There are many different ways to calculate the population of cities so not everyone is in agreement. The question of determining the world's largest cities does not allow a single, simple answer. Some sources use population of the city within the city limits and some use the number of people in the metropolitan ares. Population statistics can also be influenced by the method of the count or the agenda of those compiling the information.
See the links below for different population lists; note that the Wikipedia site shows seven different sets of numbers with a link to the source at the top of each column for the information in that column.
Here are some of the submissions by Answers contributors:
Tokyo, Japan with between 33 and 34 million people, depending on the source.
The most populated city in the world is Tokyo Japan with over 30million.
Shanghai has a population of over 20 million. Approximately 17 million permanent residents and more than 3 million temporary residents. Beijing is the second most populous city in China.
Wikipedia lists (density by people per sq. km):
1. Shanghai
2. Mumbai
3. Karachi
4. Delhi
5. Instanbul
City Mayors Statistics Lists:
1. Tokyo/Yokohama 33.2 million
2. New York Metro 17.8 million
3. Sao Paula 17.1 million
Nationsonline Lists:
1. Shanghai Municipal 17,780,000
2. Mumbai 13,922,125
3. Beijing 13,200,000
Worldatlas.com Lists:
1. Tokyo 32,450,000
2. Seóul 20,550,000
3. Mexico City 20,450,000
Shanghai with a population of 13,831,900 people
Tokyo, Japan (20,500,000)
The most populous city in the world is Shanghai (with a population of 13,831,900)
This is followed by Mumbai (13,830,884) and Karach (12,991,000).
Tokyo is the most populous city in the world. Mexico city, Mumbai, Dhaka, Karachi are close second.
Mumbai is a city itself, it is also the capital of the Maharashtra state and the most populous city of India, the second most populous in the world.
Tokyo, the capital city of Japan.
Murmansk
Well, it has excellent motorways so you can escape easily. But it is NZ's most populous city. And the World's most populous Polynesian city. And it has the sky tower.
Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway.
Chicargo is the third most populous city in the USA
Yes it is Italy's most populous city.
Nashville is a city in the United States. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Tennessee.
Murmansk
Murmansk
No. Moscow is the fifth most populous city in the world, by city proper. It is, however, the largest city in Europe.
New Orleans is a city, and it is the most populous city in the state of Louisiana.