The largest city on earth in terms of territory. The largest cities in the world – top by area and population

Do you know which one is the best? big city in the world?

Let those who don’t know try to guess, and those who know - I’ll give you a separate answer option - “I won’t guess, I know!” Let’s start...

What is the largest city in the WORLD?

9 (5.0 % )

2 (1.1 % )

28 (15.5 % )

7 (3.9 % )

25 (13.8 % )

Buenos Aires

6 (3.3 % )

2 (1.1 % )

10 (5.5 % )

81 (44.8 % )

I won't guess, I KNOW!

11 (6.1 % )

Now let's find out the history of the largest city in the world...

Tokyo is the city that everyone who comes to Japan wants to see first in any case. A huge metropolis, with a population of 12 million people, it is one of the youngest of all major Japanese cities.

The word "Tokyo" translated from Japanese means "Eastern Capital". The city bearing this name is the capital of Japan and is an agglomeration located in the Kanto region, in the east of the main Japanese island of Honshu. It consists of 23 districts on the territory of the former independent administrative unit - Tokyo city. In 1943, the city of Tokyo was abolished as an administrative unit. Now these districts along with cities and municipalities western region Tama and the southern islands of Izu and Ogasawara form Tokyo Prefecture.

Archaeological excavations indicate that the place where the capital of Japan is now located was inhabited by ancient tribes back in the Stone Age. The early inhabitants of the Jomon period (10,000 BC) were fishermen, hunters, and farmers. This valley of abundance has now been swallowed up by a huge city on the shores of Tokyo Bay.

By 300, Japan was already more or less a single nation. The main life was concentrated in the Kansai region, where the cities of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka are currently located. The eastern region of Kanto remained a distant, quiet backwater, forgotten by gods and people. It was not until the 12th century that a small Edo village was built on this site. The people who lived in these places were mainly engaged in fishing and actually lived on subsistence farming.

In 1457, on the site where the Eastern Garden of the Imperial Palace is now located, Ota Dokan began building a castle on the site of an old fort near the small Hibiya Bay. Ten years later, the devastating Onin War raged on the streets of the capital city of Kyoto. Many aristocrats left the capital and took refuge in the far eastern domains of Dokan. Even then, all the prerequisites were created for the transformation of the poor Edo village into a city, but Ota Dokan was killed, and his contribution to the development of the region was wasted.

But Tokyo in the 50s

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In 1543, Portuguese missionaries and traders first set foot on Japanese soil. By that time, the feudal lords (daimyo) had turned the country into a patchwork of independent provinces. One of the most powerful daimyos, Oda Nobunaga from Chubu Province, where the city of Nagoya is now located, quickly realized that the Portuguese could serve his ambitious plans in the struggle for power. The new religion - Christianity could be used in the fight against the power of Buddhist monks, in addition, Nobunaga found wide application firearms, which the Portuguese brought with them. Oda was killed in 1581, but by that time he had managed to unite most of central Japan under his influence.

Nobunaga's work was continued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but he did not look so favorably on the spread of Christianity, organizing the persecution of its representatives.

The power of Toyotomi tried to challenge Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the son of a dayyo who served the Oda clan, however, after an unsuccessful attempt, he concluded a truce with Toyotomi, for which he received eight provinces in the eastern region, including the entire Kanto region with the town of Edo. Toyotomi tried to weaken Tokugawa's influence in this way by excommunicating him from his native lands of Chubu Province, but Tokugawa took this gift as an opportunity to strengthen his power and decided to turn Edo into a real city.

After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1598, power passed to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori. Tokugawa, having overthrown the heir and his followers in the legendary Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, seized real power. In 1603, the emperor awarded him the title of shogun (military ruler). The Tokugawa chose Edo as his capital, beginning the two-hundred-and-fifty-year reign of the Tokugawa clan known in Japanese history as the "Edo period" (1603-1868).

Under the Tokugawa shoguns, Edo developed at an unprecedented pace. Completed in 1637, Edo-jo Castle became the largest castle in the world during Ieyasu's lifetime. The Tokugawa seized power in the country for a long time. However, they wanted to be completely sure that not a single daimyo (as the rich feudal princes of that time were called) in a remote province could gain a foothold and become rich enough to usurp power. After all, this is what Tokugawa Ieyasu himself did in his time. The sankin kotai system was established, according to which each daimyo was required to live in Edo for a certain number of months a year “in front of” the shogun. Further, more. When the feudal lord left for his province to put his personal affairs in order, he was obliged to leave his family in the capital, practically as hostages.

