The World's Largest Cities by Metropolitan Population

Megacities and Major Urban Agglomerations (Approx. 2023–2024 Estimates)

Ranking cities by "metro area" (continuous urban + commuting zone) gives the truest picture of scale. Figures vary by source (UN, Demographia, national censuses).

Top Tier: 30 Million+

• Tokyo, Japan: ~37–38M (world's largest)
• Jakarta, Indonesia: ~34–35M (Jabodetabek)
• Delhi, India: ~32–33M (NCR)
• Chongqing, China: ~32M (municipal area—vast, includes rural)
• Shanghai, China: ~29M

20–30 Million

• Seoul, South Korea: ~26M (Sudogwon)
• Mumbai, India: ~25M (MMR)
• Mexico City, Mexico: ~22M (ZMVM)
• São Paulo, Brazil: ~22M (RMSP)
• New York, USA: ~20–21M (Tri-State CSA)
• Cairo, Egypt: ~22M (Greater Cairo)
• Beijing, China: ~21–22M
• Manila, Philippines: ~24–25M (NCR+)
• Osaka, Japan: ~19M (Keihanshin)

15–20 Million

• Kolkata, India: ~15–17M
• Los Angeles, USA: ~13M (MSA) / ~19M (CSA)
• Buenos Aires, Argentina: ~15M
• Lagos, Nigeria: ~16–21M (estimates vary wildly)
• Shenzhen, China: ~13M (city) / ~25M (Pearl River Delta conurbation)
• Moscow, Russia: ~17–20M
• Istanbul, Turkey: ~16M (transcontinental)

Notable Others

• London, UK: ~9M (city) / ~14M (metro)
• Paris, France: ~11M (city) / ~13M (metro)
• Tehran, Iran: ~9M / ~16M

Urbanization continues: by 2050, 10+ more cities may join the 20M+ club, mostly in Africa and Asia.