Karachi Expected to Join World’s Top 5
Karachi is rapidly advancing towards becoming one of the world’s largest urban centres, according to the UN’s World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 report the data shows that between 2025 and 2030, the city is projected to enter the list of the world’s 10 largest cities as its population expands at one of the fastest rates globally. Urban analysts highlight that Karachi’s position is strengthening due to continuous migration and significant economic activity.
The UN report further predicts that Karachi could rise to fifth place globally by 2050 with a projected population of nearly 33 million this rapid growth would place the city ahead of major international hubs such as Cairo, Tokyo, Guangzhou, Manila, and Kolkata experts say this shift reflects broader demographic changes across Asia, where megacities continue to expand at an unprecedented pace.
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| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Projected Rank by 2050 | 5th largest city worldwide |
| Estimated Population (2050) | Around 33 million |
| Current Density | 25,000 people per sq. km |
| Megacities in 2025 | 33 globally, 19 in Asia |
| World’s Biggest City (2050) | Dhaka (projected) |
| Tokyo’s Future Rank | Expected to fall to 7th place |
| Urban Population Growth (2000-2025) | Increase of 1.25 billion people |
Global Urbanisation Trends Highlight Karachi’s Rising Rank
The number of megacities worldwide has expanded dramatically, from just eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with Asia alone hosting 19 of them the UN expects this number to rise to 37 by 2050 as global urbanisation accelerates. Karachi, already one of the world’s densest cities with 25,000 people per square kilometre, is set to play a major role in shaping future demographic patterns.
Tokyo, once the world’s largest city, is projected to fall from third place in 2025 to seventh place in 2050 due to declining population trends meanwhile Dhaka is expected to become the world’s biggest city by the mid-century the UN report notes that global urban populations have increased sharply, with India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the United States accounting for more than 500 million additional urban residents between 2000 and 2025.
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Key Highlights from the UN Report
- Karachi could reach 5th place globally by 2050, nearing a population of 33 million.
- Asia hosts 19 megacities out of 33 listed in 2025.
- Karachi remains one of the densest cities, with 25,000 people per square km.
- Tokyo expected to fall to 7th place by 2050 due to population decline.
- Dhaka projected to become the world’s largest city by mid-century.
Additional Global Urbanisation Facts
- Only 20% of the world population lived in cities in 1950; by 2025, that number reaches 45%.
- From 2000 to 2025, cities grew by 1.25 billion people worldwide.
- Global rural population expected to peak in the 2040s, then gradually decline.
- India and China will continue hosting the largest urban populations through 2050.
- More than 3,000 cities saw population decline between 2015 and 2025.
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