In the 17th century there were 270 daimyo in Japan, each maintaining several houses in Edo for family members and retinues, the opulent houses complemented by elaborate and extraordinarily expensive landscape gardens. Naturally, spending a huge amount of time and money traveling back and forth, maintaining luxurious residences both in the province and in Edo, it was difficult for the daimyo to plan anything against the shogun.

To satisfy the needs of this entire crowd of princes, samurai, and their servants, led by the shogun, traders and artisans from all over Japan rushed to the new capital. To settle them all, hills were torn down and swampy areas were filled with this earth, forming what is now called Ginza, Shimbashi and Nihombashi. By 1787, the population had risen to 1.3 million, and Edo had become one of the largest cities on Earth.

The shogunal government considered the spread of “free” ideas coming from the West, and primarily Christianity, dangerous. In addition, international trade was capable of uncontrollably enriching some daimyo. In 1633, the Tokugawa shogunate adopted a policy of complete isolation, slamming the country's doors to outside world for more than 200 years. Foreigners were prohibited from entering the country, and Japanese were prohibited from leaving it. The one who violated this decree was waiting death penalty. The only exception was a colony of tightly controlled Chinese traders in Nagasaki, and a handful of Dutch who were given a small trading post on a tiny island in Nagasaki.

The Edo period (1603-1867) was characterized by political stability, the country was completely controlled by the shogunate. Japanese society was divided into four classes: samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants. The manner of dressing, the neighborhoods to live in, and even turns of speech were strictly regulated, and moving from class to class was prohibited.

METRO scheme

The city was divided into two parts: the Upper City (Yamanote) and the Lower City (Shitamachi). Yamanote, which means “hand of the mountains,” was home to the wealthy daimyo and their samurai, while the lower strata of society, which included merchants and artisans, inhabited the “lower city” of Shitamachi. Residents of Shitamachi and neighboring neighborhoods lived in dirty, squalid, closely packed plywood buildings with dirt floors.

Since Edo was largely made of wood, it goes without saying that the fires that local residents with bitter irony called Edo-no-hana (Edo flowers), were a constant threat. In fact, it would be difficult to find a person who did not lose his home several times during his life. During the period 1603-1867, almost 100 major fires swept through the city, not counting countless local fires. One of the most tragic fires occurred in 1657 after three months of heat without a single rain. Swept by a strong wind, the flames consumed wooden buildings with thatched roofs one after another. The fire raged for three days and destroyed three quarters of the city. More than 100,000 people died then.

Despite their unenviable social position, the prosperity of the merchants grew steadily. They were forbidden to show off their wealth or to partake in the joys of life available only to samurai. In particular, they did not have the right to use the services of geishas. However, the money had to be spent somewhere. New types of luxury goods and new entertainment began to appear. Kabuki theater very quickly gained extraordinary popularity, and new look paintings on wooden tablets, Ukiyo-e engravings, expensive porcelain tableware, silk brocade for luxurious kimonos, lacquerware - all this was raised to the level of sublime art.

One of distinctive features At that time there were entertainment districts where samurai could find wine and women prohibited in Yamanote. The most legendary area was the Yoshiwara area, northeast of the current Asakusa area. Here the rich spent time with beautiful courtesans. During the Edo period, prostitution was legalized and, like everything else in feudal Japan, strictly controlled by the Tokugawa shogunate. Red light districts sprang up in various areas of Edo, but none could compete with Yoshiwara. Opened in 1657 in the middle of rice fields, far outside the city gates, Yoshiwara was a real "pleasure factory": about 3,000 courtesans worked here. They say that they were so skillful that men stayed with them for several days and, having lost their heads, often left entire fortunes here.

Many of these women, such as the famous courtesan named Tayu, were beautiful in their luxurious robes, weighing about 20 kg, including a huge obi (belt) tied in the front. Of course, not all of them voluntarily embarked on this path in the hope of getting rich: many were sold to brothels in early age. To prevent these unfortunates from escaping, the area was surrounded by a moat of water, and entry or exit was possible only through a guarded gate. Courtesans were only allowed to leave the area once a year during the autumn festival. These "prisoners" were released only in 1900. The Yoshiwara district itself ceased to exist in 1957, when prostitution was banned in the country.

