List of largest cities throughout history
Updated: 11/6/2025, 12:58:23 AM Wikipedia source
This article lists the largest human settlements in the world (by population) over time, as estimated by historians, from 7000 BC when the largest human settlement was a proto-city in the ancient Near East with a population of about 1,000–2,000 people, to the year 2000 when the largest human settlement was Tokyo with 26 million. Rome, Chang'an or Baghdad may have been the first city to have 1,000,000 people, as early as the 1st century or as late as the 8th century. Later cities that might have reached 1 million include Luoyang, Kaifeng, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Beijing, and Edo. There is wide agreement that London was the first city to reach 2 million and New York was the first to reach 10 million. The Greater Tokyo Area has been the most populous metropolitan area in the world since 1955, with more than 37.393 million residents as of 2020. Jakarta is expected to overtake Tokyo by 2030, partly due to Tokyo's shrinking population. As disagreements between the sources show, any of the pre-19th century figures are uncertain, especially in ancient times. Estimating population sizes before censuses were conducted is a difficult task.
Tables
· List of the most populous human settlements over time
Population
Population
Year
Population
Morris (2010)
Name
Morris (2010)
Presentlocation
Morris (2010)
Population
Modelski (2003)
Name
Modelski (2003)
Presentlocation
Modelski (2003)
Population
Chandler (1987)
Name
Chandler (1987)
Presentlocation
BC-7000
BC-7000
Year
BC-7000
Morris (2010)
1,000
Morris (2010)
Beidha
Morris (2010)
Jordan
Modelski (2003)
1,000–2,000
Modelski (2003)
Jericho
Modelski (2003)
West Bank
Basta
Basta
Year
Basta
Morris (2010)
Jordan
Çatalhöyük
Çatalhöyük
Year
Çatalhöyük
Morris (2010)
Turkey
BC 6500
BC 6500
Year
BC 6500
Modelski (2003)
5,000–10,000
Modelski (2003)
Çatalhöyük
Modelski (2003)
Turkey
BC 6000
BC 6000
Year
BC 6000
Morris (2010)
3,000
Morris (2010)
Çatalhöyük
Morris (2010)
Turkey
BC 4000
BC 4000
Year
BC 4000
Morris (2010)
5,000
Morris (2010)
Uruk
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Modelski (2003)
4,000
Modelski (2003)
Eridu
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Tell Brak
Tell Brak
Year
Tell Brak
Morris (2010)
Syria
BC 3800
to 3700
BC 3800
to 3700
Year
BC 3800
to 3700
Modelski (2003)
< 10,000
Modelski (2003)
Dobrovody
Modelski (2003)
Ukraine
BC 3700
BC 3700
Year
BC 3700
Modelski (2003)
6,000–10,000
Modelski (2003)
Eridu
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
BC 3600
to 3500
BC 3600
to 3500
Year
BC 3600
to 3500
Modelski (2003)
< 10,000
Modelski (2003)
Maydanets
Modelski (2003)
Ukraine
< 10,000
< 10,000
Year
< 10,000
Morris (2010)
Talianki
Morris (2010)
Ukraine
BC 3500
BC 3500
Year
BC 3500
Modelski (2003)
14,000
Modelski (2003)
Uruk
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
BC 3300
BC 3300
Year
BC 3300
Modelski (2003)
40,000
Modelski (2003)
Uruk
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
BC 3200
BC 3200
Year
BC 3200
Chandler (1987)
20,000
Chandler (1987)
Abydos
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 3100
BC 3100
Year
BC 3100
Chandler (1987)
20,000
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 3000
BC 3000
Year
BC 3000
Morris (2010)
45,000
Morris (2010)
Uruk
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Modelski (2003)
40,000
Modelski (2003)
Uruk
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
30,000
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 2800
BC 2800
Year
BC 2800
Modelski (2003)
80,000
Modelski (2003)
Uruk
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 2500
BC 2500
Year
BC 2500
Modelski (2003)
60,000
Modelski (2003)
Lagash
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
20,000
20,000
Year
20,000
Morris (2010)
Nippur
Morris (2010)
Iraq
BC 2400
BC 2400
Year
BC 2400
Modelski (2003)
50,000
Modelski (2003)
Mari
Modelski (2003)
Syria
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
40,000
40,000
Year
