10 largest cities area. The largest cities in the world - top in area and population

It is no secret that most people prefer to live in cities where all the benefits of civilization are available. Due to the fact that the number of people wishing to become citizens is increasing every day, settlements are gradually increasing in size, turning into megacities. What are the largest cities in the world, how many people they have, and what area they occupy - informative information in our article.

The last population census in each country was conducted at different times, and constant migration greatly complicates the calculations. Therefore, some of the data on which the rating is based may no longer be relevant. But still, the list of the largest metropolitan areas looks something like this.

Chinese Shanghai has been on the honorary first place among the most populated cities in the world. Here, according to the census, 24 ml. 150 thousand people. In order to comfortably accommodate all the inhabitants, the metropolis is constantly growing, and most of all - in height. Therefore, Shanghai boasts the largest skyscrapers. At the same time, many architectural sights have been preserved here, some of them are up to seven hundred years old.
The city of Karachi, which is located in the south of Pakistan, has 23 million 200 thousand inhabitants. Small in age (about 200 years), this metropolis is actively growing, increasing its area and population. A feature of the city can be called the diversity of nationalities that constantly inhabit it. A mixture of cultures, customs and social strata gives the metropolis a special flavor.
The third step of the rating is Beijing - the capital of China. The population of the metropolis is 21 million 710 thousand people. This is the most ancient city in the TOP-5, because it was founded back in the distant 5th century BC. Today it is a real tourist mecca, people from all over the world come here to see the emperor's palace and other architectural masterpieces with their own eyes. At the same time, the city is actively developing, there is a skyscraper with 106 (!) floors.
The Indian capital of Delhi boasts a population of 18 million 150 thousand. This is the most contrasting city in the ranking. Indeed, in it you can see both breathtaking high-rise buildings in fashionable areas, and miserable slums, where several families are crowded in one hut without any amenities. In addition, the city has many ancient temples, castles and fortresses that amaze with their splendor.
Turkish Istanbul, according to the data of the end of 2017, has 15 million 500 thousand people. This is the most Big city Europe. Moreover, the metropolis is developing rapidly, and the number of inhabitants is increasing by about 300 thousand every year. Istanbul has a good location on the banks of the Bosphorus, which contributes to its development and prosperity.

Let's briefly get acquainted with the next five largest cities in the world in terms of population.

Tianjin is a major Chinese metropolis. It is home to 15 million 470 thousand people. It began its development from a small village, and then became a large port city.
The Japanese capital Tokyo has 13 million 743 thousand inhabitants. The city is actively developing, the citizens have a high standard of living, thanks to which everything flocks to the metropolis more people.
The largest city in Nigeria, Lagos, accommodates 13 million 120 thousand inhabitants on its area. Moreover, the density of their accommodation is quite high: there are 17,000 people per square kilometer. The city is divided into slums and areas with huge skyscrapers. It is the largest metropolis in Africa.
Guangzhou is another city in China. 13 million 90 thousand people live here. The metropolis is called the center of world trade. It attracts tourists with ancient historical monuments that coexist peacefully with modern urban buildings.
Indian Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the leader among metropolitan areas in terms of population density. After all, 12 and a half million people live in an area of 600 square kilometers. This city became famous thanks to a number of film studios, united under the name Bollywood. All popular Indian films are filmed here.

Top 10 largest settlements by area

Chongqing is the largest city in the world in terms of area. It is located in China, its length is 82 thousand 400 square kilometers.
The Chinese metropolis of Hangzhou has an area of 16,840 km2.
The capital of China, Beijing, is located on 16,801 km2.
Australian Brisbane has an area of 15,826 km2.
The city of Chengdu (China) occupies 13 thousand 390 km2.
Australian Sydney is located on the territory of 12,144 km2.
The metropolis of Tianjin (China) has an area of 11,760 km2.
Melbourne (Australia) is spread over 9,990 km2.
The capital of the Congo, Kinshasa, has an area of 9,965 km2.
The Chinese city of Wuhan has 8,494 km2 of territory.

Rating of the largest ghost towns in the world

The Chinese city of Ordos began to be built in 2003, it was planned that about a million people would live in it. Megapolis until 2010 has grown in the territory of 355 square kilometers. But the cost of housing did not allow residents to purchase real estate, as a result of which the houses remained half empty. Today, the number of inhabitants barely reaches 50 thousand.
The resort city of San Zhi in Taiwan is dead, no one lived in it at all. According to the project, ultra-modern houses in the form of UFO saucers were built here. It was expected that rich people would rest in them, tourists would come to look at the original architecture and have fun in numerous complexes. But during the crisis, funding for the project stopped, and the city was not popular either. He became a wasteland.
On the island of Cyprus is Famagusta - an abandoned city. It used to be a major trade and economic center. But he was left without inhabitants because of the war between Turkey and Greece. Countries cannot agree on who should own the territory. Therefore, the city became a kind of border, fenced with barbed wire.
American Detroit was quite recently a prosperous city. Today, only a few thousand inhabitants remain. More and more people are leaving the city due to poor environmental situation. The reason for this is the construction of large industrial automobile enterprises. Today, the city has a high crime rate, which also does not contribute to comfortable living and pushes residents to move.
Russian Neftegorsk became uninhabited after an earthquake in 1995. Powerful tremors did not leave alive more than 2 thousand inhabitants, destroyed almost all buildings. There was no point in rebuilding the city, so only ruins remained in its place.
The Japanese city of Namie was the victim of a huge disaster. There was an explosion in 2013 nuclear power plant Fukushima, after which all residents were evacuated. Today, Namie territory is forbidden to enter, as the level of radiation remains dangerous.
The city of Centralia in the USA has become home to anthracite miners who came here from all over America and stayed to live even after the closure of the mines. But the decision of the city government to burn garbage was disastrous for the entire city. In 1962, coal deposits in the ground began to smolder from fire, carbon monoxide emissions began to occur. It was decided to evacuate the population. According to official figures, 10 people live there today.