Another feature of Edo that has left its mark on today's Tokyo was the division of the large city into "machi" districts based on professional affiliation. Even today it is possible to stumble upon small enclaves that have a certain specialization. The most famous of these are Jimbocho, the bookstore district; Kappabashi, which sells kitchen utensils, and Akihabara, which now sells electronics and manga comics, and was previously a small retail and freight hub.

By the middle of the 19th century, it became clear that the feudal system had outlived its usefulness. Economic power by that time was concentrated in the hands of traders, and money gradually entered into circulation more and more, along with rice. Many samurai clans went bankrupt and were dissatisfied with the policies of the shogunate.

To transform Edo from medieval city a world-class capital needed an outside push. This push came in 1854 with the American "black squadron" under the command of Matthew Perry. This military expedition arrived in Edo-wan (Tokyo Bay) on behalf of the President of the United States to demand the opening of Japan to international trade after centuries of isolation. Other Western countries soon followed the Americans. Forces dissatisfied with the regime of the Tokugawa dynasty took advantage of Western influence. In 1868, the 15th shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty was forced to abdicate power in favor of Emperor Mutsuhito (Meiji). The new Meiji government moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo Castle, renaming the city Tokyo (Eastern Capital).

This event was called the Meiji Restoration, since power again passed from the military to the emperor, and the country again received a single capital. Emperor Mutsuhito completely changed state policy, welcoming the export of ideas and technology from the West.

The Meiji Restoration was not a peaceful transfer of power. In Edo, some 2,000 Tokugawa loyalists attempted to resist the Imperial Guard forces at the brief Battle of Ueno. The battle took place in the vicinity of the picturesque Kanei-ji Temple, which, along with Zojo-ji, was one of the two family temples of the Tokugawa clan.

The word Meiji means "enlightenment", and the new rulers of Japan set a course for industrialization and militarization of society. In a relatively short time, known as the Meiji period (1868-1911), the country quickly moved from a feudal society of samurai and peasants to an industrial state. Samurai lost their power and privileges and were no longer allowed to carry swords. A government cabinet headed by a prime minister was created, a new constitution was drawn up (1889) and a parliament (Diet) was elected. The first ones were built railways(1872). At the invitation of the government, more than 10,000 specialists from England, the USA, Germany, and France came to Tokyo to transform the country into a modern society.

A modernization boom has begun in Tokyo. Everything changed: fashion, architecture, food, shops. For a while, everything Japanese was completely forgotten and pushed aside.

In record time, Japan won its first military victories over China (1894-95) and Russia (1904-05) and embarked on the path Western empires with the annexation of Taiwan (1895), Korea (1910) and Micronesia (1914).

Taking the path of nationalism, Japan turned Shinto into a chauvinistic state religion. Buddhism was persecuted by the state at that time, and many priceless artifacts and temples were destroyed.

During the Meiji period and the subsequent Taisho period, the changes that took place throughout the country were most noticeable in new capital. The rapid industrialization of Tokyo, united around the emerging huge industrial and trading conglomerate (zaibatsu), attracted job seekers from all over Japan, leading to rapid population growth. Electricity arrived in Tokyo in the 1880s. Formerly dirty neighborhoods were transformed into fashionable areas, such as Ginza, where the construction of brick buildings, new to the country, was carried out. In 1904, Mitsukoshi, the first Western-style Japanese department store, appeared, and the department store building in the Nihonbashi area (1914) was called the most grandiose building east of the Suez Canal.

However, although the Meiji Restoration sounded the death knell for the former Edo, two more events lay ahead that would erase the remaining traces of the old city. In the first half of the 20th century, Tokyo was almost completely destroyed twice: in 1923, the city was hit by a powerful earthquake (about 8 on the Richter scale), known as the Great Kanto Earthquake. Even more terrible than the tremors themselves was the fire that followed the earthquake, which lasted 40 hours and devastated the city, destroying about 300,000 houses. The disaster left behind 142,000 victims. Grim reminders of this event can be seen at the Kanto Earthquake Memorial Museum.

The city's reconstruction began almost immediately, following the wisdom that any business that did not resume operations within three days of the collapse had no future.

The second time a terrible disaster befell Tokyo was at the end of World War II: Allied bombs wiped out half the city, killing another 100,000 people.

