What's the World's Largest City? The Answer Might Surprise You

What Does "Largest City" Actually Mean?

The question "what is the largest city in the world?" sounds straightforward, right? Well, the answer is anything but simple. It all boils down to how we define "largest" – are we talking about population or the sheer land area it covers?

Focusing on population already complicates things. Tokyo, Japan, often gets the nod as the most populous city, with estimates for its metropolitan area reaching around 37.1 million people in 2024. However, that's not the whole story. Other sources present different figures, with Jakarta in Indonesia and Dhaka in Bangladesh appearing at the top of urban agglomeration rankings for 2025, boasting populations exceeding 41 million and 36 million, respectively. This disparity in numbers clearly illustrates that there's no single, universally agreed-upon methodology for defining and measuring a city's population. Here's a look at some of the biggest urban areas:

Size by Area: Unexpected Champions

When "largest city" refers to land area, the results become even more varied and often surprising. New York City is frequently cited as the largest by urban metropolitan boundaries, spanning approximately 8,684 sq km. However, if we consider administrative boundaries, cities like Hulunbuir in China, with an area exceeding 263,000 sq km, dwarf all others. Yet, much of that area is sparsely populated. Similarly, Sermersooq in Greenland, a municipality formed in 2009, covers over 531,900 square kilometers but has a population of just over 23,000. This vast difference in population density highlights a common misconception: that a large geographical footprint automatically equates to a densely populated urban center.

Defining a City: The Chinese Approach and Global Discrepancies

The very definition of a "city" can be a source of contradiction across different sources. For instance, Chinese administrative divisions often encompass vast rural areas within their "city" limits, leading to figures like Chongqing showing an urban population of 23.01 million in 2024, while its total municipality population exceeds 30 million. This contrasts with how Western countries typically define cities, focusing more on continuous urban development. This difference is critical when comparing city sizes globally, as it can lead to drastically different rankings and perceptions of what constitutes the "largest" city.

Urban planning and resource allocation are directly impacted by these definitions. A city defined by administrative borders, like Hulunbuir, might possess immense natural resources within its territory but faces challenges in providing services to a dispersed population. Conversely, a densely populated metropolis like Tokyo, despite its massive numbers, requires highly efficient infrastructure and public transit systems to manage the daily movement of millions. The ongoing debate and varied statistics surrounding the "largest city" reflect the complex and multifaceted nature of urban environments worldwide.