The largest cities in Russia by population. The smallest cities in Russia by population

Most of the population of Russia is concentrated in cities. In total, there are more than 1,100 thousand of them with official status. But only 160 of them have a population of over 100,000. And a tenth of them - 15 of them - millionaires, that is, they are home to more than one, but less than two million people. Two capitals - Moscow and St. Petersburg - belong to multi-million cities, that is, they are home to more than two million people. But not only these, but also other largest cities in Russia deserve special story.

Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia, today and in some other periods of the country's history. It is the largest settlement in the world and one of the largest in the world. Now it is home to about 12 million people, and the total agglomeration, including the suburbs, is even more - 15 million people. Total area - about 250 square kilometers... This means that the population density is 4823 people per square kilometer. It is difficult to say when this city was founded, but the first mentions of it date back to the beginning of the 12th century.

Moscow is a multinational city. Only about 90% of its population, according to official figures, are Russians. About 1.5% are Ukrainians, the same number are Tatars, slightly less Armenians. Half a percent - Belarusians, Azerbaijanis, Georgians. Dozens of other nationalities have smaller diasporas. And although representatives of different nationalities do not always get along peacefully, Moscow has become a real home for millions of people.

St. Petersburg is often called the second capital of Russia, the northern or cultural capital, and so on. He also has many beautiful epithets - northern Palmyra, northern Venice. And although the population of this city is significantly inferior to Moscow (5 million versus 12), as well as age (3 centuries versus 9), in terms of fame and importance for the country, St. Petersburg is in no way inferior to it. It is also inferior in area, population density and many other parameters. But St. Petersburg is one of the "longest cities" - it "embraces" the Gulf of Finland.

It should be noted that St. Petersburg is unique in many ways. Of all the cities that are not the capital, it is the second most populous city. During the years that this city was the capital of the empire, it became the most important for world culture. Hermitage, Russian Museum, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Peterhof, Kunstkamera is only small part its attractions.

The list of the country's largest settlements continues Novosibirsk - the administrative center of the Siberian Federal District, the most populated city in the northern part of the country. It is also a business, trade, industrial, cultural and scientific center not only in Siberia, but throughout Russia.

Novosibirsk is a millionaire, but it is home to significantly fewer people than in the previous two cities - "only" a little more than one and a half million. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that Novosibirsk was founded relatively recently - in 1893. This city is distinguished from others by a rather harsh climate with abrupt transitions. In winter, temperatures can reach 50 degrees, while in summer, sometimes the columns rise to 35 degrees. The total temperature difference throughout the year can reach a record 88 degrees.

Yekaterinburg is considered not only one of the largest cities in the country, but also one of the most comfortable and comfortable for life. It is the center of the Ural Federal District and is often called the capital of the Urals.

Yekaterinburg can be classified as one of the oldest cities in the country. After all, it was founded in 1723 and was named in honor of Empress Catherine the First. V Soviet time was renamed to Sverdlovsk, but in 1991 it returned its name.

This is the case when Veliky Novgorod, older and more titled, is significantly inferior to its younger namesake - Nizhny Novgorod. Residents of Russia often call him simply Lower, for brevity and not to be confused with the Great.

The city was founded in 1221 and during this time has become the administrative center of the Nizhny Novgorod Federal District, a large economic, industrial and cultural center, in which 1,200 thousand people live.

Kazan is the sixth city in the ranking in terms of population, but in many ways it surpasses even larger settlements. No wonder, it is called the third capital of Russia and even officially registered this brand. She also has several unofficial titles, for example, "The capital of all Tatars in the world" or "the capital of Russian federalism."

This city with more than millennial history was founded in 1005 and recently celebrated such a major anniversary. It is interesting that the population decline, which affected almost all cities, even many millionaires, did not affect Kazan, and it continues to increase its population. Also notable is National composition- almost equally between Russians and Tatars, about 48% each, as well as a few Chuvashes, Ukrainians and Mari.

Many people know this city from the song "Ah, Samara-town". But they forget that the size of this "town" is the seventh largest in terms of population. If we talk about the agglomeration, then it is much larger than in many other cities, and has 2.5 million inhabitants, which is the third largest in the country, after Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Samara was founded in 1586 as a guard fortress by the decree of Tsar Fyodor. The location of the city turned out to be successful and the city grew every year. V Soviet years it was renamed Kuibyshev, but then the original name was returned.

The internet is full of jokes about the harshest city in the country. A new round was opened by a meteorite fall, which happened just in its center. But not everyone knows that this city is the most compact metropolis in the country, one of the leading metallurgical centers, a city with beautiful by road... In addition, it is included in the TOP-15 cities of Russia in terms of living standards, TOP-20 in environmental development, TOP-5 in terms of the number of new buildings being commissioned. It even ranks first in terms of housing affordability. And all this concerns the "harsh" Chelyabinsk.

It is worth noting that the city continues to develop. Until recently, it was ranked ninth in the ranking, and now it has risen to eighth with a population of 1,170,000. Its ethnic composition is quite diverse. Most - 86% - are Russians, another 5% - Tatars, 3% - Bashkirs, 1.5 - Ukrainians, 0.6% - Germans, and so on.

Omsk is the ninth most populous city in the Russian Federation, but it was not always like this. When a small fortress was founded in 1716, only a few thousand people lived there. But now there are more than 1,166 thousand of them. But, unlike many other millionaire cities, the agglomeration of Omsk is extremely small - only about 20 thousand.