There are cities in the world with a large population. And nothing else if the city occupies a large territory, and the population density in it is small. And if the city has very little land? It happens after all, that the country is small, but around the city there are rocks and the sea? So the city has to build up. At the same time, the population per square kilometer is growing rapidly. The city goes from simple to densely populated. We immediately note that it is population density that is taken into account here, while there are other ratings, where megacities are located by area, number of inhabitants, number of skyscrapers, as well as many other parameters. You can find most of these ratings on LifeGlobe. We will go directly to our list. So what are the biggest cities in the world?

Top 10 most populous cities in the world.

1. Shanghai

Shanghai - The largest city China and one of the largest cities in the world, located in the Yangtze River Delta. One of the four cities of the central subordination of the PRC, an important financial and cultural center of the country, as well as the world's largest seaport. By the beginning of the XX century. Shanghai has evolved from a small fishing town to China's most important city and the world's third financial center after London and New York. In addition, the city became the center mass culture, vice, intellectual disputes and political intrigues in Republican China. Shanghai is the financial and commercial center of China. Market reforms in Shanghai began in 1992, a decade later than in the southern provinces. Prior to this, most of the city's income went irrevocably to Beijing. Even after the tax relief in 1992, tax revenues from Shanghai accounted for 20-25% of revenues from all of China (before the 1990s, this figure was about 70%). Today, Shanghai is the largest and most developed city in mainland China. In 2005, Shanghai became the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover (443 million tons of cargo).

According to the 2000 census, the population of the whole of Shanghai (including the non-urban area) is 16.738 million, this figure also includes temporary residents in Shanghai, whose number is 3.871 million. Since the last census in 1990, the population of Shanghai has increased by 3.396 million or 25.5%. Men make up 51.4% of the city's population, women - 48.6%. Children under 14 years old make up 12.2% of the population, the age group 15-64 years old - 76.3%, the elderly over 65 - 11.5%. 5.4% of Shanghai's population is illiterate. In 2003, there were 13.42 million officially registered residents in Shanghai, and more than 5 million people. live and work informally in Shanghai, of which about 4 million are seasonal workers, mainly from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The average life expectancy in 2003 was 79.80 years (men - 77.78 years, women - 81.81 years).

Like many other regions in China, Shanghai is experiencing a construction boom. The modern architecture of Shanghai is distinguished by its unique style - in particular, the upper floors of high-rise buildings, occupied by restaurants, are shaped like flying saucers. Most of the buildings under construction in Shanghai today are high-rise residential buildings, varying in height, color and design. Organizations responsible for urban development planning are now increasingly focusing on the creation of green spaces and parks within residential complexes to improve the quality of life of Shanghainese people, which is in line with the slogan of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai: “ Best City - better life". Historically, Shanghai was very westernized, and now it is again taking on the role of the main center of communication between China and the West. One example of this is the opening of the information center for the exchange of medical knowledge between Western and Chinese health institutions Pac-Med Medical Exchange. Pudong has houses and streets that are very similar to the business and residential areas of modern American and Western European cities. Nearby are major international shopping and hotel areas. Despite the high population density and a large number of visitors, Shanghai is known for its very low crime rate towards foreigners.

As of January 1, 2009, the population of Shanghai is 18,884,600, if the area of this city is 6,340 sq. km, and the population density is 2,683 people per sq. km.

2. Karachi

KARACHI, the largest city, the main economic center and seaport of Pakistan, is located near the Indus River Delta, 100 km from its confluence with the Arabian Sea. The administrative center of the province of Sindh. The population in 2004 is 10.89 million people. It arose at the beginning of the 18th century. on the site of the Baloch fishing village Kalachi. From the end of the 18th century under the rulers of Sind from the Talpur dynasty, it was the main Sindh maritime and trading center on the Arabian coast. In 1839 it became a naval base of Great Britain, in 1843-1847 - the capital of the province of Sindh, and then the main city of the region, which was part of the Bombay Presidency. Since 1936 - the capital of the province of Sindh. In 1947-1959 - the capital of Pakistan. Favorable geographical position city, located in a convenient natural harbor, contributed to its rapid growth and development during the colonial period, and especially after the division in 1947 of British India into two independent states- India and Pakistan.