40,000
Morris (2010)
Umma
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Girsu
Girsu
Year
Girsu
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Mohenjo-daro
Mohenjo-daro
Year
Mohenjo-daro
Morris (2010)
Pakistan
BC 2300
BC 2300
Year
BC 2300
Modelski (2003)
80,000
Modelski (2003)
Girsu
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
50,000
50,000
Year
50,000
Morris (2010)
Mari
Morris (2010)
Syria
BC 2250
BC 2250
Year
BC 2250
Chandler (1987)
> 30,000
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 2240
BC 2240
Year
BC 2240
Chandler (1987)
Akkad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 2200
BC 2200
Year
BC 2200
Modelski (2003)
50,000
Modelski (2003)
Girsu
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Akkad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 2100
BC 2100
Year
BC 2100
Modelski (2003)
100,000
Modelski (2003)
Ur
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Akkad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 2075
BC 2075
Year
BC 2075
Chandler (1987)
50,000
Chandler (1987)
Girsu
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 2059
BC 2059
Year
BC 2059
Chandler (1987)
Girsu
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 2030
BC 2030
Year
BC 2030
Chandler (1987)
Ur
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 2000
BC 2000
Year
BC 2000
Morris (2010)
60,000
Morris (2010)
Memphis
Morris (2010)
Egypt
Modelski (2003)
40,000
Modelski (2003)
Isin
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
65,000
Chandler (1987)
Ur
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
Larsa
Larsa
Year
Larsa
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Girsu
Girsu
Year
Girsu
Morris (2010)
Iraq
BC 1991
BC 1991
Year
BC 1991
Chandler (1987)
Ur
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 1980
BC 1980
Year
BC 1980
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1900
BC 1900
Year
BC 1900
Modelski (2003)
40,000
Modelski (2003)
Isin
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
Larsa
Larsa
Year
Larsa
Morris (2010)
Iraq
BC 1800
BC 1800
Year
BC 1800
Modelski (2003)
60,000
Modelski (2003)
Mari
Modelski (2003)
Syria
Chandler (1987)
> 25,000
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1770
BC 1770
Year
BC 1770
Chandler (1987)
60,000
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 1700
BC 1700
Year
BC 1700
Modelski (2003)
60,000
Modelski (2003)
Babylon
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 1670
BC 1670
Year
BC 1670
Chandler (1987)
Avaris
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1650
BC 1650
Year
BC 1650
Chandler (1987)
100,000
Chandler (1987)
Avaris
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1600
BC 1600
Year
BC 1600
Modelski (2003)
50,000–100,000
Modelski (2003)
Avaris
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
100,000
Chandler (1987)
Avaris
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1595
BC 1595
Year
BC 1595
Chandler (1987)
Avaris
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1580
BC 1580
Year
BC 1580
Chandler (1987)
Avaris
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1557
BC 1557
Year
BC 1557
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1500
BC 1500
Year
BC 1500
Morris (2010)
75,000
Morris (2010)
Uruk
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Modelski (2003)
60,000
Modelski (2003)
Thebes
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
Thebes
Thebes
Year
Thebes
Morris (2010)
Egypt
BC 1400
BC 1400
Year
BC 1400
Modelski (2003)
80,000
Modelski (2003)
Thebes
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1375
BC 1375
Year
BC 1375
Chandler (1987)
100,000
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1360
BC 1360
Year
BC 1360
Chandler (1987)
80,000
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1350
BC 1350
Year
BC 1350
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1300
BC 1300
Year
BC 1300
Modelski (2003)
-
Modelski (2003)
Yinxu(Anyang)
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1205
BC 1205
Year
BC 1205