Since the beginning of the reign of Emperor Hirohito (Showa Tenno) in 1926, Japanese society has been characterized by a rising tide of nationalist fervor. In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, and in 1937 embarked on the path of open confrontation with China. In 1940, a tripartite agreement was signed with Germany and Italy and formulated new order Asian region: Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. The project was based on the desire to create "a bloc of Asian peoples, led by Japan, and free from Western powers." On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, thereby declaring war on the United States, their principal enemy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Despite initial successes, the war had disastrous consequences for Japan. On April 18, 1942, the first bombs fell on Tokyo. On the night of March 9-10, 1944, the city was subjected to an unprecedented raid, during which 2/5 of the capital was destroyed, almost the entire area of the “lower city” Shitamachi” was turned into ruins. About 80,000 people died that night. Later, the Sensoji Buddhist Temple in Asakusa and the Meji Jingu Shinto Shrine were bombed. On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito made a historic statement to the Japanese people about Japan's surrender. By this time, Tokyo was practically destroyed.

In 1943, the city of Tokyo was abolished as an administrative unit. During World War II, on November 24, 1944, the United States began bombing Tokyo. On February 25 and March 10, 1945, American bombers carried out heavy bombing attacks on the city. Entire areas of the city with traditional wooden architecture were destroyed and burned, killing over 100 thousand people. The historic imperial palace was also destroyed.

From September 1945 to April 1952, the city was occupied by American troops. Opposite the imperial palace was the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur, who, as commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, led the occupation authorities. Tokyo then entered a period of rapid recovery and economic growth, which became especially intense after the outbreak of the Korean War.

The restoration of the Japanese capital from the ashes of World War II was like a miracle. True, Tokyo residents, again, as after the Great Kanto Earthquake, did not take advantage of the opportunity for a global reconstruction of the city to make the avenues and streets wider and more elegant, as happened, for example, in Nagoya, but built new houses on the site of old buildings.

During the occupation by American troops in the first post-war years, Tokyo resembled a huge cheap nightclub. Today's respectable areas such as Yurakucho were filled with so-called pan-pan girls (prostitutes), and the areas of Ikebukuro and Ueno became black market areas. A reminder of this can still be found at the Ameyoko Arcade in Ueno, where something like a cheap bazaar is still located.

Tokyo was recovering at an unprecedented pace, especially in the central regions. Tokyo residents were especially proud of hosting the 1964 Summer Olympics. During the preparation period, the city was engulfed in unprecedented construction. Many Japanese view this time as a turning point in the nation's history, with Japan fully recovering from the devastation of World War II to become a full member of the modern world economy.

Construction and modernization continued at a breakneck pace throughout the 70s, peaking towards the end of the 1980s, with rising property prices. The cost of land in Tokyo by that time exceeded the cost of the entire United States, and Japanese companies, enriched by real estate speculation, began to buy up many of the world's famous entertainment brands, including the famous golf course Pebble Beach Golf Course, Rockefeller Center, Columbia Pictures. By the early 1990s, the bubble burst and the Japanese economy experienced a long recession for more than 15 years.

The main problem of Tokyo and all of Japan is the decreasing birth rate and high population concentration. According to a published report in 2011, the birth rate has fallen again, falling to its lowest level since the Second World War, and in the capital it is even lower than the national average. The difference between mortality and birth rates exceeded 200,000 people. , at the same time, the percentage of the population of retirement age is steadily growing, which increases the burden of the social insurance and pension system. According to Japan's Ministry of National Affairs, in 2011, pensioners for the first time made up 23.3% of the country's total population. There are 21 million Japanese people over 70 years of age, and 8.66 million people over 80 years of age.

Despite the existing difficulties, Tokyo continues to develop dynamically. New subway lines and new mega-complexes like Tokyo Midtown are popping up. Modern Tokyo is a huge metropolis made of glass, concrete and steel, like all major cities in the world, looking like a huge anthill. A person who comes here for the first time unwittingly gets lost in this stone labyrinth. And yet, Tokyo can be unusually cozy if you turn away from the avenues crowded with cars and find yourself in one of the many gardens or parks, sandwiched between houses pressed closely together.

They say Tokyo has no face. Or maybe that’s part of its appeal: it can be different, changing at every step. History and modernity, traditions and Western innovations live here side by side, not interfering, but on the contrary, complementing each other and making this city unusually interesting and unique.

WITH modern history Tokyo city one thing is connected tragic event: On March 20, 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo sect carried out a terrorist attack using sarin gas in the Tokyo subway. In this case, 13 people were killed and over 6,200 people were injured.

According to the list of the most expensive cities to live as of 2009, which was published by the American financial and economic magazine Forbes, Tokyo is the most expensive city peace.

