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 growing fastest

Population growth, 2015 to 2025, in each city’s dense core. · Estimate

all Africa Asia Middle East Latin America Europe North America
  1. 6 Karachi Pakistan 35%
  2. 10 Dhaka Bangladesh 29%
  3. 11 Lahore Pakistan 28%
  4. 12 Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam 25%
  5. 13 Shanghai China 24%
  6. 14 Bengaluru India 23%
  7. 15 Bangkok Thailand 22%
  8. 20 Delhi India 16%
  9. 21 Jakarta Indonesia 16%
  10. 25 Sydney Australia 13%
  11. 29 Shenzhen China 11%
  12. 30 Beijing China 10%
  13. 31 Mumbai India 10%
  14. 32 Manila Philippines 9%
  15. 37 Kolkata India 6%
  16. 39 Seoul South Korea 5%
  17. 40 Singapore Singapore 5%
  18. 47 Tokyo Japan 1%
  19. 48 Hong Kong China 0%
  20. 50 Chengdu China −9%

Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects 2025 (cities by the Degree of Urbanisation) · 2025 data. The UN counts each city’s dense core (areas above 1,500 people per km²), which can shrink while suburbs grow; for Chengdu and Mexico City, national census figures differ. Hong Kong shows its largest UN city, Tamar. 2025 values are UN estimates.

Measured, never opinion · every number traceable · nobody can buy a rank.

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