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1200
BC 1200
Year
BC 1200
Morris (2010)
80,000
Morris (2010)
Babylon
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Modelski (2003)
160,000
Modelski (2003)
Pi-Ramses
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
50,000
Chandler (1987)
Memphis
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
Thebes
Thebes
Year
Thebes
Morris (2010)
Egypt
BC 1188
BC 1188
Year
BC 1188
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1184
BC 1184
Year
BC 1184
Chandler (1987)
120,000
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1100
BC 1100
Year
BC 1100
Modelski (2003)
120,000
Modelski (2003)
Pi-Ramses
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 1000
BC 1000
Year
BC 1000
Morris (2010)
35,000
Morris (2010)
Qiyi (Qi)
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
120,000
Modelski (2003)
Thebes
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
> 50,000
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
100,000
100,000
Year
100,000
Morris (2010)
Haojing(Xi'an)
Morris (2010)
China
Morris (2010)
> 50,000
Modelski (2003)
Haojing(Xi'an)
Modelski (2003)
China
Memphis
Memphis
Year
Memphis
Morris (2010)
Egypt
Morris (2010)
50,000
Morris (2010)
Chengzhou(Luoyang)
Modelski (2003)
China
Babylon
Babylon
Year
Babylon
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Morris (2010)
100,000
BC 900
BC 900
Year
BC 900
Modelski (2003)
120,000
Modelski (2003)
Haojing
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 800
BC 800
Year
BC 800
Modelski (2003)
125,000
Modelski (2003)
Haojing
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
> 50,000
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 700
BC 700
Year
BC 700
Modelski (2003)
100,000
Modelski (2003)
Thebes
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
Thebes
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
Memphis
Memphis
Year
Memphis
Morris (2010)
Egypt
Nineveh
Nineveh
Year
Nineveh
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Babylon
Babylon
Year
Babylon
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Luoyi(Luoyang)
Luoyi(Luoyang)
Year
Luoyi(Luoyang)
Morris (2010)
China
Linzi
Linzi
Year
Linzi
Morris (2010)
China
BC 668
BC 668
Year
BC 668
Chandler (1987)
100,000
Chandler (1987)
Nineveh
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 650
BC 650
Year
BC 650
Chandler (1987)
120,000
Chandler (1987)
Nineveh
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 612
BC 612
Year
BC 612
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 600
BC 600
Year
BC 600
Modelski (2003)
200,000
Modelski (2003)
Babylon
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
100,000
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
Luoyi
Luoyi
Year
Luoyi
Morris (2010)
China
BC 562
BC 562
Year
BC 562
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 500
BC 500
Year
BC 500
Morris (2010)
150,000
Morris (2010)
Babylon
Morris (2010)
Iraq
Modelski (2003)
200,000
Modelski (2003)
Babylon
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
Luoyi
Luoyi
Year
Luoyi
Morris (2010)
China
Linzi
Linzi
Year
Linzi
Morris (2010)
China
BC 479
BC 479
Year
BC 479
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 460
BC 460
Year
BC 460
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 440
BC 440
Year
BC 440
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 430
BC 430
Year
BC 430
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 400
BC 400
Year
BC 400
Modelski (2003)
320,000
Modelski (2003)
Xiadu
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
Babylon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
BC 320
BC 320
Year
BC 320
Chandler (1987)
> 300,000
Chandler (1987)
Alexandria
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
BC 300
BC 300
Year
BC 300
Modelski (2003)
500,000
Modelski (2003)
Carthage
Modelski (2003)
Tunisia
Chandler (1987)
Pataliputra(Patna)
Chandler (1987)
India
BC 220
BC 220
Year
BC 220
Chandler (1987)
Pataliputra
Chandler (1987)
India
BC 206
BC 206
Year
BC 206
Chandler (1987)
Pataliputra
Chandler (1987)
India
