The 10 fastest growing cities in the world – none are in Europe

Cities around the world are experiencing a rapid growth in population, as more and more people move to them to enhance their life opportunities.

Some 55 percent of the world’s population lives in urban areas, with that number expected to rise to 68 percent by 2050.

One of the main reasons for this growth is that cities tend to offer better economic opportunities.

They also are normally better equipped with services and resources for their residents.

According to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects, the ten fastest-growing cities based on the number of new people per hour are:

1. Dehli, India

Delhi, incorporating the Indian capital of New Delhi, sits in the north of India and has a metropolitan population of approximately 30 million people (2020 figures).

According to the World Population Review, by 2035 the population will have reached 36.1 million.

2. Shanghai, China

The population of Shanghai’s municipality stood at 24.9 million people in 2020, making it the biggest city in China and one of the largest in the world.

By 2035 the municipality’s population will have grown to almost 35 million, according to the World Population Review.

3. Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh, itself the eighth most populous country in the world, and one of the most densely populated.

The number of people living in Dhaka stood at 20 million in 2020. The population is predicted to rise to 31.2 million by 2035.

4. Kinshasa, DRC

The capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kinshasa stands on the Congo River just opposite the capital of the Republic of the Congo, Brazzaville.

It has a population of about 15 million (as of 2020), and its population is expected to grow to 27 million by 2035.

5. Chongqing, China

Chongqing in inland China has a population in 2021 of approximately 16.5 million people. According to the World Population Review, by 2035 this number will have risen to 20.5 million.

The city has been an important centre of China’s military activity, and thus has a reputation for being an R&D centre of excellence.

6. Lahore, Pakistan

Lahore sits in the east of Pakistan, close to the border with India, and in 2021 had an estimated population of just over 13 million.

By 2035, the World Population Review expects this number to grow to more than 19 million. Lahore is a Unesco City of Literature and also houses many of Pakistan’s leading universities.

7. Bangalore, India

Bangalore had a population of just under 13 million in 2021 which could reach more than 18 million by 2035.

It is now frequently referred to as “the Silicon Valley of India” given its excellence in a wide array of tech specialities.

8. Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos may no longer be Nigeria’s capital city (it was replaced by Abuja in 1991), but it is the country’s largest urban area, and the second largest in the whole of Africa.

In 2021, its population stood at almost 15 million, but by 2035 it will have close to 25 million inhabitants. Lagos hosts one of the biggest ports in Africa and it is also a major financial centre on the continent.

9. Cairo, Egypt

The largest city in North Africa, Cairo has a rich history and is one of Egypt’s many tourism hubs.

In 2021, its population was more than 21 million, and this figure is set to grow to 28.5 million by 2035.

10. Beijing, China

Beijing is the capital city of China and hosts many of the country’s administrative departments. It had a population of almost 21 million in 2021, and the World Population Review states that this figure will rise to more than 25 million by 2035.

Beijing hosts the headquarters of most of China’s large state-owned companies and is the city that contains the most Fortune 500 companies in the world