World’s top 10 largest cities by population in 2024: Indian cities claim two spots

World's top 10 largest cities by population in 2024: As we celebrate World Population Day on July 11, here is list as the most populous city in 2024, according to the World Population Review.

Largest population cities in the world: Cities around the world are experiencing significant increases in their populations.

Cities around the world are experiencing significant increases in their populations; Here are the world's 10 most populous cities in 2024. (Source: Freepik)

World Population Review 2024: The global population has reached an unprecedented level, surpassing 8 billion people. According to projections by the United Nations, the world population is expected to grow by nearly 2 billion by 2050 and could reach as high as 10.4 billion by the mid-2080s.

This tremendous population growth can be attributed to various factors, including advancements in healthcare, sanitation, and living conditions. Mortality rates, particularly among infants and children, have decreased globally, and the median age of the world population has steadily increased over the past decades.

The World Population Review recently released a list of the top 10 largest countries and cities by population as of 2024, further highlighting this trend. It is no surprise that most of the world’s most populous cities are located in China and India, the two most densely populated countries globally. However, notably, Tokyo tops the list as the most populous city in 2024, according to the World Population Review.

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With the rise of megacities, globalisation, and urbanisation, many cities worldwide are experiencing significant population growth. So, as we celebrate World Population Day today, annually on July 11, under the theme of 2024: investing in data collection, it is important to understand problems, tailor solutions, and drive progress; discover the top 10 most populous cities in the world in 2024.

(Source: United Nations)

Here are the top 10 largest cities by population in the world in 2024:

Rank	City	Country	Population in 2024	Population in 2023	Growth Rate
1	Tokyo	Japan	37,115,035	37,194,105	-0.21%
2	Delhi	India	33,807,403	32,941,309	2.63%
3	Shanghai	China	29,867,918	29,210,808	2.25%
4	Dhaka	Bangladesh	23,935,652	23,209,616	3.13%
5	Sao Paulo	Brazil	22,806,704	22,619,736	0.83%
6	Cairo	Egypt	22,623,874	22,183,201	1.99%
7	Mexico City	Mexico	22,505,315	22,281,442	1%
8	Beijing	China	22,189,082	21,766,214	1.94%
9	Mumbai	India	21,673,149	21,296,517	1.77%
10	Osaka	Japan	18,967,459	19,013,434	-0.24%

Source: World Population Review

It’s no surprise that the world’s most populous cities are mainly located in China and India, the two most populous countries globally. India is projected to overtake China as the country with the most significant population in 2022, with over 1.43 billion people.

China still has the second-largest population globally, with just above 1.4 billion inhabitants, but its population began to decline in 2023. Shanghai and Beijing, two significant Chinese cities, have staggering populations of 29.9 million and 22.2 million, respectively. Similarly, India’s capital, Delhi, and financial hub Mumbai are home to 33.8 million and 21.7 million people, respectively.

However, Tokyo, Japan, has the most extensive population, with a total of 37.1 million residents when considering the entire Tokyo metropolitan area. Another Japanese city, Osaka, also has an exceptionally large population of 19 million.

Cherry Gupta

Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager – Content at The Indian Express. She leads the Top 10 section, curating list-based features on key national and international developments, and manages daily news content. She also produces SEO-driven articles and collaborates with the Lifestyle team to conduct interviews with notable artists and write workplace culture features. ... Read More

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