Like many other cities in Russia, this is home to representatives of a wide variety of nationalities. Most of all, of course, Russians - 89%, another 3.5 - Kazakhs, 2% - Ukrainians and Tatars, 1.5% - Germans.

Rostov-on-Don, like Nizhny Novgorod, which we talked about above, has its "namesake" - Veliky Rostov. But the Great is significantly inferior to him in size: Rostov-on-Don, albeit last issue, but is included in the TOP-10 largest cities Russia, the Great, has only about 30 thousand inhabitants, although it is several times older than it.

Now you know which is the most Big city in Russia, where it is located and how many people live in it. But in addition to the ten listed in the country, there are five more millionaires: Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Vladimir and Voronezh. The rest are trying very hard to enter this prestigious list, and some may soon succeed.

It is no secret that most people prefer to live in cities where all the benefits of civilization are available. Due to the fact that the number of those wishing to become city dwellers is increasing every day, settlements are gradually increasing in size, turning into megacities. What are the largest cities in the world, how many inhabitants they have, and what area they occupy - informative information in our article.

The largest cities in the world by population

The most recent population census in each country was carried out in different time, and constant migration makes the calculations much more difficult. Therefore, some of the data on the basis of which the rating was compiled may no longer be relevant. But still, the list of the largest megacities looks something like this.

1. For several years, Chinese Shanghai has been in the honorable first place among the most populated cities on the planet. Here, according to the census, 24 mln. Live permanently. 150 thousand people. To comfortably accommodate all residents, the metropolis is constantly growing, and most of all - in height. Therefore, Shanghai boasts the largest skyscrapers. At the same time, many architectural sights have been preserved here, some of them are up to seven hundred years old.
2. The city of Karachi, which is located in the south of Pakistan, has 23 million 200 thousand inhabitants. Small in age (about 200 years old), this metropolis is actively growing, increasing its area and population. The peculiarity of the city can be called the variety of nationalities that constantly inhabit it. The mixture of cultures, customs and social strata gives the metropolis a special flavor.
3. The third place in the ranking is occupied by Beijing - the capital of the Celestial Empire. The population of the metropolis is 21 million 710 thousand people. This is the most ancient city in the TOP-5, because it was founded back in the distant 5th century BC. Today it is a real tourist mecca, people from all over the world come here to see with their own eyes the palace of the emperor and other architectural masterpieces. At the same time, the city is actively developing, there is a skyscraper with 106 (!) Floors.
4. The Indian capital Delhi boasts a population of 18 million 150 thousand. This is the most contrasting city in the ranking. After all, in it you can see both breathtaking high-rise buildings in fashionable districts, and squalid slums, where several families are crowded in one hut without any amenities. In addition, there are many ancient temples, castles and fortresses left in the city, striking in their splendor.
5. Turkish Istanbul as of the end of 2017 has 15 million 500 thousand people. It is the largest city in Europe. Moreover, the metropolis is developing rapidly, and the number of inhabitants is growing by about 300 thousand every year. Istanbul has a good location on the banks of the Bosphorus, which contributes to its development and prosperity.

Let's take a quick look at the next five largest cities in the world in terms of population.

• Tianjin is a large Chinese metropolis. It is home to 15 million 470 thousand people. He began his development from a small village, and then became a large port city.
• The Japanese capital Tokyo has 13 million 743 thousand inhabitants. The city is actively developing, the townspeople have high level life, thanks to which everything flows to the metropolis more people.
• The largest city in Nigeria, Lagos, accommodates in its area 13 million 120 thousand inhabitants. Moreover, the density of their placement is quite high: there are 17 thousand people per square kilometer. The city is divided into slums and districts with huge skyscrapers. It is the largest metropolis in Africa.
• Guangzhou is another city in China. 13 million 90 thousand people live here. The metropolis is called the center of world trade. It attracts tourists with ancient historical monuments that coexist peacefully with modern urban structures.
• Indian Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the leader among megacities in terms of population density. Indeed, 12 and a half million people live on an area of ​​600 square kilometers. This city became famous thanks to a number of film studios united under the name Bollywood. All popular Indian films are shot here.

Top 10 largest settlements by area

1. Chongqing is the largest city in the world in terms of area. It is located in China, its length is 82 thousand 400 square kilometers.
2. The Chinese metropolis Hangzhou has an area of ​​16 thousand 840 km2.
3. The capital of the Celestial Empire, Beijing, is located on 16 thousand 801 km2.
4. Australian Brisbane has an area of ​​15,826 km2.
5. The city of Chengdu (China) occupies 13 thousand 390 km2.
6. Australian Sydney is located on an area of ​​12,144 km2.
7. The metropolis of Tianjin (China) has an area of ​​11,760 km2.
8. Melbourne (Australia) is spread over 9 thousand 990 km2.
9. The capital of the Congo, Kinshasa, has an area of ​​9,965 km2.
10. The Chinese city of Wuhan has 8,494 km2 of territory.