Cities are usually measured by two parameters: number of inhabitants and area. The largest number of people live in the capital of Japan, Tokyo - 34 million. In second place is Mexico City (Mexico). And in third is New York (USA). But this rating was compiled taking into account people who live in the suburbs and satellite cities. If you do not count them, then the picture changes. In this case, the South Korean city of Seoul becomes the largest city (10 million 231 thousand people), followed by Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Bombay (India). As for the territory occupied by the city, London is the leader here. Its area is 1580 square meters. In second place is Mexico City. Its area is 1547 square kilometers. This represents 0.5% of the area of all of Mexico. And in third is Los Angeles (1206 square kilometers). The largest city in Russia is Moscow. Its area is 931 square kilometers and its population is 10 million people.

Tokyo is the largest city in the world, the capital of Japan, the only giant city in the world, containing over 40% of the country's population. The population continues to grow. Average density population - 800-1000 people. per 1 sq. km. According to the World Urbanization Prospects Revision (2007), this largest metropolis, as the most densely populated agglomerate, will continue to remain Number One.

Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture, which consists of 23 administrative districts, 26 cities, 7 towns and 8 villages, as well as the islands of Ogasawara and Izu, is located on the Kanto Plain on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshu.

Of course, the title of the largest city is very precarious - it depends on how you count it. There are many different ratings and options on the Internet. But I stopped for example at this

Studying cities should be called an interesting activity. Each of them has its own story. Besides, they are all so different: resort areas, industrial giants, provincial small towns, and so on. However, among them there are also the largest cities on the planet.

Beijing is considered the largest city by area. He is also one of the most significant settlements China. The giant metropolis has a total area of 16,801 square kilometers. About 22 million people live in the city. Despite this, Beijing harmoniously combines modernity and antiquity. For three thousand years it was the residence of Chinese rulers. And today you can see ancient monuments in the city center that have been carefully preserved. The most interesting place can be called the former residence of the emperors of China - the Forbidden City.

Another Chinese metropolis is in our top. Its area is 7434.4 square kilometers. So he is rightfully in second place. The political, industrial and cultural center of the southern regions of China is very popular. Approximately 21 million people live here. Guangzhou is ready to boast of a thousand-year history. In Europe, a little earlier, the city was known as Canton. This is where it started naval part The Great Silk Road. Since ancient times, the city has provided refuge to all those who opposed state power.

The well-known city occupies third position in the list of the most big cities. Its area is 6340 square kilometers. About 24 million people live in Shanghai. Shanghai is considered to be one of the most unusual cities in China. In other words, it reflects a modern country - forward-looking, energetic and fast-growing. Shanghai is still one of the largest shopping centers in the world.

The fourth level of the ranking was given to the world's largest metropolis, Brasilia. The city's territory covers 5802 square kilometers. But as for the status of the capital of the Republic of Brazil, the city received it relatively recently - in 1960. The construction of the metropolis was planned with such a plan in order to attract the population to sparsely populated areas, and then develop them. Therefore, Brasilia is located far from the main political and economic centers of the country.

The center of industry and trade, as well as the main port of Turkey, is Istanbul. Its area is 5343 square kilometers. That's why he is in 5th place in the ranking. Istanbul is located in a picturesque place - on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait. It should be called a unique city, which at one time was the capital of 4 great empires and was located simultaneously in Europe and Asia. In the city, tourists will see a bunch of wonderful ancient monuments: the majestic Blue Mosque, the thousand-year-old St. Sophia Cathedral, the luxurious Dolmabahce Palace. The metropolis will amaze you with an abundance of different museums.

Unfortunately, the capital of Russia ranks only 6th in the ranking of the largest cities. It is considered the second largest city in Europe after Istanbul. The area of Moscow is 4662 square kilometers. It is not only a financial and political center, but also a cultural one. Many tourists come here every year.

The port city in Pakistan has an area of 3530 square kilometers. It is also the first capital of the country and the main financial, industrial and commercial center. Karachi was a small fishing village in the early 18th century. And when it was captured by British troops, the village quickly became a major port city. From that moment on, he returned and played an increasingly important role in the country's economy. Due to the influx of expatriates nowadays, overcrowding in Karachi has become the biggest problem.

