The largest capitals in the world by area. The largest capitals in the world. The largest cities in the world by area

There are so many megacities on our planet that it is perhaps difficult to choose the largest city among them. There are quite a lot of giants in the world; they exist in almost every country.

Some are famous for their size, others for the number of inhabitants, and others for their history or some attractions. Here are a few examples of settlements, each of which can be characterized as the largest city in the world by area.

Of course, let's start with Sydney. This giant city is located in Australia, in the south-eastern part. It was founded by Admiral of the English Navy Arthur Phillip in 1788. He arrived in new lands at the head of the First Fleet to create a European colony in Australia. And the city was named after the British Minister of Colonies, Lord Sidney.

Today Sydney is the largest city in the world by area. Its dimensions are more than 12 thousand square kilometers. As you can see, it is simply huge, but there are only 4.5 million inhabitants there.

The urban areas are located in the coastal valley, and there are about 70 beaches on their territory. Among them, the most famous is Bondi Beach. He became famous for his huge waves.

It also includes the famous Harbor Bridge and the stunningly beautiful Opera House. It is the latter that is the calling card of this city.

And several more giants from the category "The world's largest in area."

Kinshasa is the capital. The city is located on the banks of the Congo River. Its area is 10.5 thousand square kilometers. But the number of inhabitants is more than 10 million. Kinshasa has the third largest population in Africa, the first two being occupied by Lagos and Cairo.

By the way, despite the huge number of residents, most of the city is agricultural land.

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, its territory reaches 4 thousand sq. km. The city is divided into 48 districts. It was founded in the 16th century by Pedro de Mendos, but a few years later the city was burned by the Indians. And only a few decades later it was restored by Juan de Garay.

Karachi is another of the giants, also claiming the title of “The largest city in the world by area.” It occupies more than 3.5 thousand sq. km. It is the largest metropolis in Pakistan not only in terms of territory, but also in terms of population. Home to almost 14 million inhabitants, it is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Although Karachi is not, it is rightfully considered the center of the country. It is where Pakistani trade and industry is concentrated. By the way, until 1958, Karachi was considered the capital of the country, but then it was moved to Rawalpindi.

Alexandria is a giant that stretches along the Mediterranean coast. Its area is almost 2.7 thousand sq. km. The city was founded by Alexander the Great. Today Alexandria is a treasure trove of architectural attractions. For example, Pompey's Column or Kom el-Shukafa are catacombs consisting of a labyrinth with different levels.

Ankara is the capital of Turkey. This is not only in area, it is one of the oldest in Asia Minor. The area of ​​Ankara is 2.5 thousand sq. km.

Istanbul is the largest metropolis, which is also located in Turkey, known as the largest city in the world by area. It is located on the banks of the Bosphorus and occupies more than two thousand sq. km. Throughout its history, Istanbul has been the capital of several empires. This was during the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Latin empires.

According to historical data, the predecessor of Istanbul was the city of Byzantium, which was founded before our era (in the 7th century).

Here is a small list of the largest cities in the world. These also include Tehran, Bogota, London, and our Moscow is not the last place on this list.

Finding out which is the largest city in the world is easy. True, there will be several such megacities. After all, some are leaders in size, others in population.

When studying a modern geographical map, it is difficult to determine which settlements have the most people and which city is the largest in the world. After all, over time, large metropolitan areas were joined by numerous suburbs: small towns, villages, large and small villages. Neighboring settlements formed vast areas of continuous construction - agglomerations. Such areas are clearly visible on satellite images in clear weather due to the artificial lighting used in cities and suburbs. The largest agglomerations are located in different parts of the globe, each of them is home to millions of people.

The tenth place in the world is occupied by Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and the most populated metropolis on the American continent. It is a multinational port with developed tourism and a rich cultural life with a population of about 20 million people. It harmoniously combines ancient buildings and modern architectural ensembles made of glass and metal.

The largest city in the United States, New York, is in 9th place. It is home to more than 8 million people, and the New York metropolitan area has about 21 million residents. This metropolis is an influential economic and financial center not only of the country, but also of the world. Broadway theaters and the Statue of Liberty are the city's most famous attractions. New York has experienced the bulk of the saddest events in the history of the United States in recent decades - the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Foreign tourists consider this city the most attractive place to visit in the United States.

Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is in eighth place. Together with its suburbs, India's most populous city has more than 22 million inhabitants. This is a place where the cultures of Asia and Europe are combined, national traditions are preserved, and local residents enjoy participating in festivals and celebrations of numerous ethnic groups.

