Saturday, 1 March 2008

The World's 20 Densest Cities

No. 1
Mumbai, India

Density: 29,650 people per square kilometer

Land area: 484 square kilometers

The largest city in India, Mumbai (formerly Bombay), the capital of the state of Maharashtra, has a population of 14,350,000. It is the financial and entertainment center (Bollywood) of India and home to many multinational companies. A coastal city, Mumbai has large facilities for passenger and freight traffic.



No. 2
Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta)

Density: 23,900 people per square kilometer

Land area: 531 square kilometers

Kolkata, once India's ruling center under the British Raj, is India's fourth-largest city with a population of 12.7 million. It's now undergoing an economic resurgence that includes financial and information technology businesses. But an outdated transportation system makes for heavy congestion in the city center.



No. 3
Karachi, Pakistan

Density: 18,900 people per square kilometer

Land area: 518 square kilometers

The largest city in Pakistan, Karachi (population 9.8 million) acts as the nation's major seaport. It is the economic center (finance, business services, publishing, education and tourism) and cultural hub of the country.



No. 4
Lagos, Nigeria

Density: 18,150 people per square kilometer

Land area: 738 square kilometers

With 13.4 million people, Lagos is the second-largest city in Africa after Cairo. It is Nigeria's financial center and manufacturing hub, churning out autos, machinery, textiles, processed food and electronic equipment. But city congestion remains a problem.



No. 5
Shenzhen, China

Density: 17,150 people per square kilometer

Land area: 466 square kilometers

Home to 8 million people, the city of Shenzhen is China's second-busiest port after Shanghai. Just a short commute from Hong Kong, it's a large manufacturing center and one of China's primary economic forces.



No. 6
Seoul/Incheon, South Korea

Density: 16,700 people per square kilometer

Land area: 1,049 square kilometers

South Korea's capital and largest city, Seoul checks in with a population of 17.5 million, more than twice that of New York City. It's also far more compact in size, with 3 million registered vehicles spawning enormous traffic congestion.


No. 7
Taipei, Taiwan

Density: 15,200 people per square kilometer

Land area: 376 square kilometers

Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan, with a population of 5.7 million. The city is the center of Taiwan's large and growing technology industry, including the design and manufacture of world class components and products.




No. 8 Chennai, India

Density: 14,350 people per square kilometer

Land area: 414 square kilometers

The city is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, with a population of just under 6 million, which make it the fourth-largest in India. A port city and important manufacturing center, Chennai thrives on automobile production and information technology.



No. 9
Bogata, Columbia


Density: 13,500 people per square kilometer

Land area: 518 square kilometers

Bogotá is the capital of Columbia, driven by a population of 7 million strong. It's the country's center of business, banking, insurance and governmental facilities, plus a major area for manufacturing and telecommunications. Its modern transportation system helps alleviate downtown congestion.




No. 10
Shanghai, China


Density: 13,400 people per square kilometer

Land area: 746 square kilometers

A population of 10 million makes Shanghai the largest city in China. It's also the country's economic powerhouse, with financial, industrial, transportation and communication industries all growing. The city boasts the largest container port in the world.



No. 11
Lima, Peru


Density: 11,750 people per square kilometer

Land area: 596 square kilometers

Peru's capital and largest city with a population of 7 million, Lima sits on a South American coast that abuts the major seaport of Callao. Shanty towns and lots of poverty keep transportation in the dark ages and congestion high.




No. 12
Beijing, China


Density: 11,500 people per square kilometer

Land area: 748 square kilometers

Beijing, a city 8.6 million and the nation's capital, is the political, cultural and educational center of China. An increasingly modern transportation system of roads and rail has kept pace with the city's burgeoning economic growth, though it still suffers from big traffic jams and pollution.




No. 13
Delhi, India


Density: 11,050 people per square kilometer

Land area: 1,295 square kilometers

Another national capitol, Delhi's 14.3 million people make it India's second-largest city. Major industries include banking, telecommunications and IT, along with a growing manufacturing capability. Like most of India, Delhi's transportation infrastructure has yet to match its growth.



No. 14
Kinsaha, Congo


Density: 10,650 people per square kilometer

Land area: 469 square kilometers

A river-based city with a population of 5 million, Kinshasa is the governmental and educational center of the Congo, all well as its capital. An antiquated transportation system limits travel opportunity to the rest of the nation.




No. 15
Manila, Philippines


Density: 10,550 people per square kilometer

Land area: 1,399 square kilometers

Manila, the capital and second-largest city in the Philippines, is known as the world's leader in traffic congestion. Its 14.7 million people move around slowly.



No. 16 Tehran, Iran

Density: 10,550 people per square kilometer

Land area: 686 square kilometers

Tehran is Iran's largest city, with just over 7.2 million people. The city dominates the nation's manufacturing sector (electronics, weaponry, chemical and textiles) and acts as the hub of the nation's railroads and highways.




No. 17 Jakarta, Indonesia

Density: 10,500 people per square kilometer

Land area: 1,360 square kilometers

Jakarta is the leading political and economic center of Indonesia. With a population of 14.2 million and growing, the nation's transportation infrastructure has had trouble keeping up. The city has one of the world's worst for traffic congestion problems.



No. 18
Tianjin, China


Density: 10,500 people per square kilometer

Land area: 453 square kilometers

Tianjin is a major Chinese port city, with a population of 4.8 million. As a growing center for manufacturing, petroleum production and salt production, the city is now undergoing major development of its transportation network.




No. 19
Bangalore, India


Density: 10,100 people per square kilometer

Land area: 534 square kilometers

Bangalore is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Its population of 5.4 million makes it India's third-largest city. A growing IT industry has people calling Bangalore the Silicon Valley of India. But for all its growing prosperity, the city still faces large traffic congestion and pollution problems.



No. 20
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam


Density: 9,450 people per square kilometer

Land area: 518 square kilometers

The former Saigon is Vietnam's largest city with a population of 4.9 million. Recent years have brought growth in high technology, electronics and light industry. The road and rail systems, still in poor condition, have been hard pressed to keep up.




No comments: