| Source | UN (World Population Prospects 2025) |
| Date | 08 Feb 2026 |
In 2026, Jakarta remains the world’s most populous city, with an estimated population of 42.46 million people. It is followed by Dhaka with approximately 37.43 million residents. Tokyo and New Delhi are the only other cities with more than 30 million residents. The top six most populous cities are all in Asia, with Shanghai and Guangzhou holding the fifth and sixth positions, respectively.
Among the top ten most populous cities, India, and China have two entrants. Out of them, nine are situated in Asia and one in Africa.
As of 2026, 34 cities have a population above 10 million. Out of them, India has six cities, followed by China with four cities. Japan, the United States of America, and Pakistan have two cities each in the list. There are 23 countries having cities with populations over 10 million. Asia is home to 21 cities with populations over ten million, followed by South America (4), Africa (4), North America (3), and Europe (2).
Among the top 100, Damascus (Syria) has the highest population growth rate of 3.24% in 2026. Nineteen cities have negative population growth rates, and all four belong to Japan.
| Code | City | Population | Share (%) | Change | Country or Area | Continent | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rank | 2026 | Rank | Population | (%) | Rank | |||||
| Jaka | Jakarta | 41,913,860 | 1 | 42,459,070 | 1 | 0.505 | 545,210 | 1.30 | 0 | Indonesia | Asia |
| Dhak | Dhaka | 36,585,479 | 2 | 37,429,156 | 2 | 0.441 | 843,677 | 2.31 | 0 | Bangladesh | Asia |
| Tōky | Tōkyō (Tokyo) | 33,412,512 | 3 | 33,338,852 | 3 | 0.403 | -73,660 | -0.22 | 0 | Japan | Asia |
| New | New Delhi | 30,222,405 | 4 | 30,446,254 | 4 | 0.364 | 223,849 | 0.74 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Shan | Shanghai | 29,558,908 | 5 | 29,906,570 | 5 | 0.356 | 347,662 | 1.18 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Guan | Guangzhou | 27,563,372 | 6 | 27,739,195 | 6 | 0.332 | 175,823 | 0.64 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Al-Q | Al-Qahirah (Cairo) | 25,566,102 | 7 | 25,889,876 | 7 | 0.308 | 323,774 | 1.27 | 0 | Egypt | Africa |
| Mani | Manila | 24,735,305 | 8 | 24,893,838 | 8 | 0.298 | 158,533 | 0.64 | 0 | Philippines | Asia |
| Kolk | Kolkata | 22,549,738 | 9 | 22,646,412 | 9 | 0.272 | 96,674 | 0.43 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Seou | Seoul | 22,490,482 | 10 | 22,517,764 | 10 | 0.271 | 27,282 | 0.12 | 0 | Republic of Korea | Asia |
| Kara | Karachi | 21,422,590 | 11 | 21,857,801 | 11 | 0.258 | 435,211 | 2.03 | 0 | Pakistan | Asia |
| Mumb | Mumbai | 20,203,056 | 12 | 20,385,414 | 12 | 0.243 | 182,358 | 0.90 | 0 | India | Asia |
| São | São Paulo | 18,949,790 | 13 | 18,957,600 | 13 | 0.228 | 7,810 | 0.04 | 0 | Brazil | South America |
| Krun | Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) | 18,180,280 | 14 | 18,338,825 | 14 | 0.219 | 158,545 | 0.87 | 0 | Thailand | Asia |
| Ciud | Ciudad de México (Mexico City) | 17,734,212 | 15 | 17,753,192 | 15 | 0.214 | 18,980 | 0.11 | 0 | Mexico | North America |