The transformation of Karachi into the main political and economic center of the country led to a rapid population growth, mainly due to the influx of immigrants from outside: in 1947-1955. from 350 thousand people up to 1.5 million people. Karachi is the largest city in the country and is one of the largest cities in the world. The main trade, economic and financial center of Pakistan, a seaport (15% of GDP and 25% of tax revenues to the budget). About 49% are concentrated in Karachi and suburbs industrial production countries. Plants: a metallurgical plant (the largest in the country, built with the assistance of the USSR, 1975-85), oil refineries, machine-building, car assembly, ship repair, chemical, cement plants, enterprises of the pharmaceutical, tobacco, textile, food (sugar) industries (concentrated in several industrial zones: CITY - Sind Industrial Trading Estate, Landhi, Malir, Korangi, etc. The largest commercial banks, branches of foreign banks, central offices and branches of insurance companies, stock and cotton exchange, offices of the largest trading companies (including foreign ones) International airport (1992) Port of Karachi (cargo turnover over 9 million tons per year) serves up to 90% of the country's maritime trade turnover and is the largest port in South Asia .Naval base.
major cultural and science Center: university, research institutions, university medical sciences Aga Khan, Hamdard Foundation Center for Oriental Medicine, National Museum Pakistan, Naval Museum. Zoo (in the former City Gardens, 1870). Mausoleum of Qaid-i Azam M. A. Jinnah (1950s), University of Sindh (founded in 1951, M. Ecoshar), Art Center (1960). from local pink limestone and sandstone. The business center of Karachi - Shara-i-Faisal streets, Jinnah Road and Chandrigar Road with buildings mainly of the 19th-20th centuries: the High Court (early 20th century, neoclassical), the Pearl Continental Hotel (1962), architects W. Tabler and Z. Pathan), State Bank (1961, architects J. L. Ricci and A. Kayum). To the northwest of Jinnah Road is the Old Town with narrow streets, one- and two-story houses. In the south - the fashionable area of Clifton, built up mainly with villas. Buildings of the 19th century are also distinguished. in the Indo-Gothic style - Frere Hall (1865) and Express Market (1889). Saddar, Zamzama, Tarik Road are the main shopping streets of the city, where hundreds of shops and shops are located. A significant number of modern high-rise buildings, luxury hotels (Avari, Marriott, Sheraton) and shopping centers.

In 2009, the population of this city is 18,140,625, the area is 3,530 sq. km, the population density is 5,139 people. per km.sq.

3.Istanbul

One of the main reasons the transformation of Istanbul into a world metropolis was the geographical position of the city. Istanbul, located at the intersection of 48 degrees north latitude and 28 degrees east longitude, is the only city in the world that is located on two continents. Istanbul lies on 14 hills, each of which has its own name, but now we will not bore you with listing them. The following should be noted - the city consists of three unequal parts, into which it is divided by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn (a small bay 7 km long). On the European side: a historical peninsula located in the south of the Golden Horn, and in the north of the Golden Horn - the districts of Beyolu, Galata, Taksim, Besiktas, on the Asian side - the "New City". Numerous trade and service centers are located on the European continent, on the Asian - for the most part residential areas.

Overall, Istanbul, 150 km long and 50 km wide, has an approximate area of 7,500 km. But no one knows its true borders, it is about to merge with the city of Izmit in the east. With continuous migration from villages (up to 500,000 per year), the population is intensively increasing. Every year, 1,000 new streets appear in the city, and new residential areas are built up in the west-east axis. The population is constantly increasing by 5% per year, i.e. doubles every 12 years. Every 5 resident of Turkey lives in Istanbul. The number of tourists visiting this marvelous city reaches 1.5 million. The population itself is not exactly known to anyone, officially, according to the last census, 12 million people lived in the city, although now this figure has increased to 15 million, and some argue that 20 million people already live in Istanbul.

Tradition says that the founder of the city in the 7th century BC. there was a Megarian leader Byzant, to whom the Delphic oracle predicted where it would be better to arrange a new settlement. The place really turned out to be very successful - a cape between two seas - the Black and Marble, half in Europe, half in Asia. In the IV century AD. The Roman emperor Constantine chose the settlement of Byzantium to build the new capital of the empire, which was named Constantinople in his honor. After the fall of Rome in 410, Constantinople finally established itself as the undisputed political center empire, which since then was no longer called Roman, but Byzantine. The city reached its highest prosperity under the emperor Justinian. It was the center of fabulous wealth and incredible luxury. In the 9th century, the population of Constantinople numbered about a million people! The main streets had sidewalks and sheds, they were decorated with fountains and columns. It is believed that Venice represents a copy of Constantinople architecture, where bronze horses are installed on the portal of St.
In 2009, the population of this city is 16,767,433, the area is 2,106 sq. km, the population density is 6,521 people. per sq. km

4.Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, its administrative, financial, cultural and industrial center. It is located in the southeastern part of the island of Honshu, on the Kanto plain in the bay of the Tokyo Bay of the Pacific Ocean. Area - 2 187 sq. km. Population - 15,570,000 people. The population density is 5,740 people/km2, the highest among the prefectures of Japan.

Officially, Tokyo is not a city, but one of the prefectures, more precisely, the metropolitan area, the only one in this class. Its territory, in addition to part of the island of Honshu, includes several small islands to the south of it, as well as the islands of Izu and Ogasawara. Tokyo District consists of 62 administrative divisions - cities, towns and rural communities. When they say "city of Tokyo", they usually mean the 23 special districts included in the metropolitan area, which from 1889 to 1943 constituted administrative unit the city of Tokyo, and now they themselves are equated in status to cities; each has its own mayor and city council. The metropolitan government is headed by a popularly elected governor. The government headquarters is located in Shinjuku, which is the county's municipal seat. Tokyo is also home to the state government and the Tokyo Imperial Palace (the obsolete name is also used - Tokyo Imperial Castle) - the main residence of the Japanese emperors.

