Exact comparisons are impossible because of the varying definitions of what constitutes the "city" population, as opposed to the urban or metropolitan region as a whole. Official census data is taken at different intervals as well.
The most populous city in the world by central municipal area is Shanghai, China with 13 million residents and about 22 million in the metropolitan area. (Tokyo, Japan, has a dual municipal structure with 23 autonomous wards within the city.)
Tokyo, Japan, has the largest metropolitan population with over 37 million people, followed by Jakarta, Indonesiahaving 22 million, approximately the same as Seoul, South Korea and Mumbai, India.
The highest population density is in Cairo, Egypt, with a density even higher than the major cities of India, at more than 31,000 people per square kilometer.
The top 10 cities from one source :
A separate list (at the related link) indicates these estimated figures :
1. Tokyo, Japan - 32,450,000
2. Seóul, South Korea - 20,550,000
3. Mexico City, Mexico - 20,450,000
4. New York City, USA - 19,750,000
5. Mumbai, India - 19,200,000
6. Jakarta, Indonesia - 18,900,000
7. Sáo Paulo, Brazil - 18,850,000
8. Delhi, India - 18,680,000
9. Õsaka/Kobe, Japan - 17,350,000
10. Shanghai, China - 16,650,000
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