List of cities in the world by population. The largest city in the world What is the name of the largest city

In our new article we want to talk about cities and present the top 10 largest in the world by area and population.

10th place - New York - 1214.4 sq. km

America starts the list. If you look at the population for 2017, the city is small - 8,405,837 people. Quite young, about 400 years old.

In the territory where New York is now located there were Indian tribes. Arrows, dishes and other Indian attributes are found here. Throughout the 19th century, emigrants from different countries came here, due to which it grew. It includes several islands, the largest of which is Manhattan. New York is home to people of almost all religions, but Christians predominate.

We give 9th place to Mexico City – 1485 sq. km

The population of the capital of Mexico is 9,100,000 people. Mexico City was founded by the Aztecs in 1325. According to legend, the Sun God ordered them to come to this place.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Mexico City was the most beautiful in the Western Hemisphere until it was destroyed during the reign of Cortez, but was soon rebuilt. It is located at an altitude of more than 2000 km above sea level and is surrounded by mountains.

London is in 8th place – 1572 sq. km

London is the capital of Great Britain and the largest city in the country. It was founded in 43 AD. e. There are now 8,600,000 people living in London.

The terrible plague of the 17th century claimed about 70,000 lives. This is a place of remarkable historical and architectural monuments: the Tower, Buckingham Palace, St. Peter's Cathedral and others.

We put Tokyo in 7th place - 2188.6 sq. km

But the population is quite large - 13,742,906 people. Tokyo is one of the modern cities and the capital of Japan. Even if you live here for a month, you won’t see all the sights.

The main part is solid concrete and wires. Tokyo was inhabited by tribes of people back in the Stone Age. Over the course of several years from 1703 to 2011, Tokyo suffered many earthquakes, and as a result of one of them, 142,000 people died at once.

In 6th place is Moscow – 2561.5 sq. km

Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation, located between the Oka and Volga rivers. 12,500,123 people live here. In terms of length, Moscow is quite long - 112 km. It is an important tourist center in Russia.

The age of the city is still unknown exactly, but there is evidence that the first settlements appeared on this territory around 8 thousand years BC. e.

Middle of the top - Sydney - 12144 sq. km

The development and history of Australia began with a small settlement. 200 years ago the navigator Cook landed here. Sydney is the largest metropolis and capital.

The capital is home to 4,500,000 people. The city is located in one of the beautiful bays of the world, where business skyscrapers coexist with cozy beaches, which are always full of tourists.

In 4th place is Beijing – 16,808 sq. km

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. Huge and noisy, its population numbers 21,500,000 inhabitants.

In the 13th century it was almost completely burned by Genghis Khan, but rebuilt 43 years later in a different place. Here is a famous architectural monument - the Forbidden City - the residence of the rulers.

At the beginning of the 20th century it was occupied by the Japanese. After Russia's victory in World War II and the fall of Japan, the capital became free again.

We give 3rd place to Hangzhou – 16847 sq. km

The city has 8,750,000 inhabitants. The metropolis is famous for its tea plantations and natural beauty.

Previously, it was the capital of China, and now it is a major religious center. In the 19th century, as a result of an uprising, it was partially destroyed and restored in the 50s, where industry began to rapidly develop.

Weaving folk items, harvesting tea leaves, and making bamboo products are still done by hand.

In second place is Chongqing – 82,300 sq. km

Chongqing is the largest city in the world in terms of population, with about 32 million people living here. The highest population density is 600 people per square meter. km.

The metropolis arose 3,000 years ago and at that time was the capital of the kingdom of Ba. Now it is a huge industrial center. There is a large base for the production of automobiles - 5 factories and 400 - for the production of car parts. Real estate construction here is proceeding at such a fast pace that 10 years of construction for Moscow is 1 year for Chongqing. Old buildings are being demolished very actively, in their place skyscrapers are appearing. It is more business than architectural. And the main attraction is the overpasses that entangle the entire city.

We give 1st place to the unusual city of Ordos - 86,752 sq. km

Ordos is a ghost town. Where is the strange metropolis, the largest in territory, but empty? In China, it began to be built 20 years ago for people involved in the extraction and sale of coal.

,A large city was built with museums, theaters, and a stadium. There is everything for the life of a city dweller here. But almost no one wanted to move here. Over the past few years, the number of people has increased to 300,000. There are so few inhabitants in the huge settlement that even in broad daylight, the streets are completely empty.

Beautiful, abandoned houses, museums, cinemas. There are even unfinished buildings - there is no one to build for. Everywhere is clean and well-groomed. And silence! A metropolis inhabited by “ghosts”. There are several of these in China.