Ranking of the largest ghost cities in the world

1. The construction of the Chinese city of Ordos began in 2003, it was planned that about a million people would live in it. Until 2010, the metropolis expanded on an area of ​​355 square kilometers. But the cost of housing did not allow residents to purchase real estate, as a result of which the houses remained half empty. Today the number of inhabitants barely reaches 50 thousand.
2. The resort town of San Zhi in Taiwan is dead, no one lived in it at all. According to the project, ultra-modern houses in the form of UFO plates were built here. It was expected that rich people would rest there, tourists would come to look at the original architecture and have fun in numerous complexes. But during the crisis, funding for the project stopped, and the city was not popular either. He became a wasteland.
3. Famagusta, an abandoned city, is located on the island of Cyprus. It used to be a large trade and economic center. But he was left without residents due to the war between Turkey and Greece. Countries cannot agree on who should own the territory. Therefore, the city became a kind of border, fenced with barbed wire.
4. American Detroit was a thriving city quite recently. Today only a few thousand inhabitants remain in it. More and more people are leaving the city because of the poor environmental situation. This is due to the construction of large industrial automobile enterprises. Today, the city has a high crime rate, which also does not contribute to comfortable living and pushes residents to move.
5. Russian Neftegorsk became uninhabited after the 1995 earthquake. Powerful tremors did not leave more than 2 thousand inhabitants alive, destroyed almost all buildings. There was no point in rebuilding the city, so only ruins remained in its place.
6. The Japanese city of Namie has fallen victim to a huge disaster. In 2013 there was an explosion nuclear power plant Fukushima, after which all residents were evacuated. Today, it is forbidden to enter the territory of Namie, as the level of radiation remains dangerous.
7. The city of Centralia in the United States became home to anthracite miners who came here from all over America and stayed to live even after the mines were closed. But the decision of the city authorities to incinerate the garbage was disastrous for the entire city. In 1962, from the fire, coal deposits in the ground began to smolder, emissions of carbon monoxide began to occur. It was decided to evacuate the population. According to official figures, 10 people live there today.

• Delhi (India) - 18 million 150 thousand;
• Tokyo (Japan) - 13 million 742 thousand;
• Moscow (Russia) - 12 million 500 thousand;
• Seoul ( South Korea) - 10 million 422 thousand;
• Lima (Peru) - 10 million 251 thousand;
• Jakarta (Indonesia) - 9 million 608 thousand;
• Mexico City (Mexico) - 9 million 100 thousand;
• Cairo (Egypt) - 9 million 153 thousand;
• London (Great Britain) - 8 million 539 thousand;
• Bangkok (Thailand) - 8 million 281 thousand;
• Bogota (Colombia) - 8 million 81 thousand;
• Singapore (Singapore) - 5 million 889 thousand;
• Santiago de Chile (Chile) - 5 million 150 thousand;
• Cape Town (South Africa) - 3 million 740 thousand;
• Berlin (Germany) - 3 million 611 thousand;
• Nairobi (Kenya) - 3 million 240 thousand;
• Madrid (Spain) - 3 million 166 thousand;
• Athens (Greece) - 3 million 91 thousand;
• Buenos Aires (Argentina) - 3 million 80 thousand

There are cities in the world with a large population. And nothing else if the city takes large territory, and the overcrowding of the population in it is small. And if the city has very little land? Does it happen that the country is small, and around the city there are rocks and the sea? So the city has to build up. At the same time, the population per 1 square kilometer is growing rapidly. The city from the simple becomes densely populated. Immediately, we note that it is the population density that is taken into account, while there are other ratings, where megalopolises are located by area, number of inhabitants, number of skyscrapers, as well as many other parameters. On LifeGlobe you can find most of these ratings. We will go directly to our list. So what are the largest cities in the world?

Top 10 most populous cities in the world.

1. Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city in China and one of the largest cities in the world, located in the Yangtze River Delta. One of the four cities of central subordination of the PRC, an important financial and Cultural Center countries, as well as the world's largest seaport. By the beginning of the XX century. Shanghai has evolved from a small fishing town to the most important city in China and the third financial center in the world after London and New York. In addition, the city became the focus mass culture, vice, intellectual controversy and political intrigue in Republican China. Shanghai is the financial and commercial center of China. Market reforms in Shanghai began in 1992, a decade later than in southern provinces... Prior to that, most of the city's income went irrevocably to Beijing. Even after lowering the tax burden in 1992, tax revenues from Shanghai accounted for 20-25% of revenues from all of China (up to the 1990s, this figure was about 70%). Today Shanghai is the largest and most developed city in mainland China. In 2005, Shanghai became the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover (443 million tons of cargo).

According to the 2000 census, the population of the entire territory of Shanghai (including the non-urban zone) is 16.738 million people, this figure also includes temporary residents in Shanghai, whose number is 3.871 million people. Since the previous 1990 census, the population of Shanghai has increased by 3.396 million, or 25.5%. Men make up 51.4% of the city's population, women - 48.6%. Children under 14 years old make up 12.2% of the population, age group 15-64 years - 76.3%, elderly people over 65 - 11.5%. 5.4% of Shanghai's population is illiterate. In 2003, there were 13.42 million officially registered residents in Shanghai, and more than 5 million. live and work in Shanghai informally, of which about 4 million are seasonal workers, mainly from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The average life expectancy in 2003 was 79.80 years (men - 77.78 years, women - 81.81 years).

