World's Largest Cities by Population (1950-2035)

Biggest city populations from 1950 to 2015, extended to the year 2035 based on UN World Urbanization projections.

World's Largest Cities by Population (1950–2035)

This timeline shows how the population rankings of the largest urban centers globally have evolved, reflecting migration, economic growth, urbanization, and planning trends.

Historical Context (1950–2000)

1950s:

Cities like New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, and Shanghai were among the largest globally, reflecting industrial-era urban hubs.

1960s-70s:

Rapid urbanization in Asia and Latin America caused cities like Mexico City, São Paulo, and Mumbai (Bombay) to grow significantly.

1980s-90s:

Asian megacities such as Tokyo (then the world’s largest) dominated rankings, with Jakarta, Manila, and Seoul growing fast.

Recent Growth and Megacity Emergence (2000–2020)

Cities in Asia and Africa experienced explosive growth due to rural-urban migration and natural increase.

Tokyo remained one of the largest but slowly declined in rank as populations stabilized or shrank in developed countries.

Delhi, Shanghai, Mumbai, Beijing, Dhaka, and Karachi surged upward, becoming megacities with populations exceeding 20 million.

African cities like Lagos and Kinshasa began rapid growth, poised to join the ranks of the largest urban centers.

Projections and Future Trends (2020–2035)

The United Nations forecasts continued growth in urban populations, with Indian and African cities leading.

Delhi is projected to surpass Tokyo as the world's largest city within the next decade.

Other cities expected to rise include Kinshasa, Lagos, Cairo, and Dhaka, reflecting ongoing urbanization in developing regions.

Growth slows or reverses in many Western cities due to demographic shifts and suburbanization.

Population Milestones

Year Top City Population (Millions) Notable Changes

1950 New York ~12 Post-war industrial boom

1980 Tokyo ~27 Rapid economic and population growth

2000 Tokyo ~30 Largest urban area globally

2020 Tokyo ~37 Stabilizing population

2035* Delhi (projected) ~40+ Rapid urban expansion

Key Factors Driving Growth:

Economic opportunity: Cities attract migrants seeking jobs and services.

Fertility rates: Higher birth rates in developing countries fuel urban growth.

Urban sprawl and metropolitan expansion: Cities growing beyond traditional boundaries.

Infrastructure development: Transport and housing developments facilitate larger populations.

Fun Facts & Trivia:

Tokyo has held the title of largest city for decades but is slowly being overtaken by fast-growing South Asian cities.

New York’s population peaked mid-20th century but later declined due to suburbanization.

Lagos, once a small colonial town, is now projected to become one of the top five largest cities by 2035.

Keywords: largest cities by population, megacity growth, urbanization trends, global city populations, future city population projections, urban demographics 1950-2035.

World’s Largest Cities by Population (1900–2035)

The story of the world’s largest cities is also the story of industrialization, migration, economic power, and technological change. From the dominance of European capitals in the early 20th century to the explosive rise of Asian and African megacities, urban population growth has reshaped global civilization in just over a century.

This article explores how the world’s largest cities evolved from 1900 to 2035, highlights major demographic shifts, and offers population projections after 2025, alongside a detailed look at each city’s growth from 1950 to 2026.

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The World’s Largest Cities in 1900

In 1900, the global urban landscape looked very different from today.

Top cities by population (approximate):

• London (~6.5 million)

• New York (~4.2 million)

• Paris (~3.3 million)

• Berlin (~2.7 million)

• Chicago (~1.7 million)

• Vienna (~1.6 million)

• Tokyo (~1.5 million)

Europe and North America dominated due to early industrialization, colonial trade networks, and rural-to-urban migration. Asia’s cities existed, but their explosive growth had not yet begun.

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The Shift to Asia After 1950

After World War II, global urban dominance shifted dramatically.

Key factors:

• Rapid industrialization in Asia

• Population booms in developing countries

• Improved healthcare and life expectancy

• Massive rural-to-urban migration

By 1980, cities like Tokyo, Shanghai, Mumbai, and São Paulo overtook traditional Western capitals.