Although the Tokyo area was inhabited by tribes as early as the Stone Age, the city began to play an active role in history relatively recently. In the 12th century, a fort was built here by the local Edo warrior Taro Shigenada. According to tradition, he received the name Edo from his place of residence. In 1457, Ota Dokan, ruler of the Kanto region under the Japanese shogunate, built Edo Castle. In 1590, it was taken over by Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the shogun clan. Thus, Edo became the capital of the shogunate, while Kyoto remained the imperial capital. Ieyasu created long-term management institutions. The city grew rapidly and XVIII century became one of the largest cities in the world. In 1615, Ieyasu's armies destroyed their opponents - the Toyotomi clan, thereby gaining absolute power for about 250 years. As a result of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the shogunate came to an end, in September, Emperor Mutsuhito moved the capital here, calling it the "Eastern Capital" - Tokyo. This sparked a debate whether Kyoto could still be the capital. In the second half of the 19th century, industry began to develop rapidly, followed by shipbuilding. The Tokyo-Yokohama railway was built in 1872, and the Kobe-Osaka-Tokyo railway in 1877. Until 1869 the city was called Edo. On September 1, 1923, the largest earthquake (7-9 on the Richter scale) occurred in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Almost half of the city was destroyed, a strong fire broke out. About 90,000 people became victims. Although the reconstruction plan turned out to be very expensive, the city began to partially recover. The city was again seriously damaged during World War II. The city was subjected to massive air attacks. More than 100,000 inhabitants were killed in one raid alone. Many wooden buildings burned down, the old Imperial Palace suffered. After the war, Tokyo was occupied by the military, during the Korean War it became a major military center. Several American bases still remain here (Yokota military base, etc.). In the middle of the 20th century, the country's economy began to rapidly revive (which was described as the "Economic Miracle"), in 1966 it became the second largest economy in the world. The revival from war injuries was proved by the hosting of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where the city showed itself favorably on the international stage. Since the 1970s, Tokyo has been flooded with a wave of labor from rural areas, resulting in further development cities. By the end of the 1980s, it had become one of the most dynamically developing cities in the world. On March 20, 1995, there was a gas attack on the Tokyo subway using sarin. The attack was carried out by the religious sect Aum Shinrikyo. As a result, more than 5,000 people were injured, 11 of them died. Seismic activity in the Tokyo area has led to discussions about moving Japan's capital to another city. Three candidates named: Nasu (300 km north), Higashino (near Nagano, central Japan) and new town in the province of Mie, near Nagoya (450 km west of Tokyo). The government's decision has already been received, although no further action is being taken. At present, Tokyo continues to develop. Projects for the creation of artificial islands are being consistently implemented. The most notable project is Odaiba, which is now a major shopping and entertainment center.

5. Mumbai

The history of the emergence of Mumbai - a dynamic modern city, the financial capital of India and the administrative center of the state of Maharashtra - is quite unusual. In 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat ceded a group of seven useless islands to the Portuguese, who, in turn, presented them to the Portuguese princess Catharina of Braganza on her wedding day to King Charles II of England in 1661. In 1668, the British government surrendered the islands leased to the East India Company for 10 pounds of gold a year, and gradually Mumbai grew into a center of trade. In 1853, the first railway line in the subcontinent was laid from Mumbai to Thane, and in 1862, a colossal land management project turned the seven islands into a single whole - Mumbai embarked on the path of becoming the largest metropolis. During its existence, the city changed its name four times, and for those who are not an expert in geography, its former name, Bombay, is more familiar. Mumbai, after the historical name of the area, became known again in 1997. Today it is a lively city with a strong character: the largest industrial and commercial center, it is still actively interested in theater and other arts. Mumbai is also home to India's main film industry, Bollywood.

Mumbai is India's most populous city with a population of 13,922,125 in 2009. Together with satellite cities, it forms the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world with a population of 21.3 million people. The area occupied by Greater Mumbai is 603.4 square meters. km. The city stretched along the coast of the Arabian Sea for 140 km.

6. Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, the administrative, cultural and economic center of the country and one of the largest cities in South America.

Buenos Aires is located at a distance of 275 km from Atlantic Ocean in a well-protected bay of the Gulf of La Plata, on the right bank of the Riachuelo river. The average air temperature in July is +10 degrees, and in January +24. The amount of precipitation in the city is - 987 mm per year. The capital is located in the northeastern part of Argentina, on a flat area, in a subtropical natural zone. The natural vegetation of the surroundings of the city is represented by typical meadow steppes and savanna trees and grasses. The greater Buenos Aires consists of 18 suburbs, total area is 3646 square kilometers.

