The 10 biggest cities of the year 2100

tokyo japan
Shoppers pass through a market in front of Sensoji temple on December 29, 2010 in Tokyo, the largest city in the world today. Kim Kyung-Hoon/REUTERS

By the dawn of the 22nd century, the world will likely have over 11 billion people.  

Advertisement

This explosive growth is going to be lopsided, though. 

In most developed countries, the birth rates are stagnant or declining. 

And in developing countries, birth rates are skyrocketing. 

The United Nations projects that half of the population growth for the entire world from now until 2050 will occur in only nine countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, United Republic of Tanzania, the United States, Indonesia, and Uganda. 

Advertisement

And by 2100, the world's biggest cities will be concentrated in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Based on population growth models, the Global Cities Institute at the University of Toronto projects these will be the 10 biggest cities in 2100. 

Advertisement

10. Kabul, Afghanistan: 50.3 million people

kabul Afghanistan
A man walks on a hilltop overlooking the sprawling city of Kabul on January 31, 2016. Ahmad Masood/REUTERS

9. Kolkata, India: 52.4 million people

kolkata india
Activists from West Bengal Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a Muslim group, cheer as they listen to the state's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (unseen) during a rally in Kolkata on November 26, 2015. Rupak De Chowdhuri/REUTERS
Advertisement

8. Dhaka, Bangladesh: 54.3 million people

dhaka  Bangladesh
Devotees crowd the streets after the final day of prayer during "Bishwa Ijtema", the world congregation of Muslims, near Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on January 10, 2016. Ashikur Rahman/REUTERS

7. Niamey, Niger: 56.1 million people

niamey niger
Supporters of incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou cheer at a campaign rally in Niamey on February 18, 2016. Joe Penney/REUTERS
Advertisement

6. Khartoum, Sudan: 56.6 million people

Khartoum, Sudan
Shaq Boshraa, a spiritual healer, reads the Koran during a sermon at a yard in Khartoum on October 30, 2015. Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/REUTERS

5. Delhi, India: 57.3 million people

delhi india crowded trains
People board a passenger train at a railway station in New Delhi on February 25, 2016. Anindito Mukherjee/REUTERS
Advertisement

4. Mumbai, India: 67.2 million people

mumbai india market
People crowd at a market next to railway station in central Mumbai on January 16, 2015. Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS

3. Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: 73.7 million people

tanzania
Supporters of Tanzania Presidential candidate John Pombe Magufuli celebrate after he was declared the winner of the presidential election in Dar es Salaam on October 29, 2015. Emmanuel Herman/REUTERS
Advertisement

2. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: 83.5 million people

kinshasa congo trains
Congolese stand on top of a train as they travel in Kinshasa on November 7, 2006. Goran Tomasevic/REUTERS

1. Lagos, Nigeria: 88.3 million people

lagos eid-al-fitr
Muslims pray during Eid-al-Fitr prayers in an open field, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Lagos on July 17, 2015. Akintunde Akinleye/REUTERS
Cities India
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.