What Is the World's Largest Coastal City?

Shanghai, China is widely regarded as the world's largest coastal city by population within its administrative area.

Key Facts

• Population (2023 est.): ~24.9 million (municipality); ~29+ million (metro area).
• Location: East China, at the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta on the East China Sea.
• Status: Direct-administered municipality (province-level); global financial, shipping, and trade hub.
• Port: World's busiest container port (since 2010); handles ~47 million TEU annually.

Other Megacoastal Cities (for context)

Definitions of "city proper" vs. "metro area" affect rankings. By metro population, Tokyo/Yokohama is largest; by municipal boundaries, Shanghai leads. Both are coastal megacities driving global economies.