1985 Megacities

In 1985, the world’s megacities—urban areas with populations exceeding 10 million—were rare phenomena, reflecting both rapid urbanization and unique historical trajectories. Tokyo led the list, with its population surpassing 20 million, cementing its status as a global economic powerhouse shaped by post-war reconstruction and technological innovation. New York City, the archetype of the modern metropolis, maintained its megacity status through a long history of immigration and industrialization, though its growth had slowed compared to earlier decades. Mexico City and São Paulo emerged as Latin America’s giants, their explosive growth fueled by rural-to-urban migration and economic centralization, but also challenged by infrastructure strain and informal settlements. Shanghai and Mumbai, while not yet at their later 21st-century sizes, were rapidly expanding due to industrialization and internal migration. These megacities reflected broader trends: while older cities in the developed world saw more stable populations, cities in Asia and Latin America experienced surging growth, setting the stage for the urban explosion that would define the decades to come.

RankMegacityCountryPopulation
1TokyoJapan30,303,794
2Kinki M.M.A. (Osaka)Japan17,582,632
3New York-NewarkUnited States of America15,826,788
4Ciudad de México (Mexico City)Mexico14,278,216
5São PauloBrazil13,394,815
6Mumbai (Bombay)India10,685,530
7Buenos AiresArgentina10,523,442
8Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa AnaUnited States of America10,181,172
9Kolkata (Calcutta)India10,003,665
10SeoulRepublic of Korea9,333,674
11Rio de JaneiroBrazil9,241,709
12ParisFrance8,956,222
13Moskva (Moscow)Russian Federation8,579,920
14Al-Qahirah (Cairo)Egypt8,328,255
15Chukyo M.M.A. (Nagoya)Japan8,023,149
16ChicagoUnited States of America7,285,121
17DelhiIndia7,225,758
18ShanghaiChina7,096,280
19JakartaIndonesia7,009,030
20ManilaPhilippines6,887,920
21LondonUnited Kingdom6,740,954
22KarachiPakistan6,032,582
23BeijingChina6,017,488
24TehranIran (Islamic Republic of)5,839,193
25IstanbulTurkey5,407,297
26Krung Thep (Bangkok)Thailand5,279,127
27LimaPeru5,116,117
28Kitakyushu-Fukuoka M.M.A.Japan4,961,198
29Hong KongChina, Hong Kong SAR4,959,721
30Sankt Peterburg (Saint Petersburg)Russian Federation4,844,416

Data from UN World Urbanization Prospects