| Beij | Beijing | 17,013,303 | 16 | 17,127,344 | 16 | 0.205 | 114,041 | 0.67 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Laho | Lahore | 15,156,430 | 17 | 15,382,388 | 17 | 0.183 | 225,958 | 1.49 | 0 | Pakistan | Asia |
| Ista | Istanbul | 15,014,763 | 18 | 15,089,414 | 18 | 0.181 | 74,651 | 0.50 | 0 | Türkiye | Asia |
| Mosk | Moskva (Moscow) | 14,524,753 | 19 | 14,571,370 | 19 | 0.175 | 46,617 | 0.32 | 0 | Russian Federation | Europe |
| Ho C | Ho Chi Minh City | 14,052,713 | 20 | 14,213,778 | 20 | 0.169 | 161,065 | 1.15 | 0 | Viet Nam | Asia |
| Buen | Buenos Aires | 14,017,736 | 21 | 14,038,483 | 21 | 0.169 | 20,747 | 0.15 | 0 | Argentina | South America |
| Shen | Shenzhen | 13,878,396 | 23 | 13,957,317 | 22 | 0.167 | 78,921 | 0.57 | +1 | China | Asia |
| New | New York City | 13,920,148 | 22 | 13,902,818 | 23 | 0.168 | -17,330 | -0.12 | -1 | United States of America | North America |
| Beng | Bengaluru | 13,187,098 | 24 | 13,261,056 | 24 | 0.159 | 73,958 | 0.56 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Lago | Lagos | 12,791,699 | 26 | 12,956,639 | 25 | 0.154 | 164,940 | 1.29 | +1 | Nigeria | Africa |
| Osak | Osaka | 12,964,145 | 25 | 12,853,431 | 26 | 0.156 | -110,714 | -0.85 | -1 | Japan | Asia |
| Los | Los Angeles | 12,740,420 | 27 | 12,806,288 | 27 | 0.153 | 65,868 | 0.52 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Luan | Luanda | 11,370,127 | 28 | 11,723,099 | 28 | 0.137 | 352,972 | 3.10 | 0 | Angola | Africa |
| Chen | Chennai | 11,153,205 | 29 | 11,192,733 | 29 | 0.134 | 39,528 | 0.35 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Kins | Kinshasa | 10,943,641 | 30 | 11,078,527 | 30 | 0.132 | 134,886 | 1.23 | 0 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Africa |
| Bogo | Bogotá | 10,624,315 | 31 | 10,738,472 | 31 | 0.128 | 114,157 | 1.07 | 0 | Colombia | South America |
| Lima | Lima | 10,580,241 | 32 | 10,693,197 | 32 | 0.127 | 112,956 | 1.07 | 0 | Peru | South America |
| Lond | London | 10,416,420 | 33 | 10,486,502 | 33 | 0.125 | 70,082 | 0.67 | 0 | United Kingdom | Europe |
| Haji | Hajipur | 9,941,510 | 34 | 10,165,216 | 34 | 0.120 | 223,706 | 2.25 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Rio | Rio de Janeiro | 9,500,336 | 35 | 9,508,383 | 35 | 0.114 | 8,047 | 0.08 | 0 | Brazil | South America |
| Pari | Paris | 9,381,921 | 36 | 9,380,592 | 36 | 0.113 | -1,329 | -0.01 | 0 | France | Europe |
| Hyde | Hyderabad | 9,190,795 | 37 | 9,216,127 | 37 | 0.111 | 25,332 | 0.28 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Tehr | Tehrān (Tehran) | 9,174,964 | 38 | 9,206,970 | 38 | 0.111 | 32,006 | 0.35 | 0 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | Asia |
| Taip | Taipei | 9,136,792 | 39 | 9,120,152 | 39 | 0.110 | -16,640 | -0.18 | 0 | China, Taiwan Province of China | Asia |
| Band | Bandung | 8,909,104 | 40 | 8,965,166 | 40 | 0.107 | 56,062 | 0.63 | 0 | Indonesia | Asia |
| Kual | Kuala Lumpur | 8,443,731 | 41 | 8,565,445 | 41 | 0.102 | 121,714 | 1.44 | 0 | Malaysia | Asia |
| Dar | Dar es Salaam | 7,795,114 | 42 | 8,009,189 | 42 | 0.0939 | 214,075 | 2.75 | 0 | United Republic of Tanzania | Africa |
| Suzh | Suzhou | 7,731,101 | 43 | 7,741,751 | 43 | 0.0931 | 10,650 | 0.14 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Ahme | Ahmedabad | 7,632,408 | 44 | 7,667,167 | 44 | 0.0919 | 34,759 | 0.46 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Hang | Hangzhou | 7,500,208 | 45 | 7,627,713 | 45 | 0.0904 | 127,505 | 1.70 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Alex | Alexandria | 7,266,957 | 48 | 7,348,119 | 46 | 0.0875 | 81,162 | 1.12 | +2 | Egypt | Africa |
| Tian | Tianjin | 7,285,342 | 47 | 7,318,511 | 47 | 0.0878 | 33,169 | 0.46 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Wuha | Wuhan | 7,363,548 | 46 | 7,317,134 | 48 | 0.0887 | -46,414 | -0.63 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Joha | Johannesburg | 7,077,175 | 50 | 7,173,199 | 49 | 0.0853 | 96,024 | 1.36 | +1 | South Africa | Africa |
| Nago | Nagoya | 7,146,160 | 49 | 7,116,860 | 50 | 0.0861 | -29,300 | -0.41 | -1 | Japan | Asia |
| Chon | Chongqing | 7,071,073 | 51 | 7,029,204 | 51 | 0.0852 | -41,869 | -0.59 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Ar-R | Ar-Riyāḑ (Riyadh) | 6,916,417 | 52 | 7,024,249 | 52 | 0.0833 | 107,832 | 1.56 | 0 | Saudi Arabia | Asia |
| Sura | Surat | 6,908,925 | 53 | 6,970,910 | 53 | 0.0832 | 61,985 | 0.90 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Al-K | Al-Kharṭūm (Khartoum) | 6,809,355 | 56 | 6,941,762 | 54 | 0.0820 | 132,407 | 1.94 | +2 | Sudan | Africa |
| Ādīs | Ādīs Ᾱbeba (Addis Ababa) | 6,705,705 | 59 | 6,888,446 | 55 | 0.0808 | 182,741 | 2.73 | +4 | Ethiopia | Africa |
| Pune | Pune | 6,817,951 | 55 | 6,871,873 | 56 | 0.0821 | 53,922 | 0.79 | -1 | India | Asia |
| Sura | Surabaya | 6,843,503 | 54 | 6,836,214 | 57 | 0.0824 | -7,289 | -0.11 | -3 | Indonesia | Asia |
| Nanj | Nanjing | 6,800,676 | 57 | 6,793,988 | 58 | 0.0819 | -6,688 | -0.10 | -1 | China | Asia |
| Sant | Santiago | 6,726,045 | 58 | 6,751,278 | 59 | 0.0810 | 25,233 | 0.38 | -1 | Chile | South America |
| Abid | Abidjan | 6,621,711 | 60 | 6,745,225 | 60 | 0.0798 | 123,514 | 1.87 | 0 | Côte d'Ivoire | Africa |
| Ammā | Ammān (Amman) | 6,403,666 | 62 | 6,482,673 | 61 | 0.0771 | 79,007 | 1.23 | +1 | Jordan | Asia |
| Chao | Chaozhou | 6,407,770 | 61 | 6,446,205 | 62 | 0.0772 | 38,435 | 0.60 | -1 | China | Asia |
| Bagh | Baghdād (Baghdad) | 6,390,735 | 63 | 6,445,878 | 63 | 0.0770 | 55,143 | 0.86 | 0 | Iraq | Asia |
| Nair | Nairobi | 6,134,334 | 65 | 6,244,748 | 64 | 0.0739 | 110,414 | 1.80 | +1 | Kenya | Africa |
| Kozh | Kozhikode | 6,123,872 | 66 | 6,185,294 | 65 | 0.0738 | 61,422 | 1.00 | +1 | India | Asia |
| Chen | Chengdu | 6,139,874 | 64 | 6,107,666 | 66 | 0.0740 | -32,208 | -0.52 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Onit | Onitsha | 5,627,706 | 69 | 5,761,718 | 67 | 0.0678 | 134,012 | 2.38 | +2 | Nigeria | Africa |
| Kābu | Kābul (Kabul) | 5,635,737 | 68 | 5,759,569 | 68 | 0.0679 | 123,832 | 2.20 | 0 | Afghanistan | Asia |
| Shen | Shenyang | 5,702,638 | 67 | 5,679,026 | 69 | 0.0687 | -23,612 | -0.41 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Accr | Accra | 5,592,780 | 71 | 5,667,516 | 70 | 0.0674 | 74,736 | 1.34 | +1 | Ghana | Africa |
| Yang | Yangon | 5,618,303 | 70 | 5,651,389 | 71 | 0.0677 | 33,086 | 0.59 | -1 | Myanmar | Asia |
| Fais | Faisalabad | 5,566,382 | 73 | 5,640,667 | 72 | 0.0671 | 74,285 | 1.33 | +1 | Pakistan | Asia |
