Which is the largest city in the world by population within city limits?
Quick Answer
Tokyo is generally considered the world’s largest city by population within its metropolitan area, but the largest by city proper is often Shanghai or another city depending on boundaries; by municipal population, Tokyo is not usually the top answer. For city proper, Chongqing is commonly cited among the largest.
The Full Story
“Largest city” can mean different things, so the answer depends on whether you mean city proper, urban area, or metro area. By metropolitan population, the Tokyo metropolitan area is the world’s largest, with roughly 37 million people. By city proper, Chinese municipalities such as Chongqing are often listed among the largest, with tens of millions of residents in a very large administrative area. Because of these boundary differences, population rankings should always specify the definition used.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why the biggest city on Earth depends on the map"