Like many other regions in China, Shanghai is experiencing a construction boom. Shanghai's modern architecture is distinguished by its unique style - in particular, the upper floors of high-rise buildings, occupied by restaurants, are shaped like flying saucers. Most of the buildings under construction in Shanghai today are high-rise apartment buildings, varying in height, color and design. Organizations responsible for planning the city's development are now paying more and more attention to the creation of green spaces and parks within residential complexes to improve the quality of life of Shanghai people, which is quite consistent with the slogan of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai: “The best city is better life". Historically, Shanghai was very westernized and is now increasingly taking on the role of the main center of communication between China and the West. One example of this is the discovery information center in exchange medical knowledge between Western and Chinese Institutes of Health Pac-Med Medical Exchange. Pudong has houses and streets very similar to the business and residential areas of modern American and Western European cities. There are large international shopping and hotel areas nearby. In spite of high density population and a large number of visitors, Shanghai is very famous low level crime against foreigners.

As of January 1, 2009, the population of Shanghai is 18,884,600 if the area of this city 6 340 km. Sq., And the population density is 2 683 people per sq. Km.

2. Karachi

Karachi, the largest city, the main economic center and seaport of Pakistan, is located at the Indus Delta, 100 km from its confluence with the Arabian Sea. The administrative center of Sindh province. Population for 2004 is 10.89 million people. It arose at the beginning of the 18th century. on the site of the fishing village of Balochi Kalachi. Since the end of the 18th century. under the Sindh rulers of the Talpur dynasty, it was the main Sindi maritime and trade center on the Arabian coast. In 1839 it became a naval base of Great Britain, in 1843-1847 - the capital of the province of Sindh, and then the main city of the region that was part of the Bombay presidency. Since 1936 - the capital of the province of Sindh. In 1947-1959 - the capital of Pakistan. geographical position the city, located in a convenient natural harbor, contributed to its rapid growth and development during the colonial period and especially after the partition in 1947 British India for two independent states- India and Pakistan.

The transformation of Karachi into the main political and economic center of the country led to rapid growth population, mainly due to the influx of immigrants from the outside: for 1947-1955. from 350 thousand people up to 1.5 million people Karachi is the largest city in the country and belongs to the largest cities in the world. The main trade, economic and financial center of Pakistan, a seaport (15% of GDP and 25% of tax revenues to the budget). About 49% is concentrated in Karachi and its suburbs industrial production country. Plants: a metallurgical plant (the largest in the country, built with the assistance of the USSR, 1975-85), oil refineries, engineering, car assembly, ship repair, chemical, cement plants, pharmaceutical, tobacco, textile, food (sugar) industries (concentrated in several industrial zones : CITY - Sind Industrial Trading Estate, Landhi, Malir, Korangi and others. The largest commercial banks, branches of foreign banks, central offices and branches of insurance companies, stock and cotton exchanges, offices of the largest trading companies (including foreign ones). international Airport(1992). The port of Karachi (cargo turnover over 9 million tons per year) serves up to 90% of the country's maritime trade and is the largest port in South Asia. Naval base.
Largest cultural and scientific center: University, research institutions, Aga Khan University of Health Sciences, Hamdard Foundation Oriental Medicine Center, National Museum of Pakistan, Museum Naval forces... Zoo (in the former City Gardens, 1870). Mausoleum of Qaid-i Azam M. A. Jinnah (1950s), Sindh University (founded in 1951, M. Ecoshar), Art Center (1960). Architecturally interesting are the central streets built up during the period between the world wars. from local pink limestone and sandstone. The business center of Karachi - Shara-i-Faisal, Jinna Road and Chandrigar Road with buildings mainly of the 19th and 20th centuries: the High Court (early 20th century, neoclassicism), the Pearl-Continental Hotel (1962), architects W. Tabler and Z. Pathan), State Bank (1961, architects J.L. Ricci and A. Caium). To the northwest of Jinnah Road is the Old Town with narrow streets, one- and two-story houses. In the south - the fashionable Clifton area, built up mainly with villas. Buildings of the 19th century are also distinguished. in the Indo-Gothic style - Frere Hall (1865) and Empress Market (1889). Saddar, Zamzama, Tariq Road are the main shopping streets cities with hundreds of shops and shops. A significant number of modern multi-storey buildings, fashionable hotels (Avari, Marriott, Sheraton) and shopping centers.

For 2009, the population of this city is 18 140 625, the area is 3 530 sq. Km, the population density is 5 139 people. per sq. km.

3.Istanbul

One of the main reasons for the transformation of Istanbul into a world metropolis was the geographical location of the city. Istanbul at the intersection of 48 degrees north latitude and 28 degrees east longitude, the only city in a world that is located on two continents. Istanbul lies on 14 hills, each of which has its own name, but now we will not tire you with listing them. The following should be noted - the city consists of three unequal parts, into which it is divided by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn (a small bay 7 km long). On the European side: the historical peninsula located in the south of the Golden Horn, and in the north of the Golden Horn - the districts of Beyolu, Galata, Taksim, Besiktash, on the Asian side - the "New City". There are numerous shopping and service centers on the European continent, while on the Asian continent there are mostly residential areas.

Overall, Istanbul, 150 km long and 50 km wide, has an approximate area of ​​7,500 km. But no one knows its true borders, it is about to merge with the city of Izmit in the east. With continuous migration from villages (up to 500,000 per year), the population is rapidly increasing. Every year, 1,000 new streets appear in the city, and new residential areas are built up on the west-east axis. The population is constantly increasing by 5% per year, i.e. doubles every 12 years. Every 5 residents of Turkey live in Istanbul. The number of tourists visiting this marvelous city reaches 1.5 million.The very same population is unknown to anyone, officially, according to the latest census, 12 million people lived in the city, although now this figure has increased to 15 million, and some argue that already 20 million people live in Istanbul.