Also, there are cities beyond the Arctic Circle and living there is quite cold. The largest “cold” city is in Russia - Murmansk - 154.4 square meters. km. It is quite small in size and has a population of 298,096 people.

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Hello, dear readers of the site “I and the World”! We are glad to welcome you again! What do you think is the largest city in the world and what is its name? In our new article we want to talk about cities and present the top 10 largest in the world by area and population.

10th place - New York - 1214.4 sq. km

America starts the list. If you look at the population for 2017, the city is small - 8,405,837 people. Quite young, about 400 years old.

In the territory where New York is now located there were Indian tribes. Arrows, dishes and other Indian attributes are found here. Throughout the 19th century, emigrants from different countries came here, due to which it grew. It includes several islands, the largest of which is Manhattan. People of almost all religions live here, but Christians predominate.


We give 9th place to Mexico City – 1485 sq. km

The population of the capital of Mexico is 9,100,000 people. Mexico City was founded by the Aztecs in 1325. According to legend, the Sun God ordered them to come to this place.


At the beginning of the 16th century, Mexico City was the most beautiful in the Western Hemisphere until it was destroyed during the reign of Cortez, but was soon rebuilt. It is located at an altitude of more than 2000 km above sea level and is surrounded by mountains.


London is in 8th place – 1572 sq. km

London is the capital of Great Britain and the largest city in the country. It was founded in 43 AD. e. There are now 8,600,000 people living in London.


The terrible plague of the 17th century claimed about 70,000 lives. This is a place of remarkable historical and architectural monuments: the Tower, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral and others.


We put Tokyo in 7th place - 2188.6 sq. km

But the population is quite large - 13,742,906 people. Tokyo is one of the modern cities and the capital of Japan. Even if you live here for a month, you won’t see all the sights.


The main part is solid concrete and wires. Tokyo was inhabited by tribes of people back in the Stone Age. Over the course of several years from 1703 to 2011, Tokyo suffered many earthquakes, and as a result of one of them, 142,000 people died at once.


In 6th place is Moscow – 2561.5 sq. km

Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation, located between the Oka and Volga rivers. 12,500,123 people live here. In terms of length, Moscow is quite long - 112 km. It is an important tourist center in Russia.


The age of the city is still unknown exactly, but there is evidence that the first settlements appeared on this territory around 8 thousand years BC. e.


Middle of the top - Sydney - 12144 sq. km

The development and history of Australia began with a small settlement. 200 years ago the navigator Cook landed here. Sydney is the largest metropolis and capital of the state of New South Wales.


The capital is home to 4,500,000 people. The city is located in one of the beautiful bays of the world, where business skyscrapers coexist with cozy beaches, which are always full of tourists.


In 4th place is Beijing – 16,808 sq. km

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China. Huge and noisy, its population numbers 21,500,000 inhabitants.


In the 13th century it was almost completely burned by Genghis Khan, but rebuilt 43 years later in a different place. Here is a famous architectural monument - the Forbidden City - the residence of the rulers.


At the beginning of the 20th century it was occupied by the Japanese. After Russia's victory in World War II and the fall of Japan, the capital became free again.

We give 3rd place to Hangzhou – 16847 sq. km

The city has 8,750,000 inhabitants. The metropolis is famous for its tea plantations and natural beauty.


Previously, it was the capital of China, and now it is a major religious center. In the 19th century, as a result of an uprising, it was partially destroyed and restored in the 50s, where industry began to rapidly develop.


Weaving folk items, harvesting tea leaves, and making bamboo products are still done by hand.

In second place is Chongqing – 82,300 sq. km

Chongqing is the largest city in the world in terms of population, with about 32 million people living here. The highest population density is 600 people per square meter. km.

The metropolis arose 3,000 years ago and at that time was the capital of the kingdom of Ba. Now it is a huge industrial center. There is a large base for the production of automobiles - 5 factories and 400 - for the production of car parts. Real estate construction here is proceeding at such a fast pace that 10 years of construction for Moscow is 1 year for Chongqing. Old buildings are being demolished very actively, in their place skyscrapers are appearing. It is more business than architectural. And the main attraction is the overpasses that entangle the entire city.


We give 1st place to the unusual city of Ordos - 86,752 sq. km

Ordos is a ghost town. Where is the strange metropolis, the largest in territory, but empty? In China, it began to be built 20 years ago for people involved in the extraction and sale of coal.


A large city was built with museums, theaters, and a stadium. There is everything for the life of a city dweller here. But almost no one wanted to move here. Over the past few years, the number of people has increased to 300,000. There are so few inhabitants in the huge settlement that even in broad daylight, the streets are completely empty.


