as our world's population continues to grow some cities have become incredibly crowded with millions of people living in cramped conditions in this video we'll take you on a tour of some spots that are not recommended for the claustrophobic from The Towering skyscrapers of Hong Kong to the Chin's growth city of the future here here are the 20 most populated places on Earth number 20 Hong Kong vertical living in a bustling Hub living in Hong Kong is hard work the place is one of the most densely packed places in the whole world it's long been associated with tightly squeezed communities and busy streets but despite the fact that the birth rate here is only 0. 774 per woman the population is still growing although Hong Kong itself covers 1,68 Square km only about 25% of that is actually builtup areas there are more than 7 million people crowded into those Urban spaces and most of them live in highrise buildings the city is actually home to the largest number of skyscrapers in any City on the planet despite the number of people these residents actually have amongst the highest life expectancy in the world there's an excellent public transportation system and Hong Kong is a thriving Financial Center as well as a bustling cultural Hub the city is hugely important in the history of film making as well so there are drawbacks to living in a densely populated place but Hong Kong also has some of its benefits the city has excellent infrastructure and urban planning and it's apparently a place that people enjoy living and working in and it continues to thrive Hong Kong's ability to adapt and innovate in response to its population challenges is a testament to its resilience and forward-thinking approach to Urban living the blend of cultural richness economic opportunities and quality of life make it a unique and enduring City on the global stage number 19 guango a city of growth and potential and now we have a slightly unexpected offering guango does not have an especially High population density compared to some other places but it has the potential to become a super densely populated city in the future currently there are about 2,000 people per square kilometer in guano the city at present has a total surface area of 7,434 point4 square km so there is room for the population to keep expanding and pack people in like we've seen elsewhere if it becomes necessary located about 120 km to the north of Hong Kong it's a a place with a long and interesting history it was a significant stop on the Silk Road and has long served as a major port and hub for transportation it is known for many significant sites which includes several important temples and buildings and is also a huge Educational Center housing many of the most important and prestigious universities of China with its strategic location historical significance and ongoing development guango is poised to continue its growth and play an even more significant role on the global stage the city's blend of ancient culture and modern Innovation makes it a fascinating place with tremendous potential for the future number 18 Kath M du the historical heart of Nepal Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal located in South Asia it is the most populous city in the country nestled in the Kathmandu Valley which sits at about 4,600 ft above of sea level interestingly Katmandu is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on Earth founded in the 2 Century ad it has served as the home of Nepal's royal family over the centuries numerous palaces and mansions reflect its Rich history and the city Remains the cultural and economic Hub of Nepal it is also the largest metropolitan area in the Himalayan Mountain Range catm Do's historical significance is highlighted by its many UNESCO world heritage sites the catmandu valley itself houses seven such sites including the famous swayambunath stupa also known as the monkey temple and the ancient durber squares in Katmandu patan and bakt tapur these sites attract tourists from all over the world significantly boosting the local economy the city's blend of ancient traditions and modern developments creates a unique atmosphere that draws visitors and new residents alike the preservation of these cultural land marks amidst rapid urbanization is a testament to kathmandu's commitment to maintaining its Heritage number 17 kaiber Nairobi struggle with slum conditions kaiber is a neighborhood in Nairobi Kenya it is not just a slum District but is considered the largest slum in Africa and one of the largest in the world home to about 250,000 people kaiber represents the harsh reality for many of nairobi's residents despite only covering 6% of nairobi's land area the slums house over 2. 5 million people the overcrowded conditions in kaiber are dire with Shacks measuring around 12 ft by 12 ft often accommodating up to eight people many of these residents sleep on the floor due to the lack of space only about 20% of kyber's population has electricity and access to clean water has been a recent Improvement previously residents relied on water from Nairobi Dam which was contaminated with typhoid and chera now two new water mains provide a much needed basic service sanitation remains a major issue with one toilet essentially a hole in the ground serving around 50 Shacks living in kibra is a daily struggle for survival highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive development and support to improve the lives of its residents number 16 Viada a dynamic city in Andra Pradesh we are now exploring Vijayawada a bustling City in the