Tradition says that the founder of the city in the 7th century BC. was the Megarian leader Byzantium, to whom the Delphic oracle predicted where it would be better to arrange a new settlement. The place really turned out to be very successful - a cape between two seas - Black and Marble, half in Europe, half in Asia. In the 4th century A.D. the Roman emperor Constantine chose the settlement of Byzantium to build a new capital of the empire, which was named Constantinople in his honor. After the fall of Rome in 410, Constantinople was finally established as the undisputed political center empire, which since then was called not Roman, but Byzantine. The city reached its highest prosperity under the Emperor Justinian. It was a center of fabulous wealth and unthinkable luxury. In the 9th century, the population of Constantinople numbered about a million people! The main streets had sidewalks and awnings, they were decorated with fountains and columns. It is believed that a copy of Constantinople architecture is represented by Venice, where bronze horses are installed on the portal of St. Mark's Cathedral, taken from the Constantinople hippodrome after the sack of the city by the crusaders in 1204.
For 2009, the population of this city is 16 767 433, the area is 2 106 sq. Km, the population density is 6 521 people. per sq km

4.Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, its administrative, financial, cultural and industrial center. Located in the southeastern part of Honshu Island, on the Kanto Plain in the bay of the Tokyo Pacific Bay. Area - 2 187 sq. Km. Population - 15,570,000 people. The population density is 5,740 people / km2, the highest among the prefectures of Japan.

Officially, Tokyo is not a city, but one of the prefectures, more precisely, a metropolitan area, the only one in this class. Its territory, in addition to part of the island of Honshu, includes several small islands to the south of it, as well as the islands of Izu and Ogasawara. Tokyo District consists of 62 administrative units - cities, towns and rural communities. When they say "the city of Tokyo", they usually mean the 23 special districts included in the metropolitan area, which from 1889 to 1943 constituted the administrative unit of the city of Tokyo, and now they themselves are equated in status with cities; each has its own mayor and city council. The metropolitan government is headed by a popularly elected governor. The headquarters of the government is located in Shinjuku, which is the municipal center of the county. Tokyo is also home to the state government and the Tokyo Imperial Palace (the old name Tokyo Imperial Castle is also used) - the main residence of the Japanese emperors.

Although the Tokyo area was inhabited by tribes back in the Stone Age, the city began to play an active role in history relatively recently. In the XII century, a fort was built here by the local Edo warrior Taro Sigenada. According to tradition, he got the name Edo from his place of residence. In 1457, Ota Dokan, ruler of the Kanto region under the Japanese shogunate, built Edo Castle. In 1590, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the shogun clan, took possession of it. Thus, Edo became the capital of the shogunate, while Kyoto remained the imperial capital. Ieyasu established long-term institutions of governance. The city grew rapidly and by the 18th century it had become one of the largest cities in the world. In 1615, Ieyasu's armies destroyed their opponents - the Toyotomi clan, thereby gaining absolute power for about 250 years. As a result of the Meiji restoration in 1868, the shogunate came to an end, in September Emperor Mutsuhito moved the capital here, calling it the "Eastern Capital" - Tokyo. This sparked a debate over whether Kyoto can still be the capital. In the second half of the 19th century, industry began to develop rapidly, then shipbuilding. Built in 1872 Railway Tokyo-Yokohama, in 1877 - Kobe-Osaka-Tokyo. Until 1869 the city was called Edo. September 1, 1923 in Tokyo and the surrounding area happened largest earthquake(7-9 points on the Richter scale). Almost half of the city was destroyed, erupted big fire... Around 90,000 people were killed. Although the reconstruction plan proved to be very expensive, the city began to partially rebuild. The city was again seriously damaged during the Second World War. The city was subjected to massive air attacks. In just one raid, more than 100,000 residents were killed. Many wooden buildings burned down, and the old Imperial Palace was damaged. After the war, Tokyo was occupied by the military; during the Korean War, it became a major military center. There are still several American bases here (Yokota military base, etc.). In the middle of the 20th century, the country's economy began to rapidly revive (which was described as an "Economic Miracle"), in 1966 it became the second largest economy in the world. Rebirth from war trauma proved the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games where the city showed itself favorably on international scene... Since the 70s, Tokyo has been swept by a wave of rural labor, which has led to the further development of the city. By the end of the 1980s, it had become one of the most dynamically developing cities on Earth. On March 20, 1995, a gas attack using Sarin took place in the Tokyo subway. The attack was carried out by the religious sect Aum Shinrikyo. As a result, more than 5,000 people were injured, 11 of them died. Seismic activity in the Tokyo area led to the beginning of discussions about the transfer of the capital of Japan to another city. Three candidates have been named: Nasu (300 km north), Higashino (near Nagano, central Japan) and new town in the province of Mie, near Nagoya (450 km west of Tokyo). A government decision has already been received, although no further action is being taken. Currently, Tokyo continues to develop. Projects to create artificial islands are being consistently implemented. The most notable project is Odaiba, which is now the main shopping and entertainment center.

