Largest Metros by Population

The landscape of human habitation has shifted dramatically over the last century, evolving from a predominantly rural world to one where over 56% of the population resides in urban areas. As of 2025, the world's largest metropolitan areas have reached unprecedented scales, with Tokyo-Yokohama remaining the most populous urban agglomeration with approximately 37.7 million residents. However, the geographic center of urbanization has moved decisively toward Asia and Africa. Jakarta has surged to the second position globally, while Delhi and Mumbai continue to see rapid expansion fueled by migration and natural growth.

The rate of growth in these megacities is staggering when viewed historically. In 1950, only Tokyo and New York had populations exceeding 10 million. Today, dozens of cities have surpassed that mark, with newer entries like Kinshasa and Lagos growing from small towns of fewer than 400,000 people in 1950 to massive hubs of nearly 20 million today. While mature metros like Tokyo and New York have seen their growth rates stabilize or even decline due to aging populations and suburbanization, cities in the Global South are projected to continue their upward trajectory, with current estimates suggesting that 70% of the world will be urbanized by 2050.