Indian state of Andra Pradesh known for its vibrant culture and significant educational institutions Vijayawada is a metropolis teeming with activity the city's density is quite high with approximately 31200 people per square kilometer despite this crowded environment vayada manages to thrive drawing tourists and new residents alike the city's popularity can be attributed to its cultural richness and strategic economic importance Vaya wada is recognized as a global city of the future and plays a crucial role in the financial growth of the area and the nation tourists flock to the city to visit its famous temples and participate in the Indian Festival of pushkaram a river worshipping ritual this cultural significance combined with its economic potential makes vayada a dynamic and attractive place to live and visit the city's ongoing development and strategic initiatives continue to enhance its status as a key player in India's growth number 15 Damascus an ancient city amidst modern turmoil the city of Damascus in Syria is one of the world's most ancient and important places it has however in recent years been at the center of the Syrian Civil War and has changed to become almost unrecognizable from its former self the city of Damascus is the seat of the Syrian government and is the oldest capital city in the world also being named as the oldest continuously inhabited City in 2022 the population of Damascus was more than 2.
5 million people in 2004 it had been 2. 7 million in 2019 the city was named as the least livable City out of 140 worldwide despite the ongoing conflict Damascus retains a rich cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years the city is home to numerous historical sites including the umad mosque one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world and the ancient Suk al- hamedia a bustling Market that has survived centuries of change these landmarks remind us of damascus's storied past and its importance as a cultural and religious Center efforts to preserve these sites continue even even amidst the destruction caused by the war highlighting the resilience of its people and their dedication to maintaining their Heritage number 14 Laval lir per Europe's most densely packed City the really rather tiny city of Laval Pere is actually only 4 miles from Paris so really in many respects it's basically still a part of the expansive and sprawling mile of area and yet within that space there are about a bazillion people well actually there are 68 to 458 per square mile it's believed to be the most densely populated place in the whole of Europe as well as squashing lots and lots of people into a teeny weeny area this city is famously where the taxis from Paris are held when they're not within the city limits it's also apparently known for being a hub of the perfume industry and for its beekeeping tradition the city has a bee as its modern emblem although where the heck they keep bees and have space to park loads of taxis or indeed make perfume with all those people who could possibly say lavalo pere's history is deeply intertwined with the industrial and economic development of the Paris metropolitan area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries the city experienced rapid growth due to its proximity to Paris and its strategic location along major transportation routes this growth was fueled by the establishment of various Industries including textiles manufacturing and later the perfume industry which remains a significant economic activity in the city the beekeeping tradition also has historical roots with Urban beekeeping becoming increasingly popular as a means of promoting sustainability and biodiversity in densely populated areas number 13 Karachi Pakistan's City of Lights as the biggest and most populated city in Pakistan Karachi is a significant place and lots of people live and work within its bounds approximately 16. 8 million of them actually this population has grown rapidly in recent decades and with that rapid growth there tends to be an expansion of poor quality housing to accommodate the Bulge in people and in Karachi this means that about 50% of the City's population live in slums not ideal there's currently a population density of about 24,000 people per square kilometer or 63,000 people for each square mile Karachi is the largest city in Pakistan although it is not the capital that honor belongs to Islam Abad karachi's historical significance extends Beyond its role as a major urban center the city has been a pivotal hub for trade and commerce since ancient times serving as a key port on the Arabian Sea its strategic location has made it a Melting Pot of cultures with influences from various regions blending to create a unique and diverse cultural landscape karachi's vibr markets such as the famous Empress market and its Rich culinary Traditions reflect this cultural amalgamation offering a glimpse into the city's Dynamic Heritage number 12 Kolkata a city of contrasts Kata which was formerly known as Kolkata in English is a big city in West Bengal in India the city itself has a population of an estimated 4.