5. Mumbai

The history of the emergence of Mumbai - a dynamic modern city, the financial capital of India and the administrative center of the state of Maharashtra - is rather unusual. In 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat ceded a group of seven unnecessary islands to the Portuguese, and they, in turn, presented them to the Portuguese princess Catarina Braganza on the day of her wedding to King Charles II of England in 1661. In 1668, the British government surrendered the islands leased to the East India Company for 10 pounds of gold a year, and gradually Mumbai grew into a center of commerce. In 1853, the first railway line on the subcontinent was laid from Mumbai to Thane, and in 1862 a colossal land management project turned the seven islands into a single whole - Mumbai embarked on the path of becoming the largest metropolis. During its existence, the city has changed its name four times, and for those who are not experts in geography, its former name is more familiar - Bombay. Mumbai, by historical name locality, it was renamed again in 1997. Today it is a lively city with a distinct character: the largest industrial and commercial center, it is still actively interested in theater and other arts. Mumbai is also home to the main center of the film industry in India - Bollywood.

Mumbai is the most populous city in India, with a population of 13,922,125 in 2009. Together with satellite cities, it forms the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world with a population of 21.3 million people. The area occupied by Greater Mumbai is 603.4 square meters. km The city stretches along the coast of the Arabian Sea for 140 km.

6. Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, the administrative, cultural and economic center of the country and one of the largest cities in South America.

Buenos Aires is located at a distance of 275 km from Atlantic Ocean in the well-protected bay of La Plata Bay, on the right bank of the Riachuelo River. The average air temperature in July is +10 degrees, and in January +24. The amount of precipitation in the city is 987 mm per year. The capital is located in the northeastern part of Argentina, on a flat area, in a subtropical natural belt. The natural vegetation of the city's environs is represented by tree and grass species typical for meadow steppes and savannas. Greater Buenos Aires has 18 suburbs, total area is 3646 square kilometers.

The population of the Argentine capital proper is 3,050,728 (2009, estimate) people, which is 275,000 (9.9%) more than in 2001 (2,776,138, census). In total, the urban agglomeration, including the numerous suburbs directly adjacent to the capital, is home to 13,356,715 (2009, estimate). The inhabitants of Buenos Aires have a half-joking nickname - porteño (literally, the inhabitants of the port). The population of the capital and its suburbs is growing rapidly, including due to the immigration of guest workers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, etc. neighboring countries... The city is very multicultural, but the main division of communities is along class lines, not along racial lines as in the United States. The majority of the population are Spaniards and Italians, descendants of both the settlers of the Spanish colonial period 1550-1815 and the larger wave of European immigrants to Argentina in 1880-1940. About 30% are mestizos and representatives of other nationalities, among which communities stand out: Arabs, Jews, British, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans, there is also a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries, primarily from Bolivia and Paraguay, in recent times from Korea, China and Africa. During the colonial period, groups of Indians, mestizos and black slaves were noticeable in the city, gradually disappearing into the southern European population, although their cultural and genetic influences are still felt today. Thus, the genes of modern residents of the capital are rather mixed in comparison with white Europeans: on average, the genes of residents of the capital are 71.2% European, 23.5% Indian and 5.3% African. At the same time, depending on the quarter, African impurities vary from 3.5% to 7.0%, and Indian from 14.0% to 33%. ... Official language in the capital - Spanish. Other languages ​​- Italian, Portuguese, English, German and French - are now practically out of use as native languages ​​due to the mass assimilation of immigrants of the second half of the XIX- early. XX centuries., But are still taught as foreign. During the period of a massive influx of Italians (especially Neapolitans), the mixed Italian-Spanish sociolect Lunfardo spread in the city, gradually disappearing, but leaving traces in the local language version of the Spanish language (See Spanish in Argentina). The majority of the city's believers are adherents of Catholicism, a small part of the capital's residents profess Islam and Judaism, but in general the level of religiosity is extremely low, since the secular-liberal way of life prevails. The city is divided into 47 administrative districts, the division was originally based on the link to Catholic parishes, and remained so until 1940.

7. Dhaka

The name of the city is derived from the name hindu goddess fertility of Durga or from the name of the tropical tree Dhaka, which gives valuable resin. Dhaka is located on the northern bank of the turbulent Buriganda River almost in the center of the country and looks more like the legendary Babylon than the modern capital. Dhaka is a river port in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta and a center for boating. Despite the fact that travel by water is rather slow, water transport in the country is well developed, safe and widely used. The oldest section of the city, lying north of the coastline, is the ancient trading center of the Mughal Empire. In the Old City there is an unfinished fortress - Fort LaBad, dating from 1678, which houses the Bibi Pari mausoleum (1684). Also worth noticing are the more than 700 mosques, including the famous Hussein Dalan, located in the Old City. Now Old city is a vast area between two main aquatic transport terminals, Sadarghat and Badam Tole, where the impressions of observing everyday life the rivers are especially charming and interesting. Also in the old part of the city there are traditional large oriental bazaars.

The population of the city is 9 724 976 inhabitants (2006), with the suburbs - 12 560 thousand people (2005).