Beautiful, abandoned houses, museums, cinemas. There are even unfinished buildings - there is no one to build for. Everywhere is clean and well-groomed. And silence! A metropolis inhabited by “ghosts”. There are several of these in China.


Also, there are cities beyond the Arctic Circle and living there is quite cold. The largest “cold” city is in Russia - Murmansk - 154.4 square meters. km. It is quite small in size and has a population of 298,096 people.


We showed you the ranking of major cities in the world with photos and descriptions. Ten different megacities, with different numbers of inhabitants, different lengths and architecture. 2018 will be a new year for everyone and everything, and our rankings may change. In the meantime, if you liked the information, share it with your friends.

Every country in the world has large and small, provincial and developed, tourist and unknown cities. They are all unique and beautiful in their own way. But what is the largest city in the world? What makes it special? Let's find out in the article.

Developed infrastructure, attractions, skyscrapers and shopping centers - this is what the largest cities in the world are famous for. These are the general characteristics of megacities. Of course, each of them has its own secrets and interesting stories.

Here is a list of the largest cities in the world by area:

Ordos (86,752 km²)

The mysterious city is located in the Inner Mongolia province, and was built by the Chinese authorities. The huge metropolis is rich in high-rise buildings, shopping centers, museums, and there is even a race track. The only thing Ordos lacks is population.

Buses without people walk along the deserted streets of the ghost town, and there are bicycles for rent on the sidewalks. Only there is no one to enjoy the benefits of civilization. Absurd? No, the decision of the local authorities.

About 20 years ago, the area was famous for coal mining, so officials invested in a large city of the future, designed for 1 million inhabitants. According to the plan, this is a new cultural and economic center. In reality, it is a desert metropolis where up to 100,000 people live.

People did not want to move to Ordos because of high property taxes. Therefore, the main population of the city is migrant builders and officials. There are municipal employees on the streets sweeping empty sidewalks. The urban planning disaster for the local authorities turned into good tourist attendance.

Chongqing (82,400 km²)

The largest city in the world is located in China. It is distinguished by its large population (about 32 million people) and ancient architecture. Chongqing was founded more than 3 thousand years ago. It’s amazing how a huge metropolis has grown from a village surrounded by a palisade.

Today Chongqing is a major commercial center in China. There are about four hundred factories here, aimed at producing car parts. The chemical and metallurgical industries are also developed. The city is a world leader in drug production.

Chongqing is famous not only for its industry, but also for its architecture. The main asset is the Chaotianmen Arch Bridge with the longest span in the world. The Yangtze River flows through the city, across which there are 25 bridges.

The metropolis is developing very quickly. Old buildings are being actively demolished and new high-rises are being built. Multi-level overpasses entangled the city. The local population practically does not speak English, so a tourist without knowledge of Chinese will have a difficult time.

Mount Isa (43,310 km²)

The city is located in a semi-desert part of Australia. Despite its huge area, Mount Isa is located far from other populated areas. But this did not prevent the settlement - 21,570 people live here.

In 1923, gold prospector John Campbell explored the continent and discovered deposits of non-ferrous metals in rocky rocks near the Leichhardt River.

Soon people took over the wilderness. Mount Isa grew and became divided into two parts by the river. Residential buildings are located on the eastern bank, and industrial enterprises are located on the western bank.

In 1959, residents decided to glorify the city and organized a rodeo. Since then, the largest competitions in Australia have been held here, attracting athletes from all over the world.

Hangzhou (16,840 km²)

The Chinese city is also called heaven on earth. Despite the rapid development and population growth (8.7 million people), Hangzhou is surrounded by flowers and greenery. This is where the maritime silk road originates, and a silk museum has been operating near Yu Han Mountain since 1992.

The large religious center still harvests tea by hand and produces bamboo products. The pearl of the city is Lake Xihu, which has been a UNESCO heritage site since 2011. The reservoir is surrounded by magnificent scenery, museums and the famous Luheta Pagoda. In ancient times, bells rang here to warn the population of the approaching enemy.

The largest city in the world specializes in light industry. Hangzhou is also famous for the Lingyin Soul Refuge Temple. The Buddhist monastery is famous for its rock reliefs and grottoes. Over the past 1600 years it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.

Hangzhou is a unique combination of a modern metropolis, ancient architecture, and magnificent nature. Residents honor and observe rituals and traditions, and also value manual labor.

Beijing (16,808 km²)

The gigantic capital of China has 21,705 million inhabitants. The ancient city was burned by Genghis Khan in the 13th century and rebuilt again 43 years later. Now this bustling metropolis is crowded with cars and people. It seems that the Chinese never sleep. This is the special charm of Beijing.

