Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
With over 37 million residents, Greater Tokyo is the most populous metro area in the world today.
Advertisement
Urban growth is not unique to Japan. By 2030, the United Nations predicts that the world will have 43 megacities, defined as metro areas with more than 10 million people. Most of them will be in developing regions in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
The UN recently released its annual World Urbanization Prospects, which estimates which metro areas will have the highest populations by 2030.
Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More
Leading up to World Population Day on Tuesday, let's take a look at the top 13:
Note: The NY metro area includes New York City, Long Island, and the Mid and Lower Hudson Valley in New York state; Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, and Edison in New Jersey; and Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, and Danbury in Connecticut.
Note: Mexico City's metro area includes 76 municipalities.
7. Greater Beijing, China — 24.3 million
Population in 2015: 19.6 million
Note: Greater Beijing includes the Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Hebei Province.
6. Greater Mumbai, India — 24.6 million
Population in 2015: 20 million
Note: Greater Mumbai consists of nine local governing bodies and 15 smaller municipal councils.
5. Greater Cairo, Egypt — 25.6 million
Population in 2015: 20.1 million
Note: Greater Cairo includes the city of Cairo, as well as the surrounding districts of Giza and Qalyubia.
4. Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh — 28.1 million
Population in 2015: 19.6 million
Note: Greater Dhaka includes four districts and 11 smaller sub-units of districts.
3. Shanghai, China — 32.9 million
Population in 2015: 25.6 million
2. Greater Tokyo, Japan — 36.6 million
Population in 2015: 37.5 million
Note: Greater Tokyo includes 23 smaller districts. The metro area is the only one in the top 13 that the UN predicts will see a decrease in population by 2030.
1. Greater Delhi, India — 39 million
Population in 2015: 28.5 million
Note: Greater Delhi includes satellite cities including Faridabad, Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, Noida, and Ghaziabad.