6 million but if you expand to include the suburbs the population increases to more than 14. 3 million which makes it the third most populous metropolitan area in India after it was relinquished by the British Empire and returned to India Kolkata went through a period of economic difficulty and political violence before settling and regaining its significance there's a bunch of interesting things about it it's home to the eastern Indian film industry and a bunch of different culturally important places from the National Library of India to the Academy of Fine Arts there are also many scientific institutions that are based within the city Kolkata is renowned for its Rich literary and intellectual Heritage the city has produced numerous celebrated writers poets and philosophers contributing significantly to Indian and Global literature and thought the annual Kolkata book fair one of the largest in the world attracts millions of visitors and showcases the city's Dee rooted passion for books and learning additionally Kolkata is known for its vibrant festivals including durap Pua which transforms the city into a lively and colorful celebration drawing tourists and locals alike to its artistic displays and cultural performances number 11 Gutenberg New Jersey the most crowded town in America whereas Washington DC may be densely populated in some respects it is the small town of Gutenberg in New Jersey that wins the award for being the most crowded place in the United States of America the municipality of Gutenberg is only a tiny rectangle of land in Hudson County New Jersey but about 11,700 people are squashed into a space that only amounts to about 2/10 of a square mile this staggering density raises the question why is this small town so tightly packed gutenberg's population density can be attributed to its unique housing and Geographic factors a significant portion of its population resides in a few large large apartment complexes which allows more people to live in a smaller area additionally gutenberg's proximity to New York City makes it an attractive location for commuters who work in the city but prefer the slightly quieter Suburban Lifestyle the availability of affordable housing compared to New York City also contributes to its high population density time for the fancy topic cityscape a Hidden Gem that not many have heard of holds the title of the most densely populated place on Earth nestled in a remote Valley this city is a Labyrinth of towering apartment buildings packed closely together the sheer number of people living here is astonishing with every square inch utilized to accommodate the masses from above it appears as an Endless Sea of balconies laundry lines and narrow Alleyways despite its crowded nature cityscape is a vibrant and bustling Community residents have adapted to the tight living conditions creating a unique culture of cooperation and shared spaces markets spill out into the streets and every available rooftop is turned into a garden or recreational area the city's infrastructure struggles to keep up with the population leading to innovative solutions like vertical farms and shared utilities interestingly cityscape is known for its efficient public transportation system trains and buses run continuously fing people to and from work school and other activities despite the overcrowding the sense of community is strong with neighbors often helping each other out in times of need would you be able to live in such a densely populated place what do you think could be done to improve living conditions in cityscape let us know in the comments with the # fancy topic number 10 Hudson River New Jersey a Skyhigh population it seems that a fifth of the town's population all live in one large apartment complex that's located in three skyscrapers called the Galaxy towers that Overlook the Hudson River this place accounts for the large increase in population numbers since the towers were constructed in fact the amount of space that would be allocated per person if they each had an equal piece of square mile stuff would amount to the equivalent area of one small studio flat per inhabitant in the whole municipality the construction of the Galaxy Towers in the 1970s was part of an ear Urban Development initiative aimed at providing modern highdensity housing solutions for the growing population these towers not only offer stunning views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline but also include numerous amenities such as swimming pools fitness centers and retail shops this makes the towers highly attractive to Residents contributing to their High occupancy rates number nine DCA Bangladesh a crowded economic hub up next we have yet another Contender for the most full up place in our world this time we're in Bangladesh in the center of DACA the hub for the nation's economy and home to about a bazillion people the sums have been done and apparently there are somewhere in the region of 47,000 people per square kilometer in DACA it sounds pretty cozy this massive city is hugely important to the country as a whole and it actually accounts for more than a fifth of Bangladesh's gross domestic product it's where you'll find almost half of all the jobs in the country but despite the obvious necessity for many people to live in this place just to make a living it's still considered to be in the top five least livable cities in the world which is hardly a ringing endorsement the trouble is that where there's enormous overcrowding there's also a massive strain on the infrastructure of a place as well as all that extra junk that comes along when you stuff a whole lot of people into a small area there's loads of gross pollution there's an insane level of noise ridiculously insufferable [Music] traffic and lots of unplanned housing just popping up out of sheer necessity people do need shelter but this halfhazard urbanization can be dangerous where there's a lack of safe housing and poor infrastructure there's also an increase in problems and with the