Is London the Biggest City in the World?

By Alice Nichols

London is a bustling city, known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and diverse culture. It’s often referred to as one of the most famous cities in the world and is a popular tourist destination.

But is London really the biggest city in the world Let’s take a closer look.

The Population of London

London has a population of approximately 9 million people, making it one of the largest cities in Europe. The city covers an area of 607 square miles and is divided into 32 boroughs. The population density in London is around 14,670 people per square mile.

Comparing with Other Cities

While London is certainly a large city, it’s not actually the biggest city in the world. Tokyo holds that title with a population of over 37 million people. Other cities that are larger than London include Delhi (28 million), Shanghai (26 million), Beijing (21 million), and Mumbai (21 million).

However, it’s important to note that these numbers can vary depending on how you define a “city.” For example, if you consider metropolitan areas rather than just the city limits themselves, then places like New York City would be much larger than any other city in terms of population.

The Size of London

When it comes to size, London isn’t even close to being the biggest city in the world. In fact, it doesn’t even crack the top 100 largest cities by land area! While its population density may be high due to its large number of inhabitants living within a relatively small space, there are many other cities around the world that cover much more physical ground.

Larger Cities by Land Area

  • Abu Dhabi – 67,340 sq mi
  • Beijing – 16,410 sq mi
  • Cairo – 235,000 sq mi
  • Houston – 8,778 sq mi
  • Moscow – 17,100 sq mi
  • New York City – 8,683 sq mi
  • Sydney – 4,775 sq mi
  • Tokyo – 5,200 sq mi

As you can see from this list, London is significantly smaller in terms of land area than many other major cities around the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while London is a large and important city with a rich history and culture, it’s not actually the biggest city in the world. When it comes to both population and size, there are many other cities that surpass London. However, this doesn’t diminish its significance or importance as a major global city.