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
- 19 Santiago Chile 55%
- 28 Bogotá Colombia 38%
- 32 Lima Peru 32%
- 37 Buenos Aires Argentina 25%
- 40 Rio de Janeiro Brazil 23%
- 41 Mexico City Mexico 20%
- 43 São Paulo Brazil 20%
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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