There are currently around 8.1 billion people throughout the world, according to the most recent United Nations estimates. Of course, not all areas have the same population as others, and what may seem like a crowded town to you may be a sparsely inhabited one to someone else. In the past few decades, the world population has doubled and the population density in many cities is rapidly increasing as more people move to urban areas.
While there can be many positives from a high population density, such as economic growth and cost efficiency, there can also be many drawbacks to these heavily populated areas. Some of the major pitfalls are increased levels of pollution, lack of clean water, social problems, and pressure on the natural environment. Although there is not a definitive amount of cities across the globe, as regions frequently evolve and new locations arise, it is estimated that there are more than 10,000 cities worldwide.
24/7 Wall St. identified the most densely populated cities in the world by using data from the August 2023 edition of the World Urban Areas report from Demographia, an urban development research group. Only 986 metro areas with 500,000 residents or more were considered. Cities listed are ranked based on the average number of people per square mile living in a given urban area.
Built-up land areas, or urban agglomerations, are areas that “function as an integrated economic unit, linked together by commuting flows, social and economic interactions.” To reach population density, Demographia did not use the official boundaries of cities or jurisdictions, but rather their built-up land areas.
Using this definition as a guideline, the New York City urban area includes the New York City metropolitan area as well as areas in Connecticut (Bridgeport, Danbury, New Haven, Waterbury), East Hampton, Riverhead, and Trenton, New Jersey. As a result, while Manhattan alone has a population density of 70,826 people per square mile, the urban area has a population density of 4,477 people per square mile. Therefore, no U.S. cities made the list. (Also see: The 25 Worst Cities To Live as Global Warming Gets Worse.)
With the exception of South American city, all of the most densely populated cities in the world are located in Africa and Asia — mostly Asia. Sixteen cities are located in India, eight in Pakistan, four in Bangladesh, and three in China. In addition, five cities in Egypt are on the list as well as four in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mogadishu, Somalia has the distinction of being the most densely populated city in the world. Home to 4.2 million residents who live on 49 square miles, this city has a population density of 86,102 people per square mile.
35. Douala, Cameroon
Source: Emiliano Gandolfi , CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 48,090 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,751,000 — #144 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 78 square miles (or 202 square km) — #592 largest of 986 urban areas
34. Varanasi, UP, India
Source: © Vyacheslav Argenberg / http://www.vascoplanet.com/, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 48,194 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,229,000 — #167 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 67 square miles (or 174 square km) — #684 largest of 986 urban areas
33. Patna, BR, India
Source: Shivamsetu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 48,275 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,331,000 — #161 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 69 square miles (or 179 square km) — #667 largest of 986 urban areas
32. Kananga, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
Source: Nick Hobgood from Cap-Haitien, Haiti, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 48,393 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,355,000 — #397 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 28 square miles (or 73 square km) — #911 largest of 986 urban areas
31. Larkana, Pakistan
Source: Indusian1236, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 49,083 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 589,000 — #869 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 12 square miles (or 31 square km) — #981 largest of 986 urban areas
30. Alexandria, Egypt
Source: zbruch / Getty Images
- Population density: 49,133 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 5,552,000 — #89 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 113 square miles (or 293 square km) — #442 largest of 986 urban areas
29. Gaya, BR, India 
Source: Ianasaman, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Ianasaman, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 49,538 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 644,000 — #808 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 13 square miles (or 34 square km) — #979 largest of 986 urban areas
28. Tongcheng (Anqing), AN, China
Source: chuyuss / Shutterstock.com
- Population density: 50,364 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 554,000 — #907 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 11 square miles (or 28 square km) — #982 largest of 986 urban areas
27. Port Said, Egypt 
Source: Mohamed kamal 1984, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Mohamed kamal 1984, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 51,375 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 822,000 — #646 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 16 square miles (or 41 square km) — #970 largest of 986 urban areas
26. Allahabad, UP, India
Source: harshvardhanroy / iStock via Getty Images
- Population density: 51,872 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 2,438,000 — #222 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 47 square miles (or 122 square km) — #788 largest of 986 urban areas
25. Yaounde, Cameroon
Source: HomoCosmicos / iStock via Getty Images
- Population density: 52,750 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 4,642,000 — #111 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 88 square miles (or 228 square km) — #532 largest of 986 urban areas
24. Kabul, Afghanistan
Source: sasacvetkovic33 / Getty Images
- Population density: 53,010 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 5,566,000 — #88 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 105 square miles (or 272 square km) — #469 largest of 986 urban areas
23. Moradabad, UP, India
Source: J ansari, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 53,800 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,345,000 — #403 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 25 square miles (or 65 square km) — #926 largest of 986 urban areas
22. Hargeysa, Somalia
