1. Chongqing, China: Chongqing holds the title for the largest city by urban area, according to the United Nations. It covers a massive 32,030 square kilometers (12,367 square miles).
2. Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo is generally regarded as the most populated city in the world, with a metropolitan area of approximately 37 million people.
3. Shanghai, China: Shanghai ranks among the largest cities by population, with an estimated 26.3 million people living in its metropolitan area.
4. Sao Paulo, Brazil: Sao Paulo is recognized as one of the largest cities by population, with the metropolitan region housing around 12.2 million people.
5. Mexico City, Mexico: Mexico City is known for its vast population, with the greater metropolitan area accommodating approximately 21.2 million individuals.
6. New York City, United States: New York City is renowned as one of the largest and most influential metropolitan areas in the world, with a population of over 8 million people.
It's important to note that city boundaries and population estimates can change over time due to various factors such as territorial adjustments, population growth, and shifting definitions of metropolitan areas.