ISLAMABAD — Karachi is on track to emerge as one of the world’s 10 largest cities between 2025 and 2030, according to a new United Nations report, with its rapid population growth expected to continue well into the mid-21st century.
The ‘World Urbanisation Prospects 2025’ report projects that Karachi could rise to the fifth spot globally by 2050, housing nearly 33 million residents. This would see the city surpass other major metropolitan hubs, including Cairo (32 million), Tokyo (31 million), Guangzhou in China (29 million), Manila in the Philippines (27 million), and Kolkata in India (24 million).
The report highlights that the number of megacities has quadrupled from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with Asia alone accounting for 19 of these urban giants. Projections indicate that by 2050, there will be 37 megacities worldwide. Fast-growing Dhaka is expected to become the world’s most populous city by mid-century, while Tokyo is anticipated to drop from third place in 2025 to seventh in 2050 as its population gradually declines to around 31 million.
Karachi, currently one of the most densely populated cities on the planet, has 25,000 residents per square kilometre. The report notes that in 2025, the world’s most densely populated cities exceed 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometre, with many of these cities also ranking among the most populous globally.
Globally, rural populations are expected to peak during the 2040s before beginning a gradual decline. India and China are projected to account for the largest share of urban population growth, alongside significant contributions from Nigeria, Pakistan, and the United States. Between 2000 and 2025, the global urban population rose by 1.25 billion, with more than half of this increase concentrated in just a handful of countries.
The report underscores a long-term trend of urbanisation: in 1950, only 20% of the world’s 2.5 billion people lived in cities. By 2025, cities are home to 45% of the global population of 8.2 billion more than double the proportion seen 75 years earlier. Meanwhile, more than 3,000 cities worldwide experienced population decline between 2015 and 2025, reflecting the uneven distribution of urban growth.
Karachi’s rise is emblematic of the broader global shift toward urban living, as cities increasingly become the centres of economic, social, and cultural activity.