8. Manila

Manila is the capital and main city Central region of the Republic of the Philippines, occupying the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the west, the islands are washed by the South China Sea, in the north they are adjacent to Taiwan through the Bashi Strait. Located on the island of Luzon (the largest in the archipelago), the metropolis of Manila includes, in addition to Manila itself, four more cities and 13 municipalities. The name of the city comes from two Tagalog (local Filipino) words "may" meaning "to appear" and "nilad" - the name of the original settlement located on the banks of the Pasig River and the Gulf. Before the conquest of Manila by the Spaniards in 1570, Muslim tribes lived on the islands, who were intermediaries in the Chinese trade with South Asian merchants. After a fierce struggle, the Spaniards occupied the ruins of Manila, which was set on fire by the natives, fleeing the invaders. After 20 years, the Spaniards returned and built defensive structures. In 1595 Manila became the capital of the Archipelago. From this time until the 19th century, Manila was the center of trade between the Philippines and Mexico. With the arrival of the Europeans, the Chinese were limited in free trade and repeatedly rebelled against the colonists. In 1898, the Americans invaded the Philippines, and after several years of war, the Spanish ceded their colony to them. Then the US-Philippine War began, which ended in 1935 with the independence of the islands. During the period of US domination in Manila, several enterprises of light and Food Industry, oil refineries, production of building materials. During World War II, the Philippines was occupied by the Japanese. The state gained final independence in 1946. Currently Manila is the main seaport, financial and industrial center of the country. The factories and factories of the capital produce electrical equipment, chemicals, clothing, food, tobacco, etc. The city has several markets and shopping centers with low prices attracting visitors from all over the Republic. V last years the role of tourism is growing.

In 2009, the population of this city is 12,285,000.

9. Delhi

Delhi (Delhi) - the capital of India, a city with 13 million population, which is inevitable for most travelers. A city in which all the classic Indian contrasts are fully manifested - grandiose temples and dirty slums, bright celebrations of life and quiet death in the gateways. A city in which it is difficult for an ordinary Russian person to live for more than two weeks, after which he will begin to quietly go crazy - the incessant movement, general bustle, noise and din, an abundance of dirt and poverty will be a good test for you. Like any city with a thousand-year history, Delhi has many most interesting places worth a visit. Most of them are located in two districts of the city - Old and New Delhi, between which is the Pahar Ganj district, where most of the independent travelers (Main Bazaar) stay. Among the most interesting sights of Delhi are the Jama Masjid Mosque, Lodhi Garden, Humayun Tomb, Qutb Minar, Lotus Temple, Lakshmi Narayana Temple ), military fortresses Lal Qila and Purana Qila.

For 2009, the population of this city is 11 954 217

10.Moscow

The city of Moscow is a huge metropolis, consisting of nine administrative districts, which include one hundred and twenty administrative districts. There are many parks, gardens, and forest parks on the territory of Moscow.

The first written mention of Moscow dates back to 1147. But the settlements on the site of the modern city were much earlier, in a time remote from us, according to some historians, by 5 thousand years. However, all this belongs to the field of legends and conjectures. No matter how it happened, but in the XIII century Moscow is the center of an independent principality, and by the end of the XV century. it becomes the capital of the emerging united Russian state. Since then, Moscow has been one of the largest cities in Europe. For centuries Moscow has been an outstanding center of all-Russian culture, science and art.

The largest city in Russia and Europe in terms of population (population as of July 1, 2009 - 10.527 million people), the center of the Moscow urban agglomeration. It is also one of the ten largest cities in the world.

Almost all residents of our country know that the most big city in terms of population, is Moscow - the capital of the Russian Federation, and the second most populous is the city of St. Petersburg - the northern "capital". And what other cities are in the top 10 in terms of population in our country - Russia. For the third place, two cities are constantly fighting, which periodically replace each other in this position - the Ural capital Yekaterinburg and the Siberian capital Novisibirsk. The population of these cities fluctuates around one and a half million people. Also in the top 10 are such cities - Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, which number more than one million people. All these cities belong to the million-plus cities of the Russian Federation. Also in this category of cities, in addition to the above, include such cities - Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Voronezh, Volgograd. Another 21 cities of our country have a population of 500,000 to 1,000,000. Other cities in the country have a smaller population.

Moscow.


The capital of the Russian Federation with a population of 12 330 126 people. The largest city not only in Russia, but also in the world, where it ranks 10th. The city was founded in 1147. Located on the Moscow River. The largest city in Europe.

St. Petersburg.


Northern, cultural "capital" with a population of 5,225,690. The second most populous city in Russia. A hero city that was blockaded for 872 days during the Great Patriotic War. Until January 26, 1924, it was called Petrograd, until September 6, 1991, Leningrad. It was founded in 1703 by order of Peter the Great. The third city in Europe in terms of population.

Novosibirsk.


The Siberian capital with a population of 1 584 138 people. The third most populous city in Russia, the largest in Siberia. Founded in 1893, it received city status in 1903. Until 1925 it was called Novo-Nikolaevsk.

Ekaterinburg.


The capital of the Urals with a population of 1,444,439 people. Founded on November 7, 1723. From 1924 to 1991 it was called Sverdlovsk. During the reign of Catherine II, the Siberian highway was laid through the city - main road to the riches of Siberia - Yekaterinburg became a "window to Asia", like St. Petersburg - a "window to Europe".

Nizhny Novgorod.


Closes the top five cities in Russia in terms of population - 1,266,871 people. The city was founded in 1221 - one of the ancient cities our country. From 1932 to 1990 it was called Gorky.

Kazan.


The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. The population is 1 216 965 people. The city was founded in 1005. The largest tourist center.

Chelyabinsk.


Population 1 191 994. Founded in 1736. The largest industrial center in the country.

Omsk.


The city of Siberia with a population of 1,178,079 people. Founded in 1716. The second city in Siberia in terms of population. It is located at the confluence of the Irtysh and Om rivers.