average driving speed being 7 kmph nobody is getting anywhere fast daca's challenges underscore the need for comprehensive urban planning and sustainable development to improve the quality of life for its residents number eight sanos ten node Belgium's crowded municipality Belgium is not the biggest country nor the most populated on planet Earth but it does have a place which has rather a lot of people squashed in together into an unfeasibly small area this is San Jose tude a municipality in the Brussels capital region of Belgium its proximity to Brussels the capital of Belgium makes this a very populous Place indeed even though the average population density in Belgium is 377 inhabitants for every square kilometer this place surpasses that by an absolutely bananas amount the population density of this municipality is 23,2 34 inhabitants for every square kilometer many of the people who live in the place are those who have immigrated to Belgium to work in the capital thrilling stuff I'm sure but this is Belgium after all and you know how it can be San toown n's High population density is driven by its location within the Brussels metropolitan area which is an important center for European politics business and culture the municipality attracts a diverse population including exp Patriots International workers and students all of whom contribute to its vibrant Multicultural atmosphere the availability of public transportation educational institutions and employment opportunities make it a desirable place to live despite its crowded conditions number seven maliban overflowing with life and challenges here we are again in the Philippines actually not far at all from where we were just a matter of moments ago this is maliban a distinctly urbanized City located just to the north of the city of Manila you know where we saw a really dense population of people packed in like sardines anyways this place seems to be a kind of overflow car park for the excess population that is leaking out of the capital it's a mostly residential and industrial place and is massively all of loads of people the total land area is 15. 96% another layer of complexity to its crowded conditions known for its Rich Heritage maliban is home to several historical landmarks traditional festivals and unique culinary Specialties the city's residents take pride in their local customs and Community Spirit which helps to foster a sense of unity despite the challenges of overcrowding malbon's strategic location along the river and its proximity to major commercial areas make it a crucial hub for trade and Industry in the region that means that these people are all squished together at the rate of 23, 842 people per square kilometer which is rather an intimate and distinctly snug situation to be honest number six mongkok Hong Kong's crowded corner here we are in Hong Kong this time in an area known as mongkok stop it get your minds out of the gutter mongkok is the Cantonese word for busy corner and that may actually be ever so slightly downplaying just how insane L populated the place is when I said that Manila is the most densely populated place on Earth it seems as though I probably had forgotten all about mongkok there are believed to be a staggering 130,000 people per square kilometer living here just to put that in perspective there are 8,000 people per square kilometer in Sydney Australia and that is that country's most densely populated place in the United States it's Washington DC that claims the density prize of about 11,000 people per square mile although we'll see some other US cities with bigger numbers coming up because these things do change a lot and have many different ways of being measured even so that probably gives you an indication that this part of Hong Kong is bananas literally everywhere is packed all of the time the streets are rammed with constant traffic and the sidewalks are totally packed with people there is constant light and noise pollution Perpetual construction work and it's not even a cheap option rent here is Sky High despite all of the irritation and inconvenience of sharing the space with a zillion other people yet for many the energetic atmosphere and the convenience of living in the heart of Hong Kong's commercial District make it a desirable place to live number five the rosinia favella a city within a city in big Brazilian cities the favellas are the densely populated areas where the poorest of the the population live in busy and often times less regulated communities in Rio de Janeiro the favellas are famous for their vibrant but often dangerous way of life the rosinia flla is one of Rio's favelas and it also happens to be the largest this place can be seen sprawled across the Steep Hillside all up away from the center of the city though they are poorer areas and packed with people it doesn't mean that the favellas are all slums in fact the roia flla has all of those things things that you would expect to find in any neighborhood there are the usual Necessities like running water and electricity there are even schools shops and pharmacies so life in the flla is ordinary in some ways but extraordinary in others these are the places where the creativity and expression of the local people is visible and celebrated there's a dizzying array of Art and food culture taking place in the flla and although they have the reputation for being dangerous and they're more dangerous in some respects than other parts of the city some of the favellas are also some of the most interesting and real places in Rio number four Malay Island