The population of the Argentine capital proper is 3,050,728 (2009 estimate) people, which is 275 thousand (9.9%) more than it was in 2001 (2,776,138, census). In total, the urban agglomeration, including numerous suburbs immediately adjacent to the capital, is home to 13,356,715 (2009 estimate). Residents of Buenos Aires have a half-joking nickname - porteños (lit. residents of the port). The population of the capital and suburbs is rapidly increasing, including due to the immigration of guest workers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and other neighboring countries. The city is very multiethnic, but the main division of communities occurs along class lines, and not along racial lines, as in the United States. The majority of the population are Spaniards and Italians, descendants of both the settlers of the Spanish colonial period 1550-1815 and the larger wave of European immigrants to Argentina in 1880-1940. About 30% are mestizos and representatives of other nationalities, among which communities stand out: Arabs, Jews, British, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans, there is also a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries, primarily from Bolivia and Paraguay, in recent times from Korea, China and Africa. During the colonial period, groups of Indians, mestizos and black slaves were noticeable in the city, gradually dissolving into the southern European population, although their cultural and genetic influences are still felt today. Thus, the genes of modern residents of the capital are quite mixed compared to white Europeans: on average, the genes of the inhabitants of the capital are 71.2% European, 23.5% Indian and 5.3% African. At the same time, depending on the quarter, African impurities vary from 3.5% to 7.0%, and Indian from 14.0% to 33%. . The official language in the capital is Spanish. Other languages - Italian, Portuguese, English, German and French - are now practically out of use as mother tongues due to the mass assimilation of second-generation immigrants. half of XIX- early XX centuries., but are still taught as foreign. During the period of the mass influx of Italians (especially Neapolitans), a mixed Italian-Spanish sociolect lunfardo became widespread in the city, gradually disappearing, but leaving traces in the local language variant of the Spanish language. Spanish in Argentina). Among the believing population of the city, the majority are adherents of Catholicism, a small part of the inhabitants of the capital profess Islam and Judaism, but in general, the level of religiosity is extremely low, as the secular-liberal way of life prevails. The city is divided into 47 administrative regions, the division was originally based on reference to Catholic parishes, and remained so until 1940.

7. Dhaka

The name of the city is formed from the name of the Hindu goddess of fertility Durga or from the name of the tropical tree Dhaka, which gives valuable resin. Dhaka is located on the northern bank of the turbulent Buriganda River almost in the center of the country and looks more like the legendary Babylon than the modern capital. Dhaka is a river port in the delta of the Ganges Brahmaputra, as well as a center for water tourism. Despite the fact that travel by water is quite slow, water transport in the country is well developed, safe and widely used. The oldest section of the city, lying north of the coastline, is an ancient trading center for the Mughal Empire. In the Old City there is an unfinished fortress - Fort LaBad, dating from 1678, which houses the mausoleum of Bibi Pari (1684). It is also worth paying attention to more than 700 mosques, including the famous Hussein Dalan, located in the old City. Now the old City is a vast area between the two main water transport terminals, Sadarghat and Badam Tole, where the impressions of observing everyday life the rivers are especially charming and interesting. Also in the old part of the city there are traditional large oriental bazaars.

The population of the city is 9,724,976 inhabitants (2006), with suburbs - 12,560 thousand people (2005).

8. Manila

Manila is the capital and main city of the Central Region of the Republic of the Philippines, which occupies the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the west, the islands are washed by the South China Sea, in the north they are adjacent to Taiwan through the Bashi Strait. Located on the island of Luzon (the largest in the archipelago), the metropolis of Manila includes, in addition to Manila itself, four more cities and 13 municipalities. The name of the city comes from two Tagalog (local Filipino) words "may" meaning "to be" and "nilad" - the name of the original settlement located on the banks of the Pasig River and the bay. Before the conquest of Manila by the Spaniards in 1570, Muslim tribes lived on the islands, who were intermediaries in the trade of the Chinese with South Asian merchants. After a fierce struggle, the Spaniards occupied the ruins of Manila, which the natives set on fire to escape the invaders. After 20 years, the Spaniards returned and built defensive structures. In 1595, Manila became the capital of the Archipelago. From that time until the 19th century, Manila was the center of trade between the Philippines and Mexico. With the arrival of Europeans, the Chinese were limited in free trade and repeatedly rebelled against the colonists. In 1898, the Americans invaded the Philippines, and after several years of war, the Spaniards ceded their colony to them. Then the American-Philippine war began, which ended in 1935 with the independence of the islands. During the period of US domination, several enterprises of the light and food industries, oil refineries, and the production of building materials were opened in Manila. During World War II, the Philippines was occupied by the Japanese. The state gained its final independence in 1946. Currently, Manila is the main seaport, financial and industrial center of the country. The plants and factories of the capital produce electrical engineering, chemicals, clothes, foodstuffs, tobacco, etc. The city has several low-priced markets and shopping centers that attract visitors from all over the Republic. AT last years the role of tourism is growing.

In 2009, the population of this city is 12,285,000.

9 Delhi

Delhi is the capital of India, a city of 13 million people that most travelers cannot miss. A city in which all the classic Indian contrasts are fully manifested - grandiose temples and dirty slums, bright holidays of life and quiet death in the gateways. A city in which it is difficult for a simple Russian person to live for more than two weeks, after which he will begin to quietly go crazy - incessant movement, general fuss, noise and din, an abundance of dirt and poverty will be a good test for you. Like any city with a thousand-year history, Delhi has many interesting places worth visiting. Most of them are located in two districts of the city - Old and New Delhi, between which there is the Pahar Ganj area, where most independent travelers (Main Bazaar) stop. Among the most interesting sights of Delhi include Jama Masjid Mosque, Lodhi Garden, Humayun Tomb, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Lakshmi Narayana Temple ), the military fortresses of Lal Qila and Purana Qila.