Tokyo, not surprisingly, is in 8th place in the ranking. Its territory is 2189 square kilometers. The capital of Japan has always been the most important cultural, political and economic center. Country rising sun I have always been proud of my metropolis. The city is very beautiful. Antiquity and modernity are closely intertwined. Up close with ultra-modern and high-rise buildings, you can see tiny houses on narrow streets. It looks like they came straight out of an engraving. Despite a major earthquake in 1923 and damage from World War II, Tokyo remains fascinating.

The area of Sydney is 2037 square kilometers. In many rankings the city occupies a leading position as the largest metropolis. And all due to the fact that the Australian Bureau of Statistics includes the nearest national parks and the Blue Mountains.

The leading financial, economic and political center closes our ranking. London's area is 1,580 square kilometers. Tourists love this place very much, especially Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and other attractions.

Video: Top 10 Largest cities in the world by area

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Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is in 20th place in terms of population.

Buenos Aires is in 19th place; 14.3 million people live in the capital of Argentina.

18th: Kolkata is the largest city in India with a population of 15.7 million.

17th place: Cairo - the capital of Egypt - the number of inhabitants is 17.3 million.

Beijing has a population of 16.4 million, placing the Chinese capital in 15th place in the ranking.

Los Angeles is the 13th most populous city with 17 million residents.

The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is the 12th largest city in the world with 20.7 million inhabitants.

The Indian city of Bombay, home to 20.8 million people, ranks 11th in the ranking.

9th place: Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, home to 21.1 million people.

7th place: Indian Delhi - 23 million inhabitants.

The Mexican capital, Mexico City, ranks 6th in terms of population with 23.2 million inhabitants.

The 5th most populous city in the world is Shanghai. This largest Chinese city is home to 25.3 million inhabitants.

In 2nd place: Guangzhou is the largest Chinese city, home to 25.8 million people.

The largest city in the world by population is Tokyo. The capital of Japan is home to 34.5 million people. Tokyo is the undisputed leader in our ranking and will remain so for a long time.

The rankings of the very best are compiled according to many criteria: beauty, height of buildings, population, history of founding, etc. However, we decided to compare all the major cities in the world by size and title the list: “The largest cities in the world by area.” Of course, agglomerations and districts will not be taken into account here.

First place: Sydney

First on our list, oddly enough, is Sydney, which covers an area of 12,144 square kilometers. It is the largest city in Australia, although it is home to a relatively small number of people - only 4.5 million. The city was founded in 1788 as the first European settlement on the mainland, and was named after Lord Sydney, who at that time served as Colonial Secretary. Residential areas occupy a relatively small area here - 1.7 square meters. km, and the rest of the space is parks, nature reserves, gardens and the Blue Mountains. The city is famous for its swan-shaped opera house, Harbor Bridge and beaches.

Second place: Kinshasa

The next largest city in the world by area is Kinshasa, with 10,550 square kilometers. It is the capital of the African Democratic Republic of the Congo, located on the river of the same name. Almost twice as many people live here as in Sydney - 9,464 thousand, only 40% of the city’s territory. In addition, Kinshasa ranks second among all African cities in terms of population and is the silver medalist in the list of French-speaking cities in terms of population. According to statisticians, there is a possibility that Kinshasa will become the most populous city on the planet by 2075.

Third place: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is also in the top three, with 4,000 square kilometers in reserve. The list of the largest cities in the world by area could not ignore this beautiful and ancient settlement of Europeans in South America. The name of the capital has been preserved since the seventeenth century, and before that, from 1536, it was called the City of the Holy Trinity and the Port of our Lady Holy Mother of the Good Winds. But it was too long for both locals and visitors, so it was shortened to a modern version. Another curiosity is the double foundation of the city. The first time was in 1536, but five years later the Indians burned it to the ground. In 1580, the Spaniards rebuilt it again, annexing it to their empire. It was only in 1776, when the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata was formed, that it became the new capital.

Fourth place: Karachi

One more former capital takes an honorable fourth place - this is Karachi. It measures 3,530 square kilometers and served as the capital of Pakistan until 1958. But the population here is noticeably higher than that of previous nominees - 18 million people. The city is the main industrial, cultural and financial center of the country, and also occupies a leading position in the provision of higher education in South Asia and throughout the Islamic world. Now the capital has been moved to Rawalpindi, but life continues to bustle in this huge city, which remains the constantly beating heart for hundreds of thousands of people living in it.

