World's Largest Cities (1975–2050) | From Tokyo to Dhaka, With UN Projections

In 1975 Tokyo was the biggest city on Earth, ten million people ahead of anyone else. Jakarta passed it in 2010 and Dhaka in 2022, and by 2049 the UN expects Dhaka, No. 22 when this race starts, to be No. 1 with 52 million people. A city here is counted the UN's new way: one continuous built-up area, not the city limits. That is why Jakarta and Guangzhou are bigger and Tokyo is smaller than in older lists. Everything after 2025 is the UN's projection, not history. People living in each city's built-up area, in millions · from 2026: UN projection 0:00 1975 0:39 1982: Jakarta passes Osaka: No. 2, still 11 million behind Tokyo 1:17 1988: Dhaka enters the top 15. In 1975 it was No. 22 with 5 million people 2:33 2000: Guangzhou takes No. 3. It doubled in five years and was No. 88 in 1975 3:35 2010: Jakarta passes Tokyo: a new No. 1 after 35 years 3:48 2012: New York and Osaka have left the top 15. In 1975 they were No. 3 and No. 2 4:38 2020: Tokyo peaks at 33.7 million and begins to shrink 4:51 2022: Dhaka passes Tokyo for No. 2 5:16 2026: From here on: the UN's projection 6:13 2035: Shanghai passes Tokyo for No. 3 7:41 2049: Dhaka passes Jakarta: the projected No. 1, with 52 million by 2050 Source: UN DESA, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects 2025 (CC BY 3.0 IGO) 'Discovery' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au 'Into The Unknown' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au #largestcities #population #megacities