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World’s Largest Cities Today (2025)

As of 2025 estimates, the world’s largest metropolitan areas are:

1. Tokyo, Japan – ~37 million

2. Delhi, India – ~33 million

3. Shanghai, China – ~29 million

4. Dhaka, Bangladesh – ~24 million

5. São Paulo, Brazil – ~23 million

6. Mexico City, Mexico – ~22 million

7. Cairo, Egypt – ~22 million

8. Beijing, China – ~21 million

9. Mumbai, India – ~21 million

10. Osaka, Japan – ~19 million

These figures include metropolitan areas, not just city proper populations.

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Population Growth by City (1950–2026)

Below is a comparison of urban growth from 1950 to 2026:

Tokyo

• 1950: ~11 million

• 2026: ~37 million
  Growth: +26 million
  Tokyo became the world’s largest city by the 1960s and has remained so despite recent population stagnation.

Delhi

• 1950: ~1.4 million

• 2026: ~34 million
  Growth: +32.6 million
  One of the fastest urban expansions in human history.

Shanghai

• 1950: ~5.3 million

• 2026: ~29 million
  Growth: +23.7 million
  Driven by China’s economic reforms after 1980.

Dhaka

• 1950: ~400,000

• 2026: ~24 million
  Growth: +23.6 million
  Among the most densely populated cities on Earth.

São Paulo

• 1950: ~2.3 million

• 2026: ~23 million
  Growth: +20.7 million
  Latin America’s largest urban economy.

Mexico City

• 1950: ~3.1 million

• 2026: ~22 million
  Growth: +18.9 million
  Growth slowed after 2000 due to decentralization.

Cairo

• 1950: ~2.4 million

• 2026: ~22 million
  Growth: +19.6 million
  Africa’s largest metropolitan area.

Mumbai

• 1950: ~3 million

• 2026: ~21 million
  Growth: +18 million
  One of the highest population densities worldwide.

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Population Projections (2025–2035)

⚠️ All figures below are projections based on UN urbanization trends and demographic modeling.

Expected Leaders by 2035:

City	Projected Population (2035)
Delhi	~39 million
Tokyo	~36 million (decline)
Dhaka	~29 million
Shanghai	~28 million
Cairo	~28 million
Mumbai	~27 million
Lagos	~26 million
Beijing	~22 million

Key Trends:

• India and Africa dominate future growth

• Japan and China face aging populations

• African megacities grow fastest

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The Rise of African Megacities

Cities like Lagos, Kinshasa, and Nairobi are expected to dominate future rankings.

Lagos, Nigeria

• 1950: ~300,000

• 2026: ~21 million

• 2035 (projected): ~26 million

Africa’s urban population is expected to double by 2050, making it the next epicenter of megacity growth.

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Fun Facts & Trivia

• 🏙️ Tokyo has more people than Canada

• 🚆 Shanghai’s metro is the longest in the world

• 🌆 Delhi adds roughly 1,000 residents every hour

• 🏗️ Dubai grew over 700% since 1980

• 🌍 More than 55% of humans now live in cities

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Did You Know?

• ❓ The term “megacity” refers to cities with over 10 million people

• ❓ In 1900, only 16 cities had over 1 million inhabitants

• ❓ By 2035, over 60 cities will exceed 10 million

• ❓ Tokyo’s rail system handles 40 million passengers per day

• ❓ Lagos may surpass New York in population by 2030

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Conclusion

From London in 1900 to Delhi and Lagos in 2035, the story of the world’s largest cities reflects deeper shifts in economics, demographics, and global power. While some cities stabilize or decline, others grow at unprecedented rates.

Urbanization remains one of the most powerful forces shaping humanity’s future — and by 2035, the megacity era will be more global, more complex, and more influential than ever before.

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Keywords: World’s largest cities, largest cities by population, megacities, urban population growth, biggest cities 2025, future cities 2035, city population projections, global urbanization

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Source: Data Is Beautiful