BC 200
BC 200
Year
BC 200
Morris (2010)
300,000
Morris (2010)
Alexandria
Morris (2010)
Egypt
Modelski (2003)
600,000
Modelski (2003)
Alexandria
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
350,000
Chandler (1987)
Pataliputra
Chandler (1987)
India
400,000
400,000
Year
400,000
Morris (2010)
Chang'an(Xi'an)
Morris (2010)
China
BC 195
BC 195
Year
BC 195
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
BC 190
BC 190
Year
BC 190
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
BC 170
BC 170
Year
BC 170
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
BC 160
BC 160
Year
BC 160
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
BC 100
BC 100
Year
BC 100
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Alexandria
Modelski (2003)
Egypt
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
BC 25
BC 25
Year
BC 25
Chandler (1987)
Rome
Chandler (1987)
Italy
AD 1
AD 1
Year
AD 1
Morris (2010)
1,000,000
Morris (2010)
Rome
Morris (2010)
Italy
Modelski (2003)
800,000
Modelski (2003)
Rome
Modelski (2003)
Italy
Chandler (1987)
Rome
Chandler (1987)
Italy
AD 100
AD 100
Year
AD 100
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Rome
Modelski (2003)
Italy
Chandler (1987)
450,000
Chandler (1987)
Rome
Chandler (1987)
Italy
AD 180
AD 180
Year
AD 180
Chandler (1987)
600,000
Chandler (1987)
Rome
Chandler (1987)
Italy
AD 200
AD 200
Year
AD 200
Morris (2010)
800,000
Morris (2010)
Rome
Morris (2010)
Italy
Modelski (2003)
1,200,000
Modelski (2003)
Rome
Modelski (2003)
Italy
Chandler (1987)
Rome
Chandler (1987)
Italy
AD 280
AD 280
Year
AD 280
Chandler (1987)
500,000
Chandler (1987)
Rome
Chandler (1987)
Italy
AD 300
AD 300
Year
AD 300
Modelski (2003)
1,700,000
Modelski (2003)
Rome
Modelski (2003)
Italy
Chandler (1987)
Rome
Chandler (1987)
Italy
AD 340
AD 340
Year
AD 340
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople(Istanbul)
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 350
AD 350
Year
AD 350
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 361
AD 361
Year
AD 361
Chandler (1987)
300,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 400
AD 400
Year
AD 400
Morris (2010)
500,000
Morris (2010)
Rome
Morris (2010)
Italy
Modelski (2003)
800,000
Modelski (2003)
Rome
Modelski (2003)
Italy
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 410
AD 410
Year
AD 410
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 450
AD 450
Year
AD 450
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 500
AD 500
Year
AD 500
Modelski (2003)
500,000
Modelski (2003)
Constantinople
Modelski (2003)
Turkey
Chandler (1987)
400,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
Jiankang(Nanjing)
Jiankang(Nanjing)
Year
Jiankang(Nanjing)
Morris (2010)
China
Luoyang
Luoyang
Year
Luoyang
Morris (2010)
China
AD 570
AD 570
Year
AD 570
Chandler (1987)
Ctesiphon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 575
AD 575
Year
AD 575
Chandler (1987)
500,000
Chandler (1987)
Ctesiphon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 600
AD 600
Year
AD 600
Morris (2010)
600,000
Morris (2010)
Daxing(Chang'an)
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
600,000
Modelski (2003)
Constantinople
Modelski (2003)
Turkey
Chandler (1987)
500,000
Chandler (1987)
Ctesiphon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 622
AD 622
Year
AD 622
Chandler (1987)
500,000
Chandler (1987)
Ctesiphon
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 637
AD 637
Year
AD 637
Chandler (1987)
400,000
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 650
AD 650
Year
AD 650
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 700
AD 700
Year
AD 700
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Chang'an
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
800,000
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 750
AD 750
Year
AD 750
Chandler (1987)
800,000
Chandler (1987)
Chang'an
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 775
AD 775
Year
AD 775
Chandler (1987)
600,000
Chandler (1987)
Baghdad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 800
AD 800
Year
AD 800
Morris (2010)
1,000,000
Morris (2010)
Chang'an
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
800,000
Modelski (2003)
Chang'an
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
700,000
Chandler (1987)
Baghdad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 833
AD 833
Year
AD 833
Chandler (1987)
900,000
Chandler (1987)
Baghdad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 900
AD 900
Year
AD 900
Morris (2010)
750,000
Morris (2010)
Chang'an
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
900,000
Modelski (2003)
Baghdad
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
900,000
Chandler (1987)
Baghdad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 925
AD 925
Year
AD 925
Chandler (1987)
1,100,000
Chandler (1987)
Baghdad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 932
AD 932
Year
AD 932
Chandler (1987)
1,100,000
Chandler (1987)
Baghdad
Chandler (1987)
Iraq
AD 935
AD 935
Year
AD 935
Chandler (1987)
350,000
Chandler (1987)
Cordoba
Chandler (1987)
Spain
AD 1000
AD 1000
Year
AD 1000
Morris (2010)
1,000,000
Morris (2010)
Kaifeng
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
1,200,000
Modelski (2003)
Baghdad
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
350,000
Chandler (1987)
Cordoba
Chandler (1987)
Spain
AD 1013
AD 1013
Year
AD 1013
Chandler (1987)
400,000
Chandler (1987)
Kaifeng
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1050
AD 1050
Year
AD 1050
Chandler (1987)
400,000
Chandler (1987)
Kaifeng
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1071
AD 1071
Year
AD 1071
Chandler (1987)
400,000
Chandler (1987)
Kaifeng
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1100
AD 1100
Year
AD 1100
Modelski (2003)
1,200,000
Modelski (2003)
Baghdad
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
442,000
Chandler (1987)
Kaifeng
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1102
AD 1102
Year
AD 1102
Chandler (1987)
442,000
Chandler (1987)
Kaifeng
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1126
AD 1126
Year
AD 1126
Chandler (1987)
420,000
Chandler (1987)
Kaifeng
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1127
AD 1127
Year
AD 1127
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1145
AD 1145
Year
AD 1145
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Merv
Chandler (1987)
Turkmenistan
AD 1150
AD 1150
Year
AD 1150
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Merv
Chandler (1987)
Turkmenistan
AD 1153
AD 1153
Year
AD 1153
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1160
AD 1160
Year
AD 1160
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1170
AD 1170
Year
AD 1170
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Fez
Chandler (1987)
Morocco
AD 1180
AD 1180
Year
AD 1180
Chandler (1987)
200,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1200
AD 1200
Year
AD 1200
Morris (2010)
1,000,000
Morris (2010)
Hangzhou
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Baghdad
Modelski (2003)
Iraq
Chandler (1987)
255,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Year
Hangzhou
Morris (2010)
China
Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Year
Kaifeng
Morris (2010)
China
AD 1210
AD 1210
Year
AD 1210
Chandler (1987)
260,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1250
AD 1250
Year
AD 1250
Chandler (1987)
320,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1273
AD 1273
Year
AD 1273
Chandler (1987)
432,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1300
AD 1300
Year
AD 1300
Modelski (2003)
1,500,000
Modelski (2003)
Hangzhou
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
432,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1315
AD 1315
Year
AD 1315
Chandler (1987)
432,000
Chandler (1987)
Cairo
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
AD 1325
AD 1325
Year
AD 1325
Chandler (1987)
500,000
Chandler (1987)
Cairo
Chandler (1987)
Egypt
AD 1348
AD 1348
Year
AD 1348
Chandler (1987)
432,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1350
AD 1350
Year
AD 1350
Chandler (1987)
432,000
Chandler (1987)
Hangzhou
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1358
AD 1358
Year
AD 1358
Chandler (1987)
Jiankang(Nanjing)
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1391
AD 1391
Year
AD 1391
Chandler (1987)
473,000
Chandler (1987)
Yingtian(Nanjing)
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1400
AD 1400
Year
AD 1400
Morris (2010)
500,000
Morris (2010)
Yingtian(Nanjing)
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Yingtian(Nanjing)
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
487,000
Chandler (1987)
Yingtian
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1420
AD 1420
Year
AD 1420
Chandler (1987)
Yingtian
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1425
AD 1425
Year
AD 1425
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1450
AD 1450
Year
AD 1450
Chandler (1987)
600,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1492
AD 1492
Year
AD 1492
Chandler (1987)
669,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1500
AD 1500
Year
AD 1500
Morris (2010)
600,000
Morris (2010)
Beijing
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Beijing
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
672,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1550
AD 1550
Year
AD 1550
Chandler (1987)
690,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1575
AD 1575
Year
AD 1575
Chandler (1987)
706,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1579
AD 1579
Year
AD 1579
Chandler (1987)
706,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1600
AD 1600
Year
AD 1600
Morris (2010)
700,000
Morris (2010)
Beijing
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Beijing
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
706,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1635
AD 1635
Year
AD 1635
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1637
AD 1637
Year
AD 1637
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1650
AD 1650
Year
AD 1650
Chandler (1987)
700,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1670
AD 1670
Year
AD 1670
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1675
AD 1675
Year
AD 1675
Chandler (1987)
750,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1684
AD 1684
Year
AD 1684
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1685
AD 1685
Year
AD 1685
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1690
AD 1690
Year
AD 1690
Chandler (1987)
700–800,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1700
AD 1700
Year
AD 1700
Morris (2010)
650,000
Morris (2010)
Beijing
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
1,000,000
Modelski (2003)
Ayutthaya
Modelski (2003)
Thailand
Chandler (1987)
700,000
Chandler (1987)
Constantinople
Chandler (1987)
Turkey
AD 1710
AD 1710
Year
AD 1710
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1720
AD 1720
Year
AD 1720
Morris (2010)
Edo
Morris (2010)
Japan
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1750
AD 1750
Year
AD 1750
Chandler (1987)
900,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1775
AD 1775
Year
AD 1775
Chandler (1987)
1,000,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1800
AD 1800
Year
AD 1800
Morris (2010)
1,100,000
Morris (2010)
Beijing
Morris (2010)
China
Modelski (2003)
1,100,000
Modelski (2003)
Beijing
Modelski (2003)
China
Chandler (1987)
1,100,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1821
AD 1821
Year
AD 1821
Chandler (1987)
1,300,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
AD 1825
AD 1825
Year
AD 1825
Chandler (1987)
1,350,000
Chandler (1987)
Beijing
Chandler (1987)
China
1,335,000
1,335,000
Year
1,335,000
Morris (2010)
London(urban area)
Morris (2010)
United Kingdom
AD 1841
AD 1841
Year
AD 1841
Chandler (1987)
1,948,000
Chandler (1987)
London
Chandler (1987)
United Kingdom
AD 1850
AD 1850
Year
AD 1850
Chandler (1987)
2,320,000
Chandler (1987)
London
Chandler (1987)
United Kingdom
AD 1851
AD 1851
Year
AD 1851
Chandler (1987)
2,362,000
Chandler (1987)
London
Chandler (1987)
United Kingdom
AD 1861
AD 1861
Year
AD 1861
Chandler (1987)
2,803,000
Chandler (1987)
London
Chandler (1987)
United Kingdom
AD 1875
AD 1875
Year
AD 1875
Chandler (1987)
4,241,000
Chandler (1987)
London
Chandler (1987)
United Kingdom
AD 1900
AD 1900
Year
AD 1900
Morris (2010)
6,600,000
Morris (2010)
London
Morris (2010)
United Kingdom
Modelski (2003)
6,500,000
Modelski (2003)
London
Modelski (2003)
United Kingdom
Chandler (1987)
6,480,000
Chandler (1987)
London
Chandler (1987)
United Kingdom
AD 1914
AD 1914
Year
AD 1914
Chandler (1987)
7,419,000
Chandler (1987)
London
Chandler (1987)
United Kingdom
AD 1925
AD 1925
Year
AD 1925
Chandler (1987)
7,774,000
Chandler (1987)
New York(urban area)
Chandler (1987)
United States
AD 1936
AD 1936
Year
AD 1936
Chandler (1987)
10,150,000
Chandler (1987)
New York
Chandler (1987)
United States
AD 1950
AD 1950
Year
AD 1950
Chandler (1987)
12,463,000
Chandler (1987)
New York
Chandler (1987)
United States
AD 1965
AD 1965
Year
AD 1965
Chandler (1987)
15,000,000
Chandler (1987)
Tokyo(urban area)
Chandler (1987)
Japan
AD 1975
AD 1975
Year
AD 1975
Chandler (1987)
20,500,000
Chandler (1987)
Tokyo
Chandler (1987)
Japan
AD 2000
AD 2000
Year
AD 2000
Morris (2010)
26,400,000
Morris (2010)
Tokyo
Morris (2010)
Japan
| Year | Morris (2010) | Modelski (2003) | Chandler (1987) | ||||||
| Population | Name | Presentlocation | Population | Name | Presentlocation | Population | Name | Presentlocation | |
| BC-7000 | 1,000 | Beidha | Jordan | 1,000–2,000 | Jericho | West Bank | |||
| Basta | Jordan | ||||||||
| Çatalhöyük | Turkey | ||||||||
| BC 6500 | 5,000–10,000 | Çatalhöyük | Turkey | ||||||
| BC 6000 | 3,000 | Çatalhöyük | Turkey | ||||||
| BC 4000 | 5,000 | Uruk | Iraq | 4,000 | Eridu | Iraq | |||
| Tell Brak | Syria | ||||||||
| BC 3800 to 3700 | < 10,000 | Dobrovody | Ukraine | ||||||
| BC 3700 | 6,000–10,000 | Eridu | Iraq | ||||||
| BC 3600 to 3500 | < 10,000 | Maydanets | Ukraine | ||||||
| < 10,000 | Talianki | Ukraine | |||||||
| BC 3500 | 14,000 | Uruk | Iraq | ||||||
| BC 3300 | 40,000 | Uruk | Iraq | ||||||
| BC 3200 | 20,000 | Abydos | Egypt | ||||||
| BC 3100 | 20,000 | Memphis | Egypt | ||||||
| BC 3000 | 45,000 | Uruk | Iraq | 40,000 | Uruk | Iraq | 30,000 | Memphis | Egypt |
| BC 2800 | 80,000 | Uruk | Iraq | Memphis | Egypt | ||||
| BC 2500 | 60,000 | Lagash | Iraq | Memphis | Egypt | ||||
| 20,000 | Nippur | Iraq | |||||||
| BC 2400 | 50,000 | Mari | Syria | Memphis | Egypt | ||||
| 40,000 | Umma | Iraq | |||||||
| Girsu | Iraq | ||||||||
| Mohenjo-daro | Pakistan | ||||||||
| BC 2300 | 80,000 | Girsu | Iraq | Memphis | Egypt | ||||
| 50,000 | Mari | Syria | |||||||
| BC 2250 | > 30,000 | Memphis | Egypt | ||||||
| BC 2240 | Akkad | Iraq | |||||||
| BC 2200 | 50,000 | Girsu | Iraq | Akkad | Iraq | ||||
| BC 2100 | 100,000 | Ur | Iraq | Akkad | Iraq | ||||
| BC 2075 | 50,000 | Girsu | Iraq | ||||||
| BC 2059 | Girsu | Iraq | |||||||
| BC 2030 | Ur | Iraq | |||||||
| BC 2000 | 60,000 | Memphis | Egypt | 40,000 | Isin | Iraq | 65,000 | Ur | Iraq |
| Larsa | Iraq | ||||||||
| Girsu | Iraq | ||||||||
| BC 1991 | Ur | Iraq | |||||||
| BC 1980 | Thebes | Egypt | |||||||
| BC 1900 | 40,000 | Isin | Iraq | Thebes | Egypt | ||||
| Larsa | Iraq | ||||||||
| BC 1800 | 60,000 | Mari | Syria | > 25,000 | Thebes | Egypt | |||
| BC 1770 | 60,000 | Babylon | Iraq | ||||||
| BC 1700 | 60,000 | Babylon | Iraq | Babylon | Iraq | ||||
| BC 1670 | Avaris | Egypt | |||||||
| BC 1650 | 100,000 | Avaris | Egypt | ||||||
| BC 1600 | 50,000–100,000 | Avaris | Egypt | 100,000 | Avaris | Egypt | |||
| BC 1595 | Avaris | Egypt | |||||||
| BC 1580 | Avaris | Egypt | |||||||
| BC 1557 | Memphis | Egypt | |||||||
References
- United Nationshttps://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/urbanization/the_worlds_cities_in_2018_data_booklet.pdf
- "Jakarta to Topple Tokyo as World's Biggest City by 2030"https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-09/jakarta-to-topple-tokyo-as-world-s-most-populous-city-by-2030
- ThoughtCohttps://www.thoughtco.com/largest-cities-throