24/7 Wall St. Insights
- More than half the global population now lives in urban areas.
- Cities with the highest population densities face many unprecedented challenges, especially as climate change intensifies.
- Cities with the highest population densities are all located outside of the United States.
- Also: Discover the next NVIDIA.
Until recently, humans across the globe mainly lived in small, close-knit communities. However, the rapid growth of the world’s population combined with advancing technology has led to a dramatic shift. Today, more people than ever before in history are living in increasingly crowded urban areas. In fact, over half of the world’s population now resides in cities. And as climate change intensifies, densely populated cities are facing unprecedented and increasingly dire challenges.
Summers are always hot in Mumbai, India, but record-high temperatures this year are wreaking havoc on the densely populated city. India’s Health Ministry reported that as of June 18, over 100 people have perished due to record-high temperatures since March, with thousands more suffering from heatstroke. (These are The 25 Worst Cities To Live as Global Warming Gets Worse.)
Summers in India can reach scorching temperatures of more than 113 degrees Fahrenheit. However, this year’s heatwave has shattered records, skyrocketing to more than 123 degrees. A seemingly impossible 127 degrees was recorded in Delhi — the highest temperature ever recorded in the country.
These atypical temperatures are especially dangerous for those who live in the world’s most densely populated cities, where resources like water and electricity are stretched to the limit.
To identify the world’s most densely populated cities, 24/7 reviewed the August 2023 edition of the World Urban Areas report from Demographia, an urban development research group. Rather than using the official city limits, population density was calculated based on their built-up land areas. These “urban areas” are several interconnected neighborhoods that “function as an integrated economic unit, linked together by commuting flows, social and economic interactions.”
Each city was ranked according to the average population per square mile in the given urban area. 986 urban areas were considered, each with at least 500,000 residents.
Why We’re Covering This
While city life offers many benefits, it also comes with challenges, especially in densely populated areas. When lots of people are packed together in the same space, disease can spread more easily and fewer resources are available. Natural phenomena like heatwaves, floods, and earthquakes are also more devastating in densely populated cities, as there isn’t enough room for people to evacuate. In addition, vital resources like food, water, and electricity may fail due to the high demand of so many people in one place.
These 50 cities have the highest population densities in the world:
50. Sheikhupura, Pakistan
- Population density: 41,955 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 923,000 — #577 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 22 square miles (or 57 square km) — #946 largest of 986 urban areas
49. Sargodha, Pakistan
- Population density: 42,040 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,051,000 — #510 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 25 square miles (or 65 square km) — #926 largest of 986 urban areas
48. Kathmandu, Nepal
- Population density: 42,169 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,247,000 — #164 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 77 square miles (or 199 square km) — #596 largest of 986 urban areas
47. Bareilly, UP, India
- Population density: 42,344 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,355,000 — #397 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 32 square miles (or 83 square km) — #896 largest of 986 urban areas
46. Damascus, Syria
- Population density: 43,219 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,155,000 — #173 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 73 square miles (or 189 square km) — #628 largest of 986 urban areas
45. Solapur, MH, India
- Population density: 43,280 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,082,000 — #496 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 25 square miles (or 65 square km) — #926 largest of 986 urban areas
44. Sukkur, Pakistan
- Population density: 43,611 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 785,000 — #666 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 18 square miles (or 47 square km) — #964 largest of 986 urban areas
43. Aligarh, UP, India
- Population density: 43,684 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,660,000 — #320 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 38 square miles (or 98 square km) — #847 largest of 986 urban areas
42. Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Population density: 44,264 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 5,356,000 — #93 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 121 square miles (or 313 square km) — #413 largest of 986 urban areas
41. Kurnool, AP, India
- Population density: 44,400 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 666,000 — #783 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 15 square miles (or 39 square km) — #974 largest of 986 urban areas
40. Sialkot, Pakistan
- Population density: 44,563 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,426,000 — #369 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 32 square miles (or 83 square km) — #896 largest of 986 urban areas
39. Jalgaon, MH, India
- Population density: 46,267 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 694,000 — #748 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 15 square miles (or 39 square km) — #974 largest of 986 urban areas
38. Karachi, Pakistan
- Population density: 46,657 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 20,249,000 — #14 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 434 square miles (or 1,124 square km) — #112 largest of 986 urban areas
37. Dakar, Senegal
- Population density: 46,800 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,510,000 — #150 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 75 square miles (or 194 square km) — #612 largest of 986 urban areas
36. Bogota, Colombia
- Population density: 47,244 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 10,252,000 — #43 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 217 square miles (or 562 square km) — #241 largest of 986 urban areas
35. Douala, Cameroon
- Population density: 48,090 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,751,000 — #144 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 78 square miles (or 202 square km) — #592 largest of 986 urban areas
34. Varanasi, UP, India
- Population density: 48,194 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,229,000 — #167 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 67 square miles (or 174 square km) — #684 largest of 986 urban areas
33. Patna, BR, India
- Population density: 48,275 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,331,000 — #161 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 69 square miles (or 179 square km) — #667 largest of 986 urban areas
32. Kananga, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
- Population density: 48,393 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,355,000 — #397 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 28 square miles (or 73 square km) — #911 largest of 986 urban areas
31. Larkana, Pakistan
- Population density: 49,083 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 589,000 — #869 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 12 square miles (or 31 square km) — #981 largest of 986 urban areas
