which cities are rising, and which are fading
50 cities, six rankings, measured the same way everywhere. No surveys. No paid places.
Where cities are covering the most new land
Growth in built-up area, 2000 to 2025: land covered by buildings, from satellite data. · Estimate
- 4 Dhaka Bangladesh 135%
- 5 Shanghai China 122%
- 6 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam 98%
- 7 Bangkok Thailand 84%
- 9 Bengaluru India 83%
- 12 Beijing China 68%
- 13 Chengdu China 68%
- 14 Lahore Pakistan 64%
- 18 Shenzhen China 59%
- 20 Hong Kong China 53%
- 21 Seoul South Korea 52%
- 24 Delhi India 45%
- 25 Karachi Pakistan 45%
- 26 Jakarta Indonesia 44%
- 27 Singapore Singapore 41%
- 29 Kolkata India 38%
- 31 Manila Philippines 36%
- 35 Mumbai India 29%
- 42 Sydney Australia 20%
- 45 Tokyo Japan 18%
Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects 2025 (cities by the Degree of Urbanisation) · 2025 data. City edges follow the UN’s density rule, so some metros (Hong Kong shows its largest UN city, Tamar; Mumbai excludes satellite towns) are smaller than their usual borders. 2025 values are UN estimates.
Measured, never opinion · every number traceable · nobody can buy a rank.
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