Crystal Ball Gazing: 2050's Biggest Global Cities

While today Tokyo stands as the most populous city in the world with about 38 million residents, by 2050, it's estimated there will be almost 10 billion people on the planet, with each existing major city set to become even larger.

Currently, just one of the 10 most populous cities in the world is in Africa (Cairo), and only two (Sao Paulo and Mexico City) are in Latin America. But in the next three decades, that's expected to change.

The Global Cities Institute at The University of Toronto has created a prediction of the world's biggest cities (and their population statistics) in 2050 based on population growth models. See their predictions below.
#10 Mexico City: 24.3 million people

Source: Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kc_aplosweb/[/caption]
 #9 New York City, USA: 24.8 million people

 #8 Karachi, Pakistan: 31.7 million people

#7 Tokyo, Japan: 32.6 million people

Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Japan[/caption]
#6 Lagos, Nigeria: 32.6 million people

Source: Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidstanleytravel/[/caption]
#3 Dhaka, Bangladesh: 35.2 million people

Source: Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahron/[/caption]
#2 Delhi, India: 36.2 million people

Source: Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/43423301@N07/[/caption]
#1 Mumbai, India: 42.4 million people

Source: Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zedzap/[/caption]

The paper by The University of Toronto stated "Development of cities that promotes resource efficiency, as well as cooperation between proximal and global urban areas, is essential for sustainable development. This paper illustrates that the urbanisation of Africa will have a significant impact on future sustainability. Global cooperation to ensure Sub-Sahara Africa and other developing regions. Optimally, progress with adequate infrastructure, education and social policy to restrain population growth and resource depletion will have far reaching benefits."The entertainment capital and India’s financial powerhouse, Mumbai is located in Maharashtra and is the biggest metropolis of the state. Home to 21 million people, Mumbai along with the neighbouring Thane and Navi Mumbai, is one of the most densely populated regions of India. The city is diverse, vibrant and multi-cultural. It is the most populous city in India and the ninth most populous agglomeration in the world, and estimated to be the biggest global city for the future.

Header image from Flickr user: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tataimitra/