The big city of the world is a major railway and road junction of the country. In 2008, local authorities hosted the $44 billion Olympic Games. In 2022, Beijing will again host the Winter Olympics.

The city has the largest square in the world, Tiananmen, whose size is 440 thousand m². The Chinese national flag is raised here every day. Also in Beijing is the emperor's palace, the Forbidden City. On its territory there are 980 buildings containing 9999 rooms.

In addition to its interesting architecture, the city is known for its high degree of air pollution. The norm was exceeded five times. This is due to emissions from factories and vehicles, and traffic is often paralyzed by sandstorms.

Brisbane (15,826 km²)

In Australia, the sunny city of Brisbane is located - the capital of the state of Queensland. The obvious advantage of the central part of the state is the absence of heavy industry. Therefore, the metropolis has clean air.

The excellent climate and abundance of vegetation attract more and more tourists to Brisbane, who stay here to live. Therefore, the city ranks second in Australia in terms of population growth. The population is more than 2 million people and increases by 5.11% every year.

Brisbane, and formerly Edenglassie, was founded in 1824 as a penal colony. Until 1842 the area was closed to settlement. Australians often call the city a large village, since even in the center most buildings are no higher than two floors, and the streets abound with palm trees, eucalyptus, and mango trees.

The main developing industries are agriculture, tourism, and hotel business. Just a paradise for migrants from Europe, India and China.

Chengdu (12,390 km²)

The ancient Chinese city was founded back in 311 BC. e. Now the population is 11.5 million people. Chengdu is an important economic, commercial and cultural center of Western China.

Another largest city in the world is the only place where pandas breed. There are nurseries, research centers and panda museums that are open to tourists.

The Chengdu market sells a huge number of natural medicines: herbs, roots, infusions and various animal parts. The exotic place will shock visitors.

The city also ranks second in the number of skyscrapers in China, although old buildings with traditional architecture have also been preserved.

Sydney (12,144 km²)

An amazing place where high-rise buildings coexist with the most beautiful beaches in the world. It all started in 1788, when European navigator Arthur Phillip landed on the island’s shores. The settlement was built around the small Sydney Cove. Today it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Australia with a population of 5.13 million people.

Sydney ranks fifth on the list of the most expensive cities in the world. Central NSW is also famous for its rum revolution. In 1808, Governor William Bligh banned the payment of alcoholic beverages to workers, which led to a riot and the removal of the official from office.

Sydney is home to the most famous building in the world - the Opera House, which appears on postcards and is a UNESCO heritage site. Danish architect Jorn Utzon won the right to construct the building from 232 competitors. Instead of the planned $7 million, construction took $102 million and 14 years.

Tianjin (11,760 km²)

Not far from Beijing is the third most populous city in China, Tianjin. Its territory is home to 14.4 million people, including Koreans, Manchus and Mongols.

The big city is actively developing light and heavy industry. In Tianjin, life flows more calmly and measuredly than in Beijing, and each district is imbued with a special charm. The pearl of the city is the China Porcelain House.

Tianjin is also famous for its huge zoo, which includes a water park and other entertainment. The complex is located in the southern part of the city and contains animals from all over the world.

On the streets of Tanjin you can often see men playing cards and mahjong. In the evenings, older women turn on music and go out to dance. The population lives for its own pleasure and enjoys every day.

Melbourne (9,990 km²)

The sporting and cultural capital of Australia is considered the southern millionaire city. 4.5 million people live here. It is the main commercial and industrial artery of the country. According to The Economist magazine, Melbourne is the best place to live.

This is one of the largest cities in the world, where free and liberated people live. One of the popular places in Melbourne is Sand Kild Beach. There are cafes, pubs, and restaurants along the coastline. The place is also popular among fans of surfing and swimming.

Shopaholics will be surprised and delighted by the Queen Victoria Market, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Here you can find everything from food to souvenirs, jewelry and antiques. Cooking master classes and gastro tours are also often held here.

Big cities around the world are distinguished by their culture and unique flavor. Most of them were founded a long time ago, so they have an interesting history of development. Be sure to visit the world's megacities and immerse yourself in an exotic paradise.

According to approximate data, there are about 3 million cities on the planet. Small and large, developed and poor, beautiful resorts and fascinating historical ones. Everyone is good in their own way. And there are those that are notable precisely for their area. In our article we will talk about XXL size cities. The criterion for the rating was the “net” area of ​​the city, which it occupies without taking into account districts and agglomerations. Meet the largest cities in the world by area!

