Asia Cities by Population 2026

Asia Cities Overview

The most densely populated continent in the world, Asia boasts numerous cities with populations in excess of ten million. Not surprisingly, China features heavily among the megacities, with Shanghai and its 24.7M residents leading the list, followed by Beijing (21.6M), Tianjin (12.4M), Guangzhou (18.5M), and Shenzhen (20.6M). Mumbai and Delhi in India also rank among Asia’s largest cities, with populations of 21.8M and 23.4M respectively.

Among the cities with populations of more than five million, China is once again prominent – its population density is highlighted by the fact that many of these cities are not particularly well-known despite having populations larger than many countries! Examples include Wuhan with 11.7M residents, Dongguan with 11.5M, and Chongqing with 10.9M. Other significant metropolitan areas include Istanbul (15.8M), Karachi (21.2M), and Moscow (13.4M).

However, even the behemoths of China and India have many mid-sized cities that would be considered large by global standards. Bengaluru has 15.6M residents, while Chennai has 13.1M. Other notable Asian cities include Bangkok (5.2M) and Ho Chi Minh City (10.5M). This diverse range of urban centers, from megacities to regional hubs, reflects Asia’s position as the world’s most populous and rapidly urbanizing continent.