Chinese Shanghai ranks seventh in the ranking with a population of more than 23 million inhabitants. The city has low crime and unique modern architecture. In it, new buildings coexist with historical structures, and the second largest skyscraper in the world is located. Among agglomerates it is in seventh place, and among cities Shanghai takes the lead.

Karachi used to be the capital of Pakistan. Now it remains simply the largest city in the country, the center of its business, trade and industrial life. At the beginning of the 18th century, Karachi was a small fishing village, now it ranks sixth among the largest metropolises in the world. The population of Karachi is more than 23 million people, the city is actively developing and is considered one of the fastest growing.

Seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea and the center of the fifth largest agglomeration in the world with a population of more than 24 million people. Royal palaces of past ruling dynasties, museums, national parks with Buddhist temples and centers of contemporary art - there is something for the curious tourist to see. Seoul is considered one of the best cities for shopping, and you can always try something delicious in its establishments.

The fourth place belongs to the capital of the Philippines. The city of Manila and its surrounding areas are home to more than 24 million people. It is one of the busiest ports in the world with developed industry. Ancient buildings attract tourists; there are many religious and historical attractions.

In 3rd place is the oldest city among megacities - Delhi. The capital of India is more than 5 thousand years old. The city has nine distinct administrative districts with a total population of more than 26 million people. New Delhi is the central part with rich skyscrapers, a government quarter and excellent infrastructure. It is very different from the Delhi slums with miserable shacks lacking basic sanitation. There are no running waters, and more than twenty families share one toilet. Numerous mosques, temples, historical monuments, regular religious festivals, markets with a wide variety of goods and exotic Indian cuisine - all this is also the hallmark of Delhi.

Jakarta is home to almost 32 million people and ranks second among the cities with the largest population. This province with capital status has many mosques, temple complexes, parks and entertainment venues to suit every taste.

The population of Tokyo together with the city of Yokohama is almost 38 million people. This record is unlikely to be broken by any metropolis in the near future. People have inhabited these places since the Stone Age, but only in the last 100 years has Tokyo gradually developed into one of the modern and developed cities in the world and has become the largest city in the world in terms of population. It consists of many islands and mainland. It is one of the three world financial leaders along with London and New York. The population of the Tokyo agglomeration is larger than the entire Asian part of Russia.

Top 10 largest settlements by area

Some cities are distinguished not by the number of people living in them, but by their size.

The leader of the rating is Chongqing, which occupies approximately the same territory as Austria. It has become the largest city in the world in terms of area due to the peculiarities of dividing the territory adopted in China. In Chongqing, the densely populated area is very small, and more than 90% are suburban areas, which are also administratively considered urban areas.

The recognized favorite of this list is the Chinese city of Beijing. It is not only the largest capital in the world, but also a fairly populated city - it is home to more than 20 million inhabitants. Beijing is developing rapidly, has an amazing atmosphere and attracts millions of tourists every year.

It is impossible to answer the question about the largest city in the world unambiguously. You can create many different ratings and each time get acquainted with new interesting cities in the world.

Did you know that the largest city in the world lives three times more people than Moscow, and the city itself is 32 times larger in area than Moscow? Read below.

No. 10. Wuhan (China) - 8,494 km²

Wuhan stands at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. The territory of the Wuhan metropolis consists of 3 parts - Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang, which together are called the “Wuhan Tricity”. These three parts stand opposite each other on different banks of the rivers, they are connected by bridges. The population of Wuhan is 10,220,000 people.

The history of the city goes back 3000 years, when an important trading port was formed on the site of the future Wuhan. There are 8 national and 14 public colleges and universities in Wuhan.

No. 9. Kinshasa (Congo) - 9,965 km²

Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located on the Congo River. Until 1966, Kinshasa was called Leopoldville. The population of the city is 10,125,000 people.
Kinshasa is the second most populous city in Africa, after Lagos.

No. 8. Melbourne (Australia) - 9,990 km²

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and the capital of the state of Victoria. The metropolitan area has a population of approximately 4,529,500. Melbourne is the southernmost millionaire city in the world.

Melbourne is one of the main commercial, industrial and cultural centers of Australia. Melbourne is also often referred to as the country's "sports and cultural capital".

The city is famous for its architecture and combination of Victorian and modern styles, parks and gardens. In 2016, The Economist magazine named Melbourne, for the sixth time in a row, the most comfortable city on the planet to live based on a combination of characteristics.

Melbourne was founded in 1835 as an agricultural settlement on the banks of the Yarra River.

No. 7. Tianjin (China) - 11,760 km²

Tianjin is located in northern China along the Bohai Bay. The population of the city is 15,469,500 people. The majority of the population is Han, but representatives of small ethnic groups also live. These are mainly: Hui, Koreans, Manchus and Mongols.

In the 20th century, Tianjin became the locomotive of Chinese industrialization, the largest center of heavy and light industry.

No. 6. Sydney (Australia) - 12,144 km²

Sydney is Australia's largest city, with a population of 4,840,600 people. Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales.

Sydney was founded in 1788 by Arthur Phillip, who arrived here at the head of the First Fleet. Sydney is the first site of colonial European settlement in Australia. The city was named after Lord Sydney, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The city is famous for its opera house, Harbor Bridge and beaches. Residential areas of greater Sydney are surrounded by national parks. The coastline is rich in bays, coves, beaches and islands.

Sydney is one of the most multicultural and multicultural cities in the world. Sydney ranks first in Australia and 66th in the world in terms of cost of living.

No. 5. Chengdu (China) - 12,390 km²

Chengdu is a city-subprovince in southwestern China, in the valley of the Minjiang River, the administrative center of Sichuan Province. Population - 14,427,500 people.

The emblem of the city is the ancient golden disk “Birds of the Golden Sun,” which was found in 2001 during excavations of the Jinsha culture within the city.

Chengdu is a major center of economics, trade, finance, science and technology, as well as an important center of transport and communications. Chengdu has become the main center of new urbanization in China.

No. 4. Brisbane (Australia) - 15,826 km²

Brisbane is a city in Australia, Queensland. The population of the city is 2,274,560 people.
The city is located in eastern Australia, on the banks of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay of the Pacific Ocean. It is included in the top hundred global cities in the world.

Founded in 1825, old name - Edenglassie. Since 1859 it has been the capital of Queensland.

No. 3. Beijing (China) - 16,801 km²

Beijing is the capital of China. It is the largest railway and road junction and one of the main air hubs in the country. Beijing is the political, educational and cultural center of the People's Republic of China.

Beijing is one of the four ancient capitals of China. In 2008, the Summer Olympic Games were held in Beijing. The city will host the Winter Olympic Games in 2022.
The population of the city is 21,705,000 people.

No. 2. Hangzhou (China) - 16,840 km²

Hangzhou is a sub-city city, the capital of Zhejiang Province, located 180 km southwest of Shanghai. The population of the city is 9,018,500 people.

The former name of Hangzhou is Lin'an, in the pre-Mongol era it was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty and was the most populated city in the then world. Now Hangzhou is famous for its tea plantations and natural beauty. The most famous place is Lake Xihu.

No. 1. Chongqing (China) - 82,400 km²

Chongqing is the largest by area of ​​the four Chinese cities under central jurisdiction. The population of the city is 30,165,500 people.

Chongqing arose more than 3 thousand years ago. The city was the capital of the Ba kingdom and was called Jiangzhou.

Now Chongqing is one of the largest commercial centers in China. Most of the city's economy is built on industry. Main industries: chemical, mechanical engineering and metallurgical. Chongqing is also China's largest automobile manufacturing base. There are 5 automobile production factories and more than 400 automobile parts factories here.

Moscow - 2561 km2
St. Petersburg - 1439 km2
Ekaterinburg - 468 km2
Kazan - 425 km2
Novosibirsk - 505 km2
Volgograd - 565 km2

The largest city in the world can be determined by 2 main criteria:

1. Population. The number of permanent residents of the city within its borders.
2. City area. The area of ​​the city in square kilometers within the administrative boundaries of the city.

Photo: Chongqing (China). The largest city in the world

In this case, the largest city in the world both in terms of territory and population is Chinese Chongqing city with territory 82 403 km² and population 30 165 500 Human. The full official name of the city is Chongqing Municipality and it is largest city in the world.

This is the absolute leader in both main criteria of the largest city. Many countries of the world occupy an area smaller in size than the city of Chongqing in China, and the territory closest in size to the state Czech Republic - 78,866 km² With a population of 10.6 million people, it ranks 115th in the world among countries by territory size.

Urbanized area and Central Chongqing.