30. Alexandria, Egypt
- Population density: 49,133 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 5,552,000 — #89 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 113 square miles (or 293 square km) — #442 largest of 986 urban areas
29. Gaya, BR, India
- Population density: 49,538 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 644,000 — #808 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 13 square miles (or 34 square km) — #979 largest of 986 urban areas
28. Tongcheng (Anqing), AN, China
- Population density: 50,364 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 554,000 — #907 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 11 square miles (or 28 square km) — #982 largest of 986 urban areas
27. Port Said, Egypt
- Population density: 51,375 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 822,000 — #646 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 16 square miles (or 41 square km) — #970 largest of 986 urban areas
26. Allahabad, UP, India
- Population density: 51,872 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 2,438,000 — #222 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 47 square miles (or 122 square km) — #788 largest of 986 urban areas
25. Yaounde, Cameroon
- Population density: 52,750 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 4,642,000 — #111 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 88 square miles (or 228 square km) — #532 largest of 986 urban areas
24. Kabul, Afghanistan
- Population density: 53,010 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 5,566,000 — #88 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 105 square miles (or 272 square km) — #469 largest of 986 urban areas
23. Moradabad, UP, India
- Population density: 53,800 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,345,000 — #403 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 25 square miles (or 65 square km) — #926 largest of 986 urban areas
22. Hargeysa, Somalia
- Population density: 56,040 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,401,000 — #383 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 25 square miles (or 65 square km) — #926 largest of 986 urban areas
21. Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Population density: 56,632 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,076,000 — #498 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 19 square miles (or 49 square km) — #960 largest of 986 urban areas
20. Chittagong, Bangladesh
- Population density: 56,811 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 4,204,000 — #129 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 74 square miles (or 192 square km) — #619 largest of 986 urban areas
19. Saharanpur, UP, India
- Population density: 57,600 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,152,000 — #459 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 20 square miles (or 52 square km) — #954 largest of 986 urban areas
18. Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong SAR
- Population density: 57,750 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 6,468,000 — #76 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 112 square miles (or 290 square km) — #446 largest of 986 urban areas
17. Surat, GJ, India
- Population density: 58,416 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 6,601,000 — #73 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 113 square miles (or 293 square km) — #442 largest of 986 urban areas
16. Firozabad, UP, India
- Population density: 59,286 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 830,000 — #638 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 14 square miles (or 36 square km) — #977 largest of 986 urban areas
15. Hyderabad, Pakistan
- Population density: 59,340 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 2,789,000 — #192 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 47 square miles (or 122 square km) — #788 largest of 986 urban areas
14. Herat, Afghanistan
- Population density: 60,250 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,205,000 — #445 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 20 square miles (or 52 square km) — #954 largest of 986 urban areas
13. Macau, China: Macau SAR
- Population density: 61,800 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 618,000 — #838 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 10 square miles (or 26 square km) — #984 largest of 986 urban areas
12. Al-Mansurah, Egypt
- Population density: 62,063 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 993,000 — #543 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 16 square miles (or 41 square km) — #970 largest of 986 urban areas
11. Mumbai, MH, India
- Population density: 62,349 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 25,189,000 — #5 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 404 square miles (or 1,046 square km) — #120 largest of 986 urban areas
10. Muzaffarnagar, UP, India
- Population density: 63,273 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 696,000 — #744 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 11 square miles (or 28 square km) — #982 largest of 986 urban areas
9. Mbuji-Mayi, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
- Population density: 65,906 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,493,000 — #152 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 53 square miles (or 137 square km) — #753 largest of 986 urban areas
8. Asansol, WB, India
- Population density: 66,154 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,720,000 — #311 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 26 square miles (or 67 square km) — #920 largest of 986 urban areas
7. Al-Mahallah, Egypt
- Population density: 67,286 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 942,000 — #570 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 14 square miles (or 36 square km) — #977 largest of 986 urban areas
6. Kinshasa, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
- Population density: 67,465 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 13,493,000 — #30 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 200 square miles (or 518 square km) — #263 largest of 986 urban areas
5. Tshikapa, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
- Population density: 72,000 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 936,000 — #572 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 13 square miles (or 34 square km) — #979 largest of 986 urban areas
4. Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh
- Population density: 75,000 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 600,000 — #859 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 8 square miles (or 21 square km) — #986 largest of 986 urban areas
3. Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Population density: 80,059 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 19,134,000 — #15 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 239 square miles (or 619 square km) — #220 largest of 986 urban areas
2. Tanta, Egypt
- Population density: 81,222 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 731,000 — #707 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 9 square miles (or 23 square km) — #985 largest of 986 urban areas
1. Mogadishu, Somalia
- Population density: 86,102 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 4,219,000 — #127 largest of 986 urban areas
- Built up urban area, 2023: 49 square miles (or 127 square km) — #780 largest of 986 urban areas
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