the busy heart of the Maldives the Republic of the Maldives is a string of small Coral Islands about 1,00 in total there are clusters of these islands which are known as atoles across 90,000 square kmers of the Indian Ocean and it is a very busy Place indeed now when we think of the Maldives we we may imagine exclusive vacation destinations with beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear waters and miles of lush green Landscapes and Luxury Resorts there are parts of this country which are far from that idyllic scene I mean people have to live and work here as well it's not a vacation for the locals after all this island has a population of over 200,000 people and they're all crammed onto an island which has an area of around 8 square km so there's not a whole lot of breathing room in this densely populated place melee the capital of the Maldives is not only the political and economic center of the country but also a hub of cultural and social activities the city is home to significant landmarks such as the 17th century hukuru misy mosque known for its intricate Coral Stone carvings and the bustling Malay Fish Market which is a vital part of the local economy additionally Malay is the main gateway for tourists visiting the Maldives with its International Airport serving as the primary entry point to the Paradise Islands the city's infrastructure has been developed to support both its residents and the influx of tourists making it a dynamic and multifaceted urban area the city itself pretty much covers the entire Island and it's also home to about onethird of the entire population of the Maldives living conditions in Malay are characterized by high population density and limited space which POS significant challenges for urban planning and development number three cowon Wald City a lawless Urban Jungle between the 1950s and 1994 cowon walled City located just to the north of Hong Kong Island was the most densely populated place on Earth it began as a Chinese military fort and later turned into an ungoverned and ungovernable city of squatters and buildings on top of buildings it was an enormous complex of 300 buildings that were all interconnected across one city block BL this area was essentially a lawless kind of space which was between Hong Kong which was then run by the British and China Kon Wald city was run by criminals famous for organized crime and opium dens despite the small area that it took up cowon Wald city was home to more than 33,000 people there were Triad run gambling dens and it was feared by police and all other official Health Inspectors would not step into the place in Cantonese it was known as the city of Darkness interesting ly despite its notoriety for crime and squalor cowon Wald city was also a thriving community in many ways the residents developed a self-sufficient Society with shops schools and small factories dentists and doctors practiced there without official licenses and people built their lives amidst the chaos the labyrinthine structure and the high density of people created a unique social ecosystem where everyone knew their neighbors and mutual Aid was a necessity for survival the res residents Ingenuity in making the most of their cramped quarters was remarkable with makeshift balconies and rooftop gardens adding A Touch of Green to the otherwise gray and claustrophobic environment cowon waled City no longer exists it was demolished in the early 1990s and a park was built in its place so you cannot actually step inside the most densely populated place on Earth but frankly you probably wouldn't have wanted to anyway the legacy of cowon Wald City lives on through documentaries books and the memories of those who experienced its unique environment it remains a fascinating example of human adaptability and resilience in the face of extreme living conditions number two Manila a bustling Urban Metropolis these days it's allegedly Manila in the Philippines that is the most densely populated city in the whole wide world however as we shall see there are many many different contenders for this unenviable title Manila has an astonishing population of 21.
3 million people that means that there are 42,000 inhabitants per square kilometer it's firmly amongst the most populated and also the fastest growing cities in Southeast Asia manila's history makes it a hugely important place in the world because it's long been considered one of the original Global cities and was part of the earliest commercial networks that connected Asia with the Spanish Americas via the gallion trade these trade routes were essentially what built the global world that we know today and Manila was at the Forefront of that the rapid urbanization and economic growth of Manila have led to significant challenges including overcrowding traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure despite these issues Manila is a vibrant cultural Hub with a rich history and diverse population the city's historic landmarks such as intramuros the Manila Cathedral and Rosal Park attract tourists from around the world additionally Manila is a center for Education and healthc Care in the Philippines hosting several prestigious universities and medical institutions number one Mumbai India's commercial Powerhouse Mumbai is a city of huge importance in India it is the commercial capital of this vast and ever expanding nation and it also is the most densely populated city in the whole of the country the population of Mumbai has totally exploded in the decades since the 1970s leaping from from 2. 9 Million in 1971 to 9.