| Source | UN (World Population Prospects 2018) |
| Date | 16 Dec 2023 |
Tokyo is the most populous city in the world, with a population of 37.2 million people. Tokyo is followed by Delhi, which has a population of 32.9 million. Only these two cities have a population above 30 million. The top four positions are occupied by Asian cities as Shanghai and Dhaka are at 3rd and 4th position, resp.
Among the top ten most populous cities, Japan, India and China have two entrants. Out of them, seven are situated in Asia and one each in South America, North America and Africa.
As of 2023, 34 cities have a population above 10 million. Out of them, India and China have 6 cities each followed by Japan, Brazil, United States of America and Pakistan with two cities each. There are 20 countries having cities with populations over 10 mn. Asia is home to 21 cities with populations over ten million followed by South America (5), Africa (3), North America(3) and Europe (2).
Among the top 100, Dar es Salaam (United Republic of Tanzania) has the highest population growth rate of 5.01% in 2023. Four cities have negative population growth rates and all four belong to Japan.
| City | Population | Share (%) | Change | Country or Area | Continent | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Rank | 2023 | Rank | Population | (%) | Rank | ||||
| Tokyo | 37,274,002 | 1 | 37,194,105 | 1 | 0.463 | -79,897 | -0.21 | 0 | Japan | Asia |
| Delhi | 32,065,760 | 2 | 32,941,309 | 2 | 0.399 | 875,549 | 2.73 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Shanghai | 28,516,903 | 3 | 29,210,808 | 3 | 0.354 | 693,905 | 2.43 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Dhaka | 22,478,117 | 4 | 23,209,616 | 4 | 0.279 | 731,499 | 3.25 | 0 | Bangladesh | Asia |
| São Paulo | 22,429,799 | 5 | 22,619,736 | 5 | 0.279 | 189,937 | 0.85 | 0 | Brazil | South America |
| Ciudad de México (Mexico City) | 22,085,139 | 6 | 22,281,442 | 6 | 0.275 | 196,303 | 0.89 | 0 | Mexico | North America |
| Al-Qahirah (Cairo) | 21,750,020 | 7 | 22,183,201 | 7 | 0.270 | 433,181 | 1.99 | 0 | Egypt | Africa |
| Beijing | 21,333,331 | 8 | 21,766,214 | 8 | 0.265 | 432,883 | 2.03 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Mumbai (Bombay) | 20,961,473 | 9 | 21,296,517 | 9 | 0.261 | 335,044 | 1.60 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Kinki M.M.A. (Osaka) | 19,059,857 | 10 | 19,013,434 | 10 | 0.237 | -46,423 | -0.24 | 0 | Japan | Asia |
| New York-Newark | 18,866,532 | 11 | 18,937,269 | 11 | 0.235 | 70,737 | 0.37 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Chongqing | 16,874,741 | 12 | 17,340,704 | 12 | 0.210 | 465,963 | 2.76 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Karachi | 16,839,950 | 13 | 17,236,230 | 13 | 0.209 | 396,280 | 2.35 | 0 | Pakistan | Asia |
| Kinshasa | 15,628,085 | 15 | 16,315,534 | 14 | 0.194 | 687,449 | 4.40 | +1 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Africa |
| Lagos | 15,387,639 | 16 | 15,945,912 | 15 | 0.191 | 558,273 | 3.63 | +1 | Nigeria | Africa |
| Istanbul | 15,636,243 | 14 | 15,847,768 | 16 | 0.194 | 211,525 | 1.35 | -2 | Turkey | Asia |
| Buenos Aires | 15,369,919 | 17 | 15,490,415 | 17 | 0.191 | 120,496 | 0.78 | 0 | Argentina | South America |
| Kolkata (Calcutta) | 15,133,888 | 18 | 15,332,793 | 18 | 0.188 | 198,905 | 1.31 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Manila | 14,406,059 | 19 | 14,667,089 | 19 | 0.179 | 261,030 | 1.81 | 0 | Philippines | Asia |
| Guangzhou, Guangdong | 13,964,637 | 21 | 14,284,353 | 20 | 0.174 | 319,716 | 2.29 | +1 | China | Asia |
| Tianjin | 14,011,828 | 20 | 14,238,643 | 21 | 0.174 | 226,815 | 1.62 | -1 | China | Asia |
| Lahore | 13,541,764 | 23 | 13,979,390 | 22 | 0.168 | 437,626 | 3.23 | +1 | Pakistan | Asia |
| Rio de Janeiro | 13,634,274 | 22 | 13,727,720 | 23 | 0.169 | 93,446 | 0.69 | -1 | Brazil | South America |
| Bangalore | 13,193,035 | 24 | 13,607,800 | 24 | 0.164 | 414,765 | 3.14 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Shenzhen | 12,831,330 | 25 | 13,072,633 | 25 | 0.159 | 241,303 | 1.88 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Moskva (Moscow) | 12,640,818 | 26 | 12,680,389 | 26 | 0.157 | 39,571 | 0.31 | 0 | Russian Federation | Europe |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana | 12,487,737 | 27 | 12,534,357 | 27 | 0.155 | 46,620 | 0.37 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Chennai (Madras) | 11,503,293 | 28 | 11,776,147 | 28 | 0.143 | 272,854 | 2.37 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Bogotá | 11,344,312 | 29 | 11,507,960 | 29 | 0.141 | 163,648 | 1.44 | 0 | Colombia | South America |
| Jakarta | 11,074,811 | 31 | 11,248,839 | 30 | 0.138 | 174,028 | 1.57 | +1 | Indonesia | Asia |
| Paris | 11,142,303 | 30 | 11,208,440 | 31 | 0.138 | 66,137 | 0.59 | -1 | France | Europe |
| Lima | 11,044,607 | 32 | 11,204,382 | 32 | 0.137 | 159,775 | 1.45 | 0 | Peru | South America |
| Krung Thep (Bangkok) | 10,899,698 | 33 | 11,069,982 | 33 | 0.135 | 170,284 | 1.56 | 0 | Thailand | Asia |
| Hyderabad | 10,534,418 | 34 | 10,801,163 | 34 | 0.131 | 266,745 | 2.53 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Seoul | 9,975,709 | 35 | 9,988,049 | 35 | 0.124 | 12,340 | 0.12 | 0 | Republic of Korea | Asia |
| Nanjing, Jiangsu | 9,429,381 | 39 | 9,698,464 | 36 | 0.117 | 269,083 | 2.85 | +3 | China | Asia |
| Chengdu | 9,478,521 | 38 | 9,653,772 | 37 | 0.118 | 175,251 | 1.85 | +1 | China | Asia |
| London | 9,540,576 | 37 | 9,648,110 | 38 | 0.119 | 107,534 | 1.13 | -1 | United Kingdom | Europe |
| Chukyo M.M.A. (Nagoya) | 9,571,596 | 36 | 9,569,328 | 39 | 0.119 | -2,268 | -0.02 | -3 | Japan | Asia |
| Tehran | 9,381,546 | 40 | 9,499,781 | 40 | 0.117 | 118,235 | 1.26 | 0 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | Asia |
| Thành Pho Ho Chí Minh (Ho Chi Minh City) | 9,077,158 | 41 | 9,320,866 | 41 | 0.113 | 243,708 | 2.68 | 0 | Viet Nam | Asia |
| Luanda | 8,952,496 | 42 | 9,292,336 | 42 | 0.111 | 339,840 | 3.80 | 0 | Angola | Africa |
| Chicago | 8,901,073 | 43 | 8,936,783 | 43 | 0.111 | 35,710 | 0.40 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Xi'an, Shaanxi | 8,537,646 | 45 | 8,785,174 | 44 | 0.106 | 247,528 | 2.90 | +1 | China | Asia |
| Wuhan | 8,591,611 | 44 | 8,718,250 | 45 | 0.107 | 126,639 | 1.47 | -1 | China | Asia |
| Ahmadabad | 8,450,228 | 46 | 8,650,605 | 46 | 0.105 | 200,377 | 2.37 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Kuala Lumpur | 8,419,566 | 47 | 8,621,724 | 47 | 0.105 | 202,158 | 2.40 | 0 | Malaysia | Asia |
| Hangzhou | 8,044,878 | 48 | 8,237,206 | 48 | 0.1000 | 192,328 | 2.39 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Suzhou, Jiangsu | 7,764,499 | 50 | 8,074,031 | 49 | 0.0965 | 309,532 | 3.99 | +1 | China | Asia |
| Surat | 7,784,276 | 49 | 8,064,949 | 50 | 0.0968 | 280,673 | 3.61 | -1 | India | Asia |
| Dar es Salaam | 7,404,689 | 57 | 7,775,865 | 51 | 0.0920 | 371,176 | 5.01 | +6 | United Republic of Tanzania | Africa |
| Baghdad | 7,511,920 | 54 | 7,711,305 | 52 | 0.0934 | 199,385 | 2.65 | +2 | Iraq | Asia |
| Hong Kong | 7,643,256 | 51 | 7,684,801 | 53 | 0.0950 | 41,545 | 0.54 | -2 | China, Hong Kong SAR | Asia |
| Ar-Riyadh (Riyadh) | 7,538,200 | 52 | 7,682,430 | 54 | 0.0937 | 144,230 | 1.91 | -2 | Saudi Arabia | Asia |
| Shenyang | 7,527,975 | 53 | 7,680,967 | 55 | 0.0936 | 152,992 | 2.03 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Foshan | 7,497,263 | 56 | 7,597,386 | 56 | 0.0932 | 100,123 | 1.34 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Dongguan | 7,511,851 | 55 | 7,587,049 | 57 | 0.0934 | 75,198 | 1.00 | -2 | China | Asia |
| Pune (Poona) | 6,987,077 | 58 | 7,166,374 | 58 | 0.0868 | 179,297 | 2.57 | 0 | India | Asia |
| Santiago | 6,856,939 | 59 | 6,903,392 | 59 | 0.0852 | 46,453 | 0.68 | 0 | Chile | South America |
| Haerbin | 6,665,951 | 61 | 6,803,811 | 60 | 0.0829 | 137,860 | 2.07 | +1 | China | Asia |
| Madrid | 6,713,557 | 60 | 6,751,374 | 61 | 0.0834 | 37,817 | 0.56 | -1 | Spain | Europe |
| Houston | 6,603,124 | 62 | 6,706,994 | 62 | 0.0821 | 103,870 | 1.57 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 6,487,758 | 63 | 6,574,018 | 63 | 0.0806 | 86,260 | 1.33 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Toronto | 6,312,974 | 64 | 6,371,958 | 64 | 0.0785 | 58,984 | 0.93 | 0 | Canada | North America |
| Al-Khartum (Khartoum) | 6,160,327 | 67 | 6,344,348 | 65 | 0.0766 | 184,021 | 2.99 | +2 | Sudan | Africa |
| Miami | 6,214,818 | 65 | 6,264,792 | 66 | 0.0772 | 49,974 | 0.80 | -1 | United States of America | North America |
| Belo Horizonte | 6,194,292 | 66 | 6,247,889 | 67 | 0.0770 | 53,597 | 0.87 | -1 | Brazil | South America |
| Johannesburg | 6,065,354 | 68 | 6,198,016 | 68 | 0.0754 | 132,662 | 2.19 | 0 | South Africa | Africa |
| Atlanta | 6,012,577 | 70 | 6,106,341 | 69 | 0.0747 | 93,764 | 1.56 | +1 | United States of America | North America |
| Singapore | 6,039,577 | 69 | 6,080,859 | 70 | 0.0751 | 41,282 | 0.68 | -1 | Singapore | Asia |
| Dalian | 5,930,140 | 71 | 6,077,995 | 71 | 0.0737 | 147,855 | 2.49 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Qingdao | 5,865,232 | 72 | 5,986,525 | 72 | 0.0729 | 121,293 | 2.07 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Zhengzhou | 5,690,312 | 74 | 5,859,272 | 73 | 0.0707 | 168,960 | 2.97 | +1 | China | Asia |
| Ji'nan, Shandong | 5,663,015 | 75 | 5,806,031 | 74 | 0.0704 | 143,016 | 2.53 | +1 | China | Asia |
| Philadelphia | 5,756,274 | 73 | 5,785,338 | 75 | 0.0715 | 29,064 | 0.50 | -2 | United States of America | North America |
| Barcelona | 5,658,472 | 76 | 5,687,356 | 76 | 0.0703 | 28,884 | 0.51 | 0 | Spain | Europe |
| Abidjan | 5,515,790 | 78 | 5,686,350 | 77 | 0.0686 | 170,560 | 3.09 | +1 | Côte d'Ivoire | Africa |
| Yangon | 5,514,454 | 79 | 5,610,241 | 78 | 0.0685 | 95,787 | 1.74 | +1 | Myanmar | Asia |
| Al-Iskandariyah (Alexandria) | 5,483,605 | 81 | 5,588,477 | 79 | 0.0682 | 104,872 | 1.91 | +2 | Egypt | Africa |
| Sankt Peterburg (Saint Petersburg) | 5,535,556 | 77 | 5,561,294 | 80 | 0.0688 | 25,738 | 0.46 | -3 | Russian Federation | Europe |
| Kitakyushu-Fukuoka M.M.A. | 5,502,591 | 80 | 5,490,271 | 81 | 0.0684 | -12,320 | -0.22 | -1 | Japan | Asia |
| Washington, D.C. | 5,434,483 | 82 | 5,490,080 | 82 | 0.0675 | 55,597 | 1.02 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Addis Ababa | 5,227,794 | 86 | 5,460,591 | 83 | 0.0650 | 232,797 | 4.45 | +3 | Ethiopia | Africa |
| Guadalajara | 5,339,583 | 83 | 5,419,880 | 84 | 0.0664 | 80,297 | 1.50 | -1 | Mexico | North America |
| Ankara | 5,309,690 | 84 | 5,397,098 | 85 | 0.0660 | 87,408 | 1.65 | -1 | Turkey | Asia |
| Chittagong | 5,252,842 | 85 | 5,379,660 | 86 | 0.0653 | 126,818 | 2.41 | -1 | Bangladesh | Asia |
| Nairobi | 5,118,844 | 88 | 5,325,160 | 87 | 0.0636 | 206,316 | 4.03 | +1 | Kenya | Africa |
| Hà Noi | 5,067,352 | 89 | 5,253,385 | 88 | 0.0630 | 186,033 | 3.67 | +1 | Viet Nam | Asia |
| Melbourne | 5,150,766 | 87 | 5,235,407 | 89 | 0.0640 | 84,641 | 1.64 | -2 | Australia | Oceania |
| Sydney | 5,056,571 | 90 | 5,120,894 | 90 | 0.0629 | 64,323 | 1.27 | 0 | Australia | Oceania |
| Monterrey | 5,036,535 | 91 | 5,116,647 | 91 | 0.0626 | 80,112 | 1.59 | 0 | Mexico | North America |
| Changsha | 4,809,887 | 92 | 4,921,487 | 92 | 0.0598 | 111,600 | 2.32 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Cape Town | 4,800,954 | 94 | 4,890,280 | 93 | 0.0597 | 89,326 | 1.86 | +1 | South Africa | Africa |
| Brasília | 4,803,877 | 93 | 4,873,048 | 94 | 0.0597 | 69,171 | 1.44 | -1 | Brazil | South America |
| Ürümqi (Wulumqi) | 4,710,203 | 96 | 4,865,038 | 95 | 0.0585 | 154,835 | 3.29 | +1 | China | Asia |
| Jiddah | 4,780,740 | 95 | 4,862,941 | 96 | 0.0594 | 82,201 | 1.72 | -1 | Saudi Arabia | Asia |
| Kunming | 4,657,381 | 97 | 4,761,284 | 97 | 0.0579 | 103,903 | 2.23 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 4,652,302 | 98 | 4,716,721 | 98 | 0.0578 | 64,419 | 1.38 | 0 | United States of America | North America |
| Changchun | 4,616,002 | 99 | 4,710,382 | 99 | 0.0574 | 94,380 | 2.04 | 0 | China | Asia |
| Hefei | 4,496,456 | 100 | 4,615,758 | 100 | 0.0559 | 119,302 | 2.65 | 0 | China | Asia |