| Madr | Madrid | 5,583,601 | 72 | 5,591,755 | 73 | 0.0673 | 8,154 | 0.15 | -1 | Spain | Europe |
| Toro | Toronto | 5,494,431 | 74 | 5,539,951 | 74 | 0.0662 | 45,520 | 0.83 | 0 | Canada | North America |
| Mash | Mashhad | 5,398,248 | 75 | 5,417,340 | 75 | 0.0650 | 19,092 | 0.35 | 0 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | Asia |
| Duba | Dubai | 5,283,789 | 76 | 5,356,637 | 76 | 0.0637 | 72,848 | 1.38 | 0 | United Arab Emirates | Asia |
| Sri | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte - Colombo | 5,223,838 | 78 | 5,264,063 | 77 | 0.0629 | 40,225 | 0.77 | +1 | Sri Lanka | Asia |
| Yaou | Yaoundé | 5,106,087 | 79 | 5,244,714 | 78 | 0.0615 | 138,627 | 2.71 | +1 | Cameroon | Africa |
| Xi'a | Xi'an | 5,231,053 | 77 | 5,216,357 | 79 | 0.0630 | -14,696 | -0.28 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Koch | Kochi | 5,077,670 | 80 | 5,152,610 | 80 | 0.0612 | 74,940 | 1.48 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Luck | Lucknow | 5,052,444 | 82 | 5,087,496 | 81 | 0.0609 | 35,052 | 0.69 | +1 | India | Asia |
| Hà N | Hà Nội (Hanoi) | 5,068,414 | 81 | 5,064,339 | 82 | 0.0611 | -4,075 | -0.08 | -1 | Viet Nam | Asia |
| Chat | Chattogram | 4,983,553 | 83 | 5,044,182 | 83 | 0.0600 | 60,629 | 1.22 | 0 | Bangladesh | Asia |
| Kamp | Kampala | 4,880,943 | 85 | 5,012,188 | 84 | 0.0588 | 131,245 | 2.69 | +1 | Uganda | Africa |
| Sing | Singapore | 4,963,998 | 84 | 4,989,549 | 85 | 0.0598 | 25,551 | 0.51 | -1 | Singapore | Asia |
| Islā | Islāmābād | 4,860,084 | 88 | 4,945,537 | 86 | 0.0586 | 85,453 | 1.76 | +2 | Pakistan | Asia |
| Kano | Kano | 4,840,280 | 89 | 4,906,917 | 87 | 0.0583 | 66,637 | 1.38 | +2 | Nigeria | Africa |
| Zhen | Zhengzhou | 4,878,035 | 86 | 4,867,461 | 88 | 0.0588 | -10,574 | -0.22 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Hefe | Hefei | 4,867,000 | 87 | 4,864,171 | 89 | 0.0586 | -2,829 | -0.06 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Sain | Saint Petersburg | 4,736,499 | 91 | 4,734,157 | 90 | 0.0571 | -2,342 | -0.05 | +1 | Russian Federation | Europe |
| Tama | Tamar (Hong Kong) | 4,749,543 | 90 | 4,731,419 | 91 | 0.0572 | -18,124 | -0.38 | -1 | China, Hong Kong SAR | Asia |
| Sant | Santo Domingo | 4,600,064 | 92 | 4,638,389 | 92 | 0.0554 | 38,325 | 0.83 | 0 | Dominican Republic | North America |
| Cape | Cape Town | 4,508,921 | 93 | 4,585,729 | 93 | 0.0543 | 76,808 | 1.70 | 0 | South Africa | Africa |
| Muqd | Muqdisho (Mogadishu) | 4,399,430 | 95 | 4,518,627 | 94 | 0.0530 | 119,197 | 2.71 | +1 | Somalia | Africa |
| Casa | Casablanca | 4,457,471 | 94 | 4,487,289 | 95 | 0.0537 | 29,818 | 0.67 | -1 | Morocco | Africa |
| Dima | Dimashq (Damascus) | 4,287,746 | 99 | 4,426,767 | 96 | 0.0517 | 139,021 | 3.24 | +3 | Syrian Arab Republic | Asia |
| Bama | Bamako | 4,244,881 | 103 | 4,378,826 | 97 | 0.0511 | 133,945 | 3.16 | +6 | Mali | Africa |
| Harb | Harbin | 4,376,259 | 96 | 4,370,578 | 98 | 0.0527 | -5,681 | -0.13 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Kuma | Kumasi | 4,297,984 | 98 | 4,357,357 | 99 | 0.0518 | 59,373 | 1.38 | -1 | Ghana | Africa |
| Jedd | Jeddah | 4,284,080 | 100 | 4,351,700 | 100 | 0.0516 | 67,620 | 1.58 | 0 | Saudi Arabia | Asia |