For 2009, the population of this city is 11,954,217

10. Moscow

The city of Moscow is a huge metropolis, consisting of nine administrative districts, which include one hundred and twenty administrative districts, on the territory of Moscow there are many parks, gardens, forest parks.

The first written mention of Moscow dates back to 1147. But the settlements on the site of the modern city were much earlier, in a time remote from us, according to some historians, by 5 thousand years. However, all this belongs to the realm of legends and conjectures. No matter how everything happens, but in the XIII century Moscow is the center of an independent principality, and by the end of the XV century. it becomes the capital of the emerging unified Russian state. Since then, Moscow has been one of the largest cities in Europe. For centuries, Moscow has been an outstanding center of all-Russian culture, science, and art.

The largest city in Russia and Europe in terms of population (population as of July 1, 2009 - 10.527 million people), the center of the Moscow urban agglomeration. It is also one of the ten largest cities in the world.

Hankow;
Wuchang;
Hanyang.

The area of Wuhan reaches 8494 square kilometers. Over 10 million people live in the city. It is worth noting that the history of this metropolis is more than 3000 years old. When a large port was formed here. There are currently 8 state and 14 public colleges.

The next in the ranking of the largest settlements is the capital Democratic Republic Congo. Even if the country's economy is not going through better times, history remembers many unpleasant episodes, this republic still has treasures - the city of Kinshasa. Its area is 9,965 square kilometers. Once a metropolis located on the Congo River was called Leopoldville. This was the case until 1966. It is currently the second most populous in Africa. It is home to 10.125 million people. It is worth noting that the Congo is included in the list of the most dangerous countries for tourists and takes 8th place in the ranking.

Next in the ranking is Melbourne, the size of which is known to everyone in Australia! And only there. The area of the city reaches almost 10 thousand square kilometers, or to be more precise - 9,990 km². In total, 4.5 million people live here. It is worth adding that this is the southernmost "millionaire" on our Earth in terms of population. It is the cultural capital of the state. In addition, it is considered one of the most developed points in Australia. Indeed, the architecture of the city attracts, however, as well as the number of infrastructure facilities.

The next position in the ranking of the 10 largest cities by area is occupied by the Chinese metropolis of Tianjin. Its size covers 11,760 square kilometers of China. Located in the North, along the Bohai Bay. The number exceeds 15 million people. It is worth noting that many representatives of different peoples, up to the Mongols, are concentrated in this place. In the twentieth century, this place became the largest and strategically important industrial center for the development of both light and heavy industries.

Well, who hasn't heard of Sydney? This amazing city in Australia was famous for having a developed entertainment program. By no means, they can be admired not only because of the excellent conditions for recreation:

Amusement park;
Beaches;
Good infrastructure;
Attractions;
Interesting history and more.

In addition to these advantages, Sydney attracts with its size, because its area is 12,144 square kilometers. At the same time, the population is only 4.8 million people. The settlement received its name in honor of the lord who existed in 1788.

China continues to amaze with its dimensions. This time, the rating of the largest cities in terms of area is supplemented by the city-subprovince of Chengdu. Its territorial coverage is 12,390 square kilometers. This is a "multi-millionaire", in which 14,427,500 people live according to 2016 data. There are even more at present. It is a major trade center for economy, finance and trade. It is also considered a key transportation hub other than Beijing and Chongqing.

Not inferior to the dimensions of China and Australia, replenishing the Top 10 with another large metropolis called Brisbane. The area is 15,826 square kilometers. In total, 2.2 million people live here. Located in the east of the country, namely on the banks of a river called Brisbane. Also affects part of Moreton Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It is worth adding that this metropolis is in the first hundred global cities of our planet. It was founded in 1825.

And again China, but now the capital is Beijing. And the dimensions of the country's most important city, as expected, reach breathtaking figures - 16,801 square kilometers. We are talking about the road junction, the political, cultural heritage and heritage of the nation. Do not forget about history, because this is one of the ancient capitals of China. In 2008, the Olympic Games were held in the capital of China. The current population of the city is 21,705,000.

10

Population: 1 114 806
Founded: 1749
Subject of the federation: Rostov region
National composition:

90.6% Russian
3.4% Armenians
1.5% Ukrainians

R ost-on-Don is the oldest city in Russia, the southern “capital” of Russia. It was founded in 1749 by the decree of Elizabeth Petrovna. The main part of the city is located on the right bank of the Don. The city has many "green" areas - picturesque parks and squares. Huge trees grow in the center of the city, reaching a height of 6-7 floors. Rostov has its own zoo, botanical garden, circus, water park, as well as a dolphinarium. A symbolic border between Europe and Asia passes through the Voroshilovsky Bridge in the center of Rostov-on-Don.

9

Population: 1 171 820
Founded: 1586
Subject of the federation: Samara Region
National composition:

90% Russian
3.6% Tatars
1.1% Mordovians
1.1% Ukrainians

With amara (from 1935 to 1991 - Kuibyshev)- This is a fairly large city located on the left, higher bank of the Volga with its many attractions. The city of Samara is a major industrial center of the Volga region. federal district. It has developed industries such as mechanical engineering (including the aviation and space industries), metalworking, and the food industry.

