Can you guess the 20 biggest cities in the world?

Think you know the largest cities across the globe? Test your knowledge with these hints, and see if you can guess the cities before revealing the answer! We'll start with number 20 and work our way down to the largest city in the world. There are many different estimates and ways to calculate population size, but this list is according to 2023 statistics by Demographia.

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This capital doesn't have a White House; it has a Pink House.

The capital of Argentina has an estimated population of around 16 million people and is the second-largest city south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

This city is sometimes refered to as China’s Silicon Valley.

Shenzhen, with a population of around 17.8 million, is known for its modern skyline, booming tech industry, and being one of China's most important financial centers. It’s also famous for its innovation and vibrant arts scene.

This capital has a famous square named after a primary color.

Photo: Sergey Tarasov/Unsplash

Moscow, with a population of approximately 17.8 million, is Russia's capital and known for landmarks such as the Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basil's Cathedral. It's a major political, economic, and cultural center in Russia.

This is the capital of the most populous country in the world.

Beijing, with a population of around 18.8 million, is the capital of China and known for its rich history, including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and as another hub of China's burgeoning tech industry.

This city’s name means "city of angels.”

Bangkok, home to about 18.8 million people, is Thailand's capital. It’s famous for its vibrant street life, grand palaces like the Grand Palace, Buddhist temples, and bustling floating markets.

This city in Southeast Asia is one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Dhaka, with a population of about 19 million, is the capital of Bangladesh. It’s known for its vibrant culture, historical sites, and the Buriganga River.

This capital city is known for its Mughal architecture.

Karachi, with around 20.2 million residents, is Pakistan’s largest city. It’s known for its diverse culture, bustling markets, and landmarks such as the Quaid's Mausoleum.

Photo: Hassan Anwer/Unsplash

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This city gets its nickname from a large fruit.

New York City, with a metropolitan population of around 21 million, is known for its iconic skyline, Times Square, Broadway theaters, and Central Park. It is a major cultural, financial, and media hub, nicknamed the “Big Apple.”

The largest Portuguese-speaking city in the world

São Paulo has a population of approximately 21.4 million. It’s the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere, known for its cultural institutions, including the São Paulo Museum of Art, and its significant financial district.

This was where Mother Theresa founded her charitable organization.

Kolkata, with around 21.7 million residents, is known for its colonial architecture, art galleries, cultural festivals like Durga Puja, and as the former capital of British India.

This city is known for its Aztec heritage.

Photo: Oscar Reygo/Unsplash

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, has a population of approximately 21.9 million. It’s known for its Templo Mayor, a 13th-century Aztec temple, the baroque Catedral Metropolitana and the Palacio Nacional.

This city is the largest in the Arab world.

Cairo, housing about 22.6 million people, is Egypt's sprawling capital, known for its proximity to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. It's also home to the ancient Al-Azhar University and the Cairo Opera House.

This Asian city hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988.

Photo: Daniel Bernard/Unsplash

Seoul, with a population of about 23.2 million, is the capital of South Korea. It’s known for its K-pop and high-tech industries as well as historical sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace, and vibrant shopping districts like Myeongdong.

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This Asian city is home to one of the richest collections of art deco architecture in the world.

Shanghai, home to about 24 million people, is a global financial hub. It's famous for its Lujiazui skyline, the Bund, and historic shikumen houses.

This city was once the capital city of the Spanish East Indies.

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With a population of about 24.2 million, Manila is a bustling metropolis known for its historic sites such as Intramuros, vibrant street life, and the beautiful Manila Bay waterfront, which features spectacular sunsets.

This city is home to the world’s largest film industry by output.

Mumbai, with a population of around 25.1 million, is the heart of Bollywood. It's known for its colonial architecture, stark contrasts and being the financial capital of India. It has more billionaires than any other city in Asia, according to the Economic Times.

For a long time, this was the only Chinese port accessible to most foreign traders.

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Guangzhou, home to about 27.1 million people, is a major port city and the capital of Guangdong province. It’s known for its thriving trade, Cantonese cuisine, and the Canton Tower. It is also located near one of the other biggest cities on this list — Shenzhen. Along with that and other urban centers, it forms the largest urban agglomeration on Earth with around 70 million residents.

Photo: choi wingkin/ Unsplash

This city has the largest spice market in Asia.

Delhi, with a population of approximately 31.2 million, is India's capital territory and known for its historical landmarks such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and India Gate. It’s also a major hub for politics, culture, commerce and amazing food!

Photo: Matthew Tenbruggencate/Unsplash

This sinking capital city won’t stay that way for long.

With a population of approximately 35.3 million, Jakarta is currently the capital of Indonesia but the government is moving the capital from Jakarta to Borneo by 20245 since Jakarta is sinking into the Java Sea. Still, it’s a huge, bustling metropolis, famous for Dutch colonial buildings, and being a major economic hub in Southeast Asia.

This city is famous for its orderly pedestrian crossings.

Tokyo, with a population of about 37.7 million, is usually considered the largest city in the world. It’s renowned for its skyscrapers, shopping districts like Shibuya, historic temples such as Senso-ji, and being a major economic and cultural center.

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