Fifth place: Alexandria

Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great during the period of his conquests and which became a cultural and religious center for millions of people who lived in antiquity, took fifth position. The list of the 10 largest cities in the world by area could not fail to include this pearl of Egypt, given that its size is 2,680 square kilometers. It stretches along the Mediterranean coast from the north and is washed by the green waters of the Nile from the south and east. Truly a majestic spectacle. Now it is a major tourist center, annually welcoming pilgrims eager to touch history and look at the world through the eyes of ancient people.

Sixth place: Ankara

Ankara, with an area of 2,500 square kilometers, confidently ranks sixth. The capital of Turkey has a population of 4.9 million people and is one of the oldest Asian cities. It has been known since the seventh century BC, as it was located at the crossroads of important economic routes between the West and the East. The city became the capital only in 1919, when the government and residence of the Sultan settled there.

Seventh place: Istanbul

And here is the second (it would be more correct to say, the first) large city in Turkey - Istanbul, occupying 2106 square kilometers. The top largest cities in the world by area simply could not do without it. It is located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait and has one of the most ancient histories. It was first known as Constantinople, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Here wars began and ended, issues of redrawing the political map of the world were resolved, new religion, in the end. At one time, a long time ago, there was not a single event that did not affect this place in one way or another.

Eighth place: Tehran

The largest cities in the world by area are gradually filling our Top 10. There are only three places left, and Tehran, the capital of Iran, a major financial and political center, is in eighth place. Its area is 1881 square kilometers, and it includes both plains and mountainous areas, and from the south the edge of the city approaches the Cairo desert. This place is stretched along a mountain range, which explains its large area, and the difficult living conditions next to different climatic zones determine the dense population of the capital.

Ninth place: Bogota

In honorable, penultimate place is Bogota, occupying 1,590 square kilometers. It is located more than two thousand meters above sea level, and if you look at the map, the red line of the equator passes just above this place. Despite this, the air temperature here does not rise above 15 degrees Celsius, and frequent earthquakes remind residents of how high they climbed in search of best place for settlement.

Tenth place: London

The list with the title “The largest cities in the world by area” is completed by London, the capital of Great Britain. Its size is 1580 square kilometers. It is the largest city in Foggy Albion and on the entire European continent, with a population of more than 8 million people. It is located on the zero meridian, and it is from it that time is counted throughout the planet.

Fun fact, but if you add up the space occupied by these cities, you get about 1 percent of the total land surface on our planet. The world's largest cities by area are important cultural, political and financial centers around the world, making their role even more important in the history of the world.

With the development of industrialization, more and more people are moving from rural areas to cities. This is a natural process called urbanization. The territory of cities and the number of inhabitants is growing steadily. In which city is the most large numbers population? What is the largest city in the world by area? Read the answers in our ranking of the top 10 big cities.

The largest cities in the world by population

To determine largest cities of the world by the number of inhabitants inhabiting them, in April 2018, scientists conducted the study “Demographia. World Urban Areas 14th Annual Edition”. In their measurements, scientists took into account only urban agglomerations with continuous development. fused agglomerations were considered as one object. So where do the largest numbers of residents live? You will find the answer in the following list.

Agglomeration - a compact cluster of settlements with a clear central city.

10 largest cities in the world by population:

Tokyo - Yokohama. The largest city on earth by population. The population is 38,050 thousand people. This agglomeration is formed by the two largest cities of Japan fused together. Tokyo is the capital of the state, and Yokohama is the largest port in the country.
Jakarta. The population is 32,275 thousand people. The capital of Indonesia is growing with new residents at a very fast pace.
Delhi. The Indian metropolis has 27,280 thousand inhabitants. The city is the second largest in India and is home to the country's capital, New Delhi.
Manila. The Philippine capital is home to 24,650 thousand people, most of whom live below the poverty line.
Seoul - Incheon. The agglomeration of the capital of Korea and surrounding cities is also overpopulated - 24,210 thousand inhabitants.
Shanghai. The leader among Chinese settlements in terms of population growth - 24,115 thousand as of April 2018. It is the largest seaport in the world and the most important financial and cultural center of China.
Mumbai. The number of residents is growing rapidly due to a standard of living above the Indian average - 23,265,000. The economic capital of India, 40% of all foreign trade occurs in this locality.
. The US financial center also attracts a huge number of people - 21,575,000.
Beijing. The capital of China is home to 21,250 thousand people. Since 2015, population growth has slowed down, and by 2018 it stopped.
Sao Paulo. The most populous metropolis in Southern Hemisphere- 21,100 thousand inhabitants. The city is an important financial center of Brazil, accounting for 12% of the country's GDP.