8

Population: 1 173 854
Founded: 1716
Subject of the federation: Omsk region
National composition:

88.8% Russian
3.4% Kazakhs
2.0% Ukrainians

O Moscow time - one of the largest cities in Siberia and Russia - was founded in 1716. In 2016 the city will celebrate its 300th anniversary. Omsk is considered the economic, educational and cultural center of Western Siberia. A large number of large industrial enterprises are located in the city, medium and small businesses are developing. There are more than 10 theatres, Concert and Organ halls in the city. Every year Omsk hosts various festivals, exhibitions, concerts of Russian and foreign performers.

7

Population: 1 183 387
Founded: 1736
Subject of the federation: Chelyabinsk region
National composition:

86.5% Russian
5.1% Tatars
3.1% Bashkirs

Chelyabinsk is the capital of the Southern Urals. It is located to the east of the Ural Range, on the geological border of the Urals and Siberia. Enterprises of the city of Chelyabinsk - metallurgical and machine-building giants - are known all over the world.

6

Population: 1 205 651
Founded: 1005
Subject of the federation: Republic of Tatarstan
National composition:

48.6% Russian
47.6% Tatars
0.8% Chuvash

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Russia, included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Cities. Kazan is a major industrial and commercial center of Russia. The whole world knows planes and helicopters that are produced in the capital of Tatarstan, chemical and petrochemical products produced by giant Kazan plants.

5

Population: 1 267 760
Founded: 1221
Subject of the federation: Nizhny Novgorod Region
National composition:

93.9% Russian
1.3% Tatars
0.6% Mordva

Nizhny Novgorod is a city in Russia, the administrative center of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the center and largest city of the Volga Federal District. The most developed industries are mechanical engineering and metalworking, food, black and non-ferrous metallurgy, medical, light and woodworking, mechanical engineering and metalworking. The city has preserved many unique monuments of history, architecture and culture, which gave UNESCO grounds to include Nizhny Novgorod in the list of 100 cities of the world of world historical and cultural value.

4

Population: 1 428 042
Founded: 1723
Subject of the federation: Sverdlovsk region
National composition:

89.1% Russian
3.7% Tatars
1.0% Ukrainians

Yekaterinburg is called the capital of the Urals. It is the fourth largest city in Russia. Yekaterinburg became one of the "centers" of Russian rock. The groups "Nautilus Pompilius", "Urfin Juice", "Semantic Hallucinations", "Agatha Christie", "Chayf", "Nastya" were formed here. Julia Chicherina, Olga Arefieva and many others grew up here.

3

Population: 1 567 087
Founded: 1893
Subject of the federation: Novosibirsk region
National composition:

92.8% Russian
0.9% Ukrainians
0.8% Uzbeks

Novosibirsk is the third most populous city in Russia and has the status of an urban district. It is a commercial, cultural, business, industrial, scientific and transport center of federal importance. How locality founded in 1893, and the status of the city of Novosibirsk was given in 1903. Novosibirsk is one of the largest zoos in Russia, famous throughout the world for the conservation of endangered species of animals, some of which remained only in the collections of zoos.

2

Population: 5 191 690
Founded: 1703
Subject of the federation:
National composition:

92.5% Russian
1.5% Ukrainians
0.9% Belarusians

St. Petersburg is the second most populated city in Russia. It has the status of a federal city. The administrative center of the Northwestern Federal District and Leningrad region. Few cities in the world can boast of so many sights, museum collections, opera and drama theatres, estates and palaces, parks and monuments.

1

Population: 12 197 596
Founded: 1147
Subject of the federation:
National composition:

91.6% Russian
1.4% Ukrainians
1.4% Tatars

Moscow is the capital Russian Federation, a city of federal significance, the administrative center of the Central Federal District and the center of the Moscow Region, which is not part of it. Moscow is the largest financial center on a national scale, an international business center and a control center for a large part of the country's economy. For example, about half of the banks registered in Russia are concentrated in Moscow. According to Ernst & Young, Moscow ranks 7th among European cities in terms of investment attractiveness.

There are 251 countries in the most beautiful corners of our planet. About 2.5 million cities, large and small, provincial and developed, tourist and unknown, have been living their full lives for many centuries and even millennia. Each city is unique and interesting in its own way, but today we want to introduce you to the largest cities of our planet.

We will begin our story with the largest cities in terms of area, and, of course, we will mention the megacities with the largest population in the world.

Chongqing (China) CITY AREA: 82,400 KM²

Chongqing is a city in China that covers an area of 82,400 km². It is not only the largest and most populous, but also the most ancient city in China. Life on the territory of Chongqing has been in full swing for about 3 thousand years. Almost 40 million people live in the city, but there are much fewer registered residents. The metropolis combines the historical value of ancient architecture with the latest technologies. This is one of the largest industrial centers in China, there are 5 automobile factories which is why it suffers environment cities and air pollution. If you want to see exactly the ancient city, then you need to hurry, because in a couple of years it may not be there. Old quarters disappear every year, being replaced by new buildings.