Samara.


Population 1,170,910. Founded in 1586. From 1935 to 1991, the name Kuibyshev began. The city has the highest railway station in Europe. Samara has the longest embankment in Russia.

Rostov-on-Don.


Population 1 119 875 people. The city was founded in 1749. The city is located on the Don River. The city is called “the gates of the Caucasus”, the southern capital.

Russia. The vastness of this State has no end and no beginning. In Russia, as in any modern country, there are cities. Small, medium and even cities with a population of one million. Each city has its own history, and it is different for all.

Every year in settlements are held sociological research, mainly it is a population census. The overwhelming majority of cities are small settlements, moreover there are parts of Russia where the population is not so intensive. The ranking includes ten of the smallest cities in the Russian Federation.

The city of Kedrovy. 2129 people

The city of Kedrovy is located in the Tomsk region and is very little known. Located in a pine forest, its purpose is locality for workers of oil stations.

Kedrovy was built in the eighties of the last century. This entire city consists practically of only five-storey buildings. Surprising: several five-story buildings in a pine forest. Probably, its inhabitants do not complain about smells exhaust gases and the noise of cars. 2129 people - the population of the city of Kedrovy.

The city of Ostrovnoy. 2065 people

Murmansk region. Located on the coast, near the Yokang Islands (Barents Sea). What is most interesting is that it is practically a ghost town. Inhabited by only about 20% of people. There are no roads to the city. There are also railway branches. Accessible only by water or air. Previously, as those who still remained there, the plane flew, but now - only helicopters and then, occasionally. If you look at it from afar, then the city is quite big, but if you know its population, it will be difficult to believe. In total, 2065 citizens live in this dying city.

City of Gorbatov. 2049 people

About 60 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod. The city is truly ancient, information about it was first recorded in 1565. Before it began to die out, it produces (and produced earlier) ropes, ropes and other similar things for the navy.

Studies have been carried out, and the results state that 2049 people now live in the city. Apart from ropes and ropes, gardening is also very well developed in this city. There is also a souvenir factory.

The city of Plyos. 1984 people

Refers to Ivanovo region... There is information about him that comes from the chronicles of the Novgorod monasteries (1141), this information is the first. Some sources say that this city once had its own fortress, but when it is still not clear. The population is falling, and the city will probably continue to attract tourists with its legend.

On modern cities it does not look like: there are no five-story buildings, no transport communications. It looks like an ordinary village, only bigger. The population is 1984 people. The city has no industrial enterprises.

The city of Primorsk. 1943 people

His buildings are more modern. It resembles little Pripyat, apparently, it was built according to the same standards. Is in Kaliningrad region... Before the war, it belonged to the Germans, but was captured in the 45th year by the Red Army.

It acquired its name two years after the capture. Now 1943 people live in it. As far as we know, you can get to it with ease. Before the city belonged to the Soviet Union, it was called Fischhausen. From 2005 to 2008 it was listed as an urban-type settlement in the Baltic city district.

The city of Artyomovsk. 1837 people

In the last century, there were about thirteen thousand registered (in 1959). The population began to plummet. It is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, about 370 kilometers to the center. Has the form large plant in the highlands.

It is in fifth place in the ranking of the smallest cities in the Russian Federation. This city was founded in 1700, and was previously called Olkhovka, as it was surrounded by trees of this type. Now it is part of the Kuraginsky district. Population falls, on this moment it is 1837 people. It is engaged in the timber industry, as well as the extraction of gold, copper and silver.

The city of Kurilsk. 1646 people

1646 people live in this city and Kurilsk is located on the Iturup island. Belongs to the Sakhalin Region. Ainu once lived here - this is an indigenous tribe. Later this place was settled by the explorers of tsarist Russia. It is somewhat reminiscent of a resort village, although the climate for recreation is very unsuitable.

The terrain is mountainous, which adds more picturesque places to Kurilsk. He is mainly engaged in fish farming. In 1800 it was captured by the Japanese and only by 1945 it was occupied by the soldiers of the Red Army. The climate is temperate.

The city of Verkhoyansk. 1131 people

This city is the northernmost settlement in Yakutia. A very cold climate, several decades ago, the air temperature was recorded here, which was about -67 degrees Celsius. Winter is very frosty and windy.

This city is characterized by low rainfall. In 2016, its population was 1,125 people, and in 2017, according to the latest census, it increased by 6 people. This city was built as a Cossack winter quarters.

The city of Vysotsk. 1120 people

Was built as a port. Located in the Leningrad Region (Vyborgsky District). It passed into the possession of the Soviet Union only in the early forties of the last century, and before that it belonged to Finland. It plays a strategic role, since the naval base of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation operates here. The population of the city of Vysotsk is, according to the latest data, 1120 inhabitants. Vysotsk is located in a very convenient place for the border troops, right on the border with Finland. The port also has an oil loading function.

The city of Chekalin. 964 people

Tula region, Suvorov district. In first place in the ranking of the smallest cities in the Russian Federation. In 2012, they wanted to recognize it as a village, but the residents of the city began to protest and left the status. Another old name is Likhvin.

During the war, Likhvin was renamed Chkalin. The fact is that at this place the Nazis executed the partisan, who was then only sixteen years old. Received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously. Despite this small population, which is only 964 people, In 1565 (the year of its foundation) it occupied an area of ​​about 1 square verst.