And our capital Moscow still ranks 15th in this ranking with 16,855 thousand people, but this number is growing very quickly. But among countries by the number of million-plus cities Russian Federation holds a respectable fourth place. China, India and Brazil are ahead of us in this indicator.

The largest city in the world by area

There is also a system for measuring the area of settlements, including the entire territory. This method does not take into account the continuity and density of buildings. In this option, the territory is calculated taking into account water and mountain areas. What is the largest city in the world by area? Find the answer to this question in the list below.

List of largest cities by area:

Chongqing (China) - 82403 km². It is believed that the largest city in terms of area in the world is the Chinese city of Chongqing. The territory it occupies is huge. But this is measurement data together with suburbs and villages; there is no continuous development in this territory and the population density is only 373 people/km². And its urbanized area is only 1473 km². That is why it cannot fully be called the largest city in the world. The population of this administrative unit is 30,751,600 people.
Hangzhou (China) - 16847 km². Second among all cities in the world in terms of territory. Hangzhou is located on the east coast of China. It is inhabited by 8.7 million inhabitants.
Beijing (China) - 16411 sq. km. Located in the east of the country, the most dynamically developing center of China - GDP growth from 2005 to 2013. amounted to 65%. That is why it is home to a huge number of migrant workers - over 10 million illegal immigrants.
Brisbane (Australia) - 15826 sq. km. Located on the east coast of Australia. Brisbane is very cosmopolitan, with 21% of its population made up of foreigners.
Asmara (Eritrea) - 15061 sq. km. Despite the vast territory of the African capital, the population is only 649,000, because most of it is occupied by low-rise buildings.

The largest cities in the world by area

To the list of the largest urban agglomerations and conurbations included both beautiful cities with a rich history and many attractions, as well as the greatest industrial centers.

Conurbation - an urban agglomeration without a clear dominant center.

Largest urban agglomerations by area:

. The largest agglomeration on the planet in terms of area, it occupies 11,875 square kilometers. The financial capital of America and the state of the same name.
Boston - Providence, USA. With all suburbs - 9189 sq. km.
Tokyo - Yokohama, Japan (Tokyo-capital). The agglomeration of the largest cities in Japan is located over a large area - 8547 km².
Atlanta. This American city with its agglomeration is located on 7296 square kilometers. It is the capital and largest city of the state of Georgia.
Chicago. Together with the suburbs it occupies 6856 km². It is the second most important financial center in the United States.
Los Angeles. American city with nearby territories is located on 6299 sq. km. Capital of the state of California.
Moscow, Russia. The Moscow agglomeration with all its suburbs of continuous development occupies 5,698 square kilometers.
Dallas - Fort Worth. Represents conurbation of many small cities, is located on 5175 square kilometers.
Philadelphia. 5131 sq. km.
Houston, USA. 4841 square kilometers.
Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China. Quite a long city - 4144 sq. km.
Shanghai, China. 4015 sq. km.
Nagoya, Japan. 3885 sq. km.
Guangzhou - Foshan, China. 3820 sq. km
Washington, USA. The capital of America covers an area of 3,424 square kilometers.

Largest cities by population density

Every year urban overpopulation problem is becoming more and more acute. Over the past 20 years in the largest cities Southeast Asia Population growth averages more than two percent per year. Which city surpasses all others in terms of population density? We have compiled information on this subject in the following list.

Top 10 largest cities by population density:

Manila, capital of the Philippines. It is the most densely populated city in the world - 43,079 people/km², and in one of the districts this figure reaches 68,266 people/km². Moreover, more than 60% of the population lives in urban slums.
Calcutta, India. The population density is 27,462 per square kilometer. Over the past 10 years, the number of residents has decreased by 2%. A third of them live in urban slums.
Chennai, India. Density - 24,418 people per square kilometer. A quarter of all residents live in slums.
Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. 23,234 people per square kilometer. The annual population growth is 4.2%, which is one of the highest rates in the world.
Mumbai, India. 20694 The standard of living here is slightly higher than in other cities of the country. Therefore, population growth is predictable.
Seoul, capital South Korea. This city is also densely populated - 16,626 people/km². The capital of Korea is home to 19.5% of the country's total population.
Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. 14,469 people/km² Back in the 80s, the density was 8,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, and by 2018 it had almost doubled.
Lagos, Nigeria. 13,128 people per km².
Tehran, capital of Iran. 10456 inhabitants per 1 square kilometer.
Taipei, capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan). 9951 people per km².