Sydney (12144, 6 sq. km)

The ranking opens with the largest city on earth by area - Sydney. In combination, it is the largest and one of the most popular Australian cities. It was founded by Arthur Phillip in 1788. The city got its name from Lord Sydney, the famous Minister of the British Colonies.

Area: 12144.6 sq. km. Of this, only 1.7 thousand square meters. km is allocated to residential areas, the rest of the territory is mountains and numerous picturesque parks. The population is 4.5 million people, making Sydney the most populous city in the entire country.

Sydney is built around Port Jackson Harbour, one of the largest natural bays on earth! The city is bounded to the west by the Blue Mountains, to the east by the Pacific waters, to the south by the Royal National Park, and to the north by the incredibly beautiful Hawkesbury River.

Kinshasa (10,550 sq. km)

The gigantic capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo used to have a funny name - Leopoldville. In 1966 it was renamed Kinshasa. Area: 10550 sq. km. Most of it is in sparsely populated rural areas. The population is over 10 million people.


Kinshasa stretches along the southern bank of the Congo River and is located directly opposite the city of Brazzaville (the capital of the Republic of Congo). This is a unique phenomenon when two capitals are located so close to each other - on opposite sides of the same river!

Interesting fact: Kinshasa is the 2nd city in the world after Paris in which the majority of the population speaks French.

Buenos Aires (4000 sq. km)

The top three largest cities in the world by area are closed by the delightful capital of Argentina - Buenos Aires. It is one of the most beautiful and lively cities in the country. It was created in 1580 on the coast of the Gulf of La Plata. Twice in its history it was restored from ruins: a few years after its founding, it was burned by the Indians, and in the 19th century it suffered from a series of earthquakes.


Area: 4,000 sq. km. The population is about 2.8 million people.

On the eastern and southern sides the city is bordered by the bays of Rio de la Plata and Riachuelo. The remaining perimeter is occupied by the legendary Avenida General Paz highway - it surrounds the city from the west and north.

Karachi (3530 sq. km)

Karachi is a giant port city in Pakistan, the capital of the Sindh province. The history of the city dates back to the era of Alexander the Great.


Area: 3530 sq. km is 4 times the area of ​​Hong Kong. The population is over 12 million people. It rightfully bears the title of one of the most densely populated cities on the planet.

The city is geographically located in the south of Pakistan, on a flat area off the coast of the Arabian Sea.

Alexandria (2680 sq. km)

This ancient city is more than one thousand years old. It was created in 332 BC by the same Alexander the Great. It is the second largest city in Egypt and the main seaport of the state. Entered the top 5 largest cities on earth by area!


Area: 2680 sq. km. The population is about 4.5 million people.

Alexandria is nestled in the Nile Delta and is approximately 32 km long along the Mediterranean coast.

Ankara (2500 sq. km)

The Turkish capital Ankara is one of the oldest cities in Asia Minor and the second most important city in Turkey (second only to Istanbul). It dates back to the 7th century BC!


Area: 2500 sq. km. The population is about 4.9 million people.

The city is located at the confluence of the Çubuk and Ankara rivers, on the Anatolian Plateau.

Istanbul (2106 sq. km)

The former capital of the Great Empires also boasts its scale. Previously, the city bore the proud name of Constantinople and was a real cradle of civilizations.


Area: 2106 sq. km. The population is about 14 million people.

Located on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait. This is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, which is included in the top 10 popular tourist routes.

Tehran (1881 sq. km)

It is a majestic city of Iran and ranks high on the list of major cities in Asia. Archaeological excavations indicate that settlements existed on the site of the city as early as the 6th century BC.


Area: 1881 sq. km. The population is about 9 million people.

Tehran is located in northern Iran at the foot of the Elbrus mountain range.

Bogota (1590 sq. km)

It is worth saying “thank you” to the Spanish conquistadors for the appearance of this amazing city. They were the ones who founded Bogota in 1538! Today it is the capital of the Republic of Colombia with an area of ​​1590 square meters. km. The population is about 7 million people.


The city is geographically located in the basin of the western slope of the Eastern Cordillera, right on the equator. Famous for its chic futuristic architecture, rich selection of museums, incredibly beautiful colonial churches and destructive frequent earthquakes.

London (1580 sq. km)

“London from the Capital of Great Britain” - every schoolchild knows this. Do you know that it is also one of the largest ports in Britain, as well as a giant city, completing the top 10 largest cities in the world by area?


London was founded back in 43 AD when the Romans invaded Britain. It is located on the Greenwich meridian, on the Thames River and bears the “title” of the city of fogs. Yes, fog is a common occurrence here, as is rain.

Area: 1580 sq. km. The population is about 8 million people.