Source: Anoop Santhakumar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 56,040 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,401,000 — #383 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 25 square miles (or 65 square km) — #926 largest of 986 urban areas
21. Sylhet, Bangladesh
Source: ShikharBhattarai / iStock via Getty Images
- Population density: 56,632 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,076,000 — #498 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 19 square miles (or 49 square km) — #960 largest of 986 urban areas
20. Chittagong, Bangladesh 
Source: Bikrampur, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Bikrampur, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 56,811 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 4,204,000 — #129 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 74 square miles (or 192 square km) — #619 largest of 986 urban areas
19. Saharanpur, UP, India
Source: Denis Vostrikov / iStock via Getty Images
- Population density: 57,600 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,152,000 — #459 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 20 square miles (or 52 square km) — #954 largest of 986 urban areas
18. Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong SAR
Source: blieusong / Flickr
- Population density: 57,750 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 6,468,000 — #76 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 112 square miles (or 290 square km) — #446 largest of 986 urban areas
17. Surat, GJ, India
Source: mikspix / iStock via Getty Images
- Population density: 58,416 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 6,601,000 — #73 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 113 square miles (or 293 square km) — #442 largest of 986 urban areas
16. Firozabad, UP, India
- Population density: 59,286 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 830,000 — #638 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 14 square miles (or 36 square km) — #977 largest of 986 urban areas
15. Hyderabad, Pakistan
Source: By Waheed.chandio - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51560390 / Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 59,340 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 2,789,000 — #192 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 47 square miles (or 122 square km) — #788 largest of 986 urban areas
14. Herat, Afghanistan
Source: Jim Kelly, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 60,250 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,205,000 — #445 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 20 square miles (or 52 square km) — #954 largest of 986 urban areas
13. Macau, China: Macau SAR
Source: Devasahayam Chandra Dhas / Getty Images
- Population density: 61,800 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 618,000 — #838 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 10 square miles (or 26 square km) — #984 largest of 986 urban areas
12. Al-Mansurah, Egypt
Source: By Phevos87 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7599553 / Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 62,063 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 993,000 — #543 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 16 square miles (or 41 square km) — #970 largest of 986 urban areas
11. Mumbai, MH, India
Source: V952010, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 62,349 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 25,189,000 — #5 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 404 square miles (or 1,046 square km) — #120 largest of 986 urban areas
10. Muzaffarnagar, UP, India
Source: By Superfast1111 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33278443
- Population density: 63,273 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 696,000 — #744 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 11 square miles (or 28 square km) — #982 largest of 986 urban areas
9. Mbuji-Mayi, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
Source: BlueSalo, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 65,906 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 3,493,000 — #152 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 53 square miles (or 137 square km) — #753 largest of 986 urban areas
8. Asansol, WB, India
Source: Pinakpani, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 66,154 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 1,720,000 — #311 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 26 square miles (or 67 square km) — #920 largest of 986 urban areas
7. Al-Mahallah, Egypt
Source: By Faris knight - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34986720 / Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 67,286 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 942,000 — #570 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 14 square miles (or 36 square km) — #977 largest of 986 urban areas
6. Kinshasa, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
Source: mtcurado / Getty Images
- Population density: 67,465 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 13,493,000 — #30 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 200 square miles (or 518 square km) — #263 largest of 986 urban areas
5. Tshikapa, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
Source: Johnstanbul, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 72,000 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 936,000 — #572 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 13 square miles (or 34 square km) — #979 largest of 986 urban areas
4. Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh
Source: Maaz Hussain (VOA), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 75,000 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 600,000 — #859 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 8 square miles (or 21 square km) — #986 largest of 986 urban areas
3. Dhaka, Bangladesh
Source: Allison Joyce / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Population density: 80,059 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 19,134,000 — #15 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 239 square miles (or 619 square km) — #220 largest of 986 urban areas
2. Tanta, Egypt
Source: By Faris knight - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15362941 / Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 81,222 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 731,000 — #707 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 9 square miles (or 23 square km) — #985 largest of 986 urban areas
1. Mogadishu, Somalia
Source: TSGT PERRY HEIMER, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Population density: 86,102 people per square mile
- Estimated population, 2023: 4,219,000 — #127 largest of 986 urban areas
- Urban agglomeration, 2023: 49 square miles (or 127 square km) — #780 largest of 986 urban areas
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