The 10 Largest Cities in the World
Asia is home to six of the 10 most populous areas in the world.
(Carl Court/Getty Images)
The Growth of Urban Areas
More than half of the world's population – 55 percent – lives in cities. By 2050, that figure is predicted to jump to 68 percent, according to the United Nation's Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
As the world continues to urbanize, a handful of countries will account for much of the growth. Between 2018 and 2050, the U.N. estimates 35 percent of urbanization will occur in India, China and Nigeria alone.
Today about 4.2 billion people live in cities, with North America, Latin America and the Caribbean making up the most urbanized regions of the world and Africa remaining the most rural.
These are the world's 10 largest urban areas, or "urban agglomerations," based on 2015 data, the most recent released by the U.N's population division.
(Andy Wong/AP)
10. Beijing
Country: China
2015 Population: 18.42 million
In an effort to prevent crowding and pollution, the Chinese government in 2017 announced plans to limit the capital's population to 23 million.
State-led rules have been effective in curbing population growth, according to The Guardian. Migrants have been pushed out of the capital and ongoing efforts to "beautify" the city have included "rebuilding grittier districts, rounding up street vendors, closing or moving hundreds of markets and bricking up restaurants, bars and shops without licenses."
Shelbi Austin, Staff Writer
Shelbi Austin is a Web Producer for the News division at U.S. News & World Report. You can foll... Read moreShelbi Austin is a Web Producer for the News division at U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at saustin@usnews.com.
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