At the same time, the so-called urbanized area Chongqing, which is informally called the "main urban area" is 1473 km² or 1.79% of the entire city territory. The central part of the urbanized zone is called Central Chongqing, whose area is 472.8 km², the population density here is 17 000 people per 1 square kilometer, and the population of Central Chongqing is 8 165 500 Human.

Suburban and rural areas.

The rest of the city 80 930 km² or 98.21% of the entire city territory is in suburban and rural areas with a density 268 people per 1 sq. km.

The agglomeration of the largest city in the world.

The population of the agglomeration (city area plus suburbs) of Chongqing is 52 100 100 Human. According to this indicator, the Chongqing agglomeration is also largest agglomeration in the world.

List of TOP 10 Largest cities in the world by population:

1. Chongqing, China = 30,165,500 people
2. Shanghai, China = 24,150,000 people
3. Beijing, China = 21,148,000 people
4. Tianjin, China = 14,425,000 people
5. Istanbul, Türkiye = 13,854,740 people
6. Guangzhou, China = 13,438,972 people
7. Tokyo, Japan = 13,370,198 people
8. Karachi, Pakistan = 13,205,339 people
9. Mumbai, India = 12,478,447 people
10. Moscow, Russia = 12,380,664 people

The most populous city in the world

You can also highlight such a criterion as population density or the average number of residents living in 1 square kilometer of the city.

Photo: Manila (Philippines). The most populous city in the world

According to this criterion most populous city in the world: Manila city in the Philippines ( 41 514 people/km²). At the same time, the population of Manila is: 1 780 148 people, and the total area of ​​the city is: 42.88 km².

If the largest city in the world by territory, the Chinese city of Chongqing, had the same high population density as in the Philippine Manila, then almost half the world's population.

In the meantime, the population density of Chongqing is 366 people per sq. km., which is 113 times less than in Manila.

More than 50% of the world's population are urban residents. Based on the fact that there are 7 billion people living on the planet, there are approximately 50 people for every square kilometer of the earth's surface. However, there are places where the density of people is amazing. For example, the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro has a density of 48 thousand people per square meter. km.

Largest cities in the world by population

We present to you the top 10 largest cities in the world by population. All data on the number of citizens is taken from Wikipedia, Worldatlas and other open sources and is current for 2017.

Population: 13.5 million people

Guangzhou is the educational, economic, technological and cultural center of southern China. Its location on the banks of the Pearl River contributed to its growth as an important port city.

The population of Guangzhou is replenished mainly by foreign emigrants, as well as illegal migrants from the countries of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Thanks to this, the city earned a reputation as the “capital of the Third World.”

Population: 13.7 million people

Japan's capital is known for its modern design, dedication to cutting-edge technology and crowded streets. In 2010, Tokyo began a demographic boom and for the first time in its history the population exceeded 13 million people. City officials attributed the population growth to intensive condominium construction and an increase in the number of foreigners.

Population: 14.8 million people

Istanbul is a tourist city that attracts visitors from all over the world. However, in addition to this, it serves as the center of Turkey's economy.

Construction of a new Istanbul airport is now in full swing, which will be able to accommodate 150 million passengers a year. It should become the largest airport in the world. The opening of the new air harbor is scheduled for 2018. After this, the old Ataturk Airport will be closed.

Population: 15.1 million people

The commercial center of its country and one of the fastest growing African cities. Lagos is also famous for being the center of Nollywood (Nigerian film industry).

Population: 15.4 million people

Tianjin is located in the northern coastal region of China and is home to more than 15 million residents.

It is curious that in this Chinese port city there was a Russian post office until 1919. Or rather, the Russian Empire.

Population: 16.7 million people

Delhi is an ancient city located in northern India. According to the UN forecast, by 2030 Delhi's population will grow by almost 10 million people.

Population: 21.5 million people

By 2030, the population of the Chinese capital may reach 27 million people. And as the cultural center of China, Beijing boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In addition, Beijing has established itself as an industrial sector since the communist revolution of 1949. Automobiles, textiles, aerospace and semiconductors are just a few of the products produced in the city.

Population: 23.5 million people

It's hard to imagine that this multimillion-dollar city was once a small fishing village. Currently, Karachi is the economic and industrial center of Pakistan and its population is constantly growing, mainly due to migrants from various countries of South Asia.

Karachi has a reputation as a center of higher education in South Asia and the Muslim world.

Population: 24.2 million people

Shanghai's population is expected to reach 50 million by 2050, driven by economic growth and rapid urbanization.

Population: 53.2 million people

The largest city by population, it is one of the 5 national central cities of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and is located in southwest China.

This large number of residents is due to the huge number of migrant workers, many of whom live in Chongqing for less than 6 months of the year. However, less than 7 million people live in the urbanized area of ​​the metropolis.

For comparison: 12.4 million people live in Moscow. And taking into account the Moscow region - 16 million.

Like the rest of China, Chongqing has a demographic problem. While the labor force is still fueled by economic growth, the consequences of the one-child policy have taken their toll. The workforce is shrinking while the elderly population is growing exponentially. China could become the first major country to become old before it is rich, one analyst said.

The world's largest city by population has a large gap between the births of boys and girls under 20, and this threatens problems in the future. For example, this could cause a drop in the birth rate and, accordingly, a labor shortage. But the majority of Chongqing women are unlikely to face the fate of remaining an old maid “with 40 cats.”

The largest cities in the world by area

Many Russians, when asked “what is the largest city in the world?” They will proudly answer: “Moscow.” And they will be wrong. Although the Russian capital is the largest metropolis in Europe both in terms of area (2,561 km2) and population, it is inferior in size to foreign cities with a million population.

We present to you the largest cities in the world, if the main parameter is the territory controlled by the city administration.

Area: 9,965 km²

Most (60%) of the capital of the Republic of Congo is occupied by sparsely populated rural areas. However, it is within the administrative boundaries of the city. Populous but small urban areas are located in the west of the province.

Kinshasa is one of the cities with the largest French-speaking population (in first place, of course, is Paris). And if the current demographic situation continues, then in 2020 Kinshasa will surpass Paris in number of inhabitants.

Area: 9,990 km²

In Australia, one of the most urbanized countries in the world, 89.01% of the population lives in urban areas. With a population of 4.44 million, Melbourne is only slightly behind number seven on the list. But all large Australian cities have one thing in common - they are located near the coastline. Coastal areas encouraged the growth of early European settlements, which quickly grew into today's bustling metropolises.

Area: 11,943 km²

Tianjin, the "commercial gateway" of Beijing, began to develop as a commercial center after the Grand Canal was built during the Sui Dynasty.

The city grew especially during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. The most dynamically developing sector of the city's economy is the seaport of Tianjin.

Rosneft and the China National Petroleum Corporation also agreed to build an oil refinery in Tianjin. The signing of the construction schedule became known back in 2014. The launch of the plant is scheduled for 2019.

Area: 12,367 km²

The city of 4.84 million has expanded rapidly since the development of the Harbor Bridge. Its residential areas are surrounded by beautiful national parks. And on the extremely rugged coastline there was room for numerous beaches, bays, coves and islands.

Area: 12,390 km²

The city, once famous for its brocade and at one time the capital of China, boasts, in addition to its impressive size, the world's largest Buddha statue. The height of the Big Buddha, carved into the rock, is 71 meters. According to local residents, “Gradually the mountain becomes Buddha, and Buddha becomes the mountain.”

Area: 15,061 km²

Once upon a time, the capital of the state of Eritrea consisted of 4 villages founded in the 12th century. And now it is the largest city in the country, which is called “New Rome” thanks to the Italian spirit in architecture. In 2017, Asmara was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The name of the metropolis was previously pronounced Asmara - “flowering forest” translated from the Tigrinya language.

Area: 15,826 km²

The administrative center (and once the capital) of the state of Queensland was not always a city. It came together from 20 separate municipalities and acquired city status in 1925.

Brisbane is now the fastest growing Australian city, and at the same time one of the most multinational in the world.

Area: 16,411 km²

The capital of China is home to more than 20 million people. The Beijing urban area radiates in circles that are located between concentric city ring roads. The largest of them is the Sixth Ring Road, which even runs through the satellite cities of the Chinese capital.

In 2020, Beijing will host guests and participants of the Winter Olympics, and in 2008 it hosted the Summer Games.

Area: 16,847 km²

During the Southern Song Dynasty, Hangzhou was the most populous city in the world. It is still quite large; the number of citizens has exceeded 8 million people.

The city is famous for its natural beauty and tea plantations. As the Chinese proverb says: “There is heaven in heaven, and on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.”

Area: 82,403 km²

The largest and most populous city in the world is Chongqing. Most of the population lives outside the urbanized zone, which measures 1,473 km². And the total area of ​​the city, together with suburban and rural areas, corresponds to the size of Austria.