Hangzhou (China) CITY AREA: 16,840 KM²

Due to the warm and humid climate, the city all year round just immersed in greenery and flowers. The city of Hangzhou has existed for 2,000 years. It was from this city that the Maritime Silk Road began for many years. Also, for a very long time, Hangzhou was the only seaport in China. Today, this metropolis specializes in light industry. Here you can also buy souvenirs self made. The main attraction of the city is the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family - Chenjiatsy. This amazing monument of Chinese architecture of the nineteenth century. It was built in 1890 during the Qing Dynasty. Walking through the ancient complex of buildings, you can enjoy Chinese art and architecture. Believe me, here you will have something to see. Hangzhou is also home to the Huaisheng Mosque, one of the oldest in China.

Beijing (China) CITY AREA: 16,410KM²

Beijing is the capital of China, which is quite a bit inferior to Hangzhou in terms of the territory it occupies. Beijing is in third place in terms of the number of people living in the city (21.5 million people). It is noteworthy that this city is the largest cultural and technologically developed center of the country. Despite the rapid development of the construction industry, a large number of monuments of ancient architecture have been preserved in Beijing. The most popular among tourists is the Forbidden City - the most famous palace complex in China. It was the Chinese capital that in 2008 had the honor of hosting the Summer Olympic Games. Yes, and for winter Olympic Games the matter was gone. They will be held in Beijing in 2022.

Kinshasa (Congo) CITY AREA: 9,965 KM²

Kinshasa is the capital of the Republic of the Congo. This is one of the African cities, where almost 60% of the city is sparsely populated countryside. Kinshasa is a city of contrasts, here flagrant poverty coexists with the luxury of fashionable areas. Kinshasa is not the safest city for tourists, but if you still decide to visit it, then you will be interested in taking a look at the Notre Dame Catholic Cathedral. FROM Parisian cathedral it certainly cannot be compared, but it is the best that this city has to offer you. This is where the architectural attractions of Kinshasa end, but there are a lot of natural attractions in Kinshasa, these are the Livingston waterfalls, and numerous wildlife parks and the Congo River itself.

Brisbane (Australia) CITY AREA: 5,950 KM²

The picturesque city of Brisbane is the capital of one of the most prosperous states in Australia - Queensland. This city is considered one of the most important cities in Australia. Brisbane has the third most important airport in the country. Brisbane is a very warm and cozy city, summer here lasts almost all year round, and many fragrant parks and golden beaches attract tourists from all over the continent. Nature lovers will certainly be interested in visiting Fraser Park or walking through the evergreen forests of Lamington National Park. Both of these sites are under the protection of UNESCO.

Istanbul (Turkey) CITY AREA: 5,461 KM²

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, located on the banks of the Bosphorus. This luxurious city is located simultaneously on two continents - in Europe and Asia. Istanbul amazes with its wealth and grandeur. Every year up to 10 million tourists come here to see all the beauty with their own eyes. There are so many attractions in Istanbul that it is simply impossible to see them in one day. The undoubted decoration of this city is mosques, the luxury of which will not leave anyone indifferent. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the luxurious Dolmabahce Palace, the Sultan's Topkapi Palace, the Museum of Palace Mosaics and this is not the whole list of what you must see in Istanbul.

Anchorage (USA, Alaska) CITY AREA: 5,099 KM²

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. But he appeared quite by accident. In 1914, the area on which the city stands was chosen for construction. railway, and this determined his fate. Anchorage has one of the busiest airports in the world in terms of cargo traffic - international Airport named after Ted Stevens. because of major earthquake in 1964, there were almost no architectural sights left in the city, but in these places the nature is simply magical and if you go to Kunai Island, you can go fishing and admire the mountain scenery. The city has several museums, a zoo, and the Lake Hood Seaplane, but still, tourists prefer the wilderness of Alaska.

The largest cities in the world are divided into two categories - by area and by population. We introduced you to the first category, and now it's the turn to talk about cities with the largest population.

Shanghai (China) POPULATION: 24,150,000

Shanghai is the largest city in China and the world in terms of population, the number of which is growing every year. As of 2016, about 24,256,800 people live in Shanghai. This fastest growing city in China is the heart of the country's commercial industry and a leader in freight forwarding. Oriental Paris - this is what tourists call Shanghai for its hospitality and comfort, its streets amaze with an abundance of all kinds of shops, cafes and restaurants. Of the many attractions of Shanghai, you should definitely see the Temple of the Jade Buddha, take a walk in the Garden of Joy, visit the Shanghai TV Tower, walk along Nanjing Street and climb Mount Sheshan (She).

Karachi (Pakistan) POPULATION: 23,500,000

Karachi is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. Almost 23 million inhabitants live in this city on 3,527 km². The city is also the main economic center and seaport of Pakistan. One of the main attractions of the city is located in the port of Karachi - a fountain that produces some of the highest jets of water in the world with a height of 189 m. The city has a great variety of both cultural and historical attractions. The National Museum of Pakistan will surprise you with its color and traditions, the old city and the Haradar quarter will be enveloped in its tranquility, and if you want to touch the religion, be sure to visit the Mausoleum of Kuaidi Azam, the tomb of Abdullah Shah Ghazi and the tomb of Chaukondi.

Dhaka (Bangladesh) POPULATION: 16,600,000

Sunny Dhaka is the capital of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and one of the largest Asian cities in terms of population. And how could it be otherwise if this beautiful city accommodates 16.6 million people. This exotic Asian city is the center of water tourism, as it is located on the coast big river called Burigangi. The most famous and popular attraction of the city is Dhakeshwari - a Hindu temple that gathers fans of Hinduism from all over the world.