachi, Pakistan. [Photograph].
Huang, J. (2019). Chongqing Nightscape. [Photograph].
Jiro, S. (2016). Sumiyoshi-taisha, Osaka, Japan. [Photograph].
Xinghua, L. (2022). Beijing, China. [Photograph].
Joshi, H. (2022). Mumbai skyline. [Photograph].
Adulyatham, P. (2022). Cairo, Egypt. [Photograph].
Grant, B. (2022). Plaza del Ejecutivo. [Photograph].
Goncalves, R.P. (2008). The Octavio Frias de Oliviera bridge in Sao Paulo, Brazil over the Pinheiros River. [Photograph].
Qadir, M.A. (2017). Dhaka, Bangladesh. [Photograph].
Thaller, B. (2022). Shanghai skyline. [Photograph].
Ermakova, E. (2014). Crowd of people on the street of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, India. [Photograph].
Sekkei, N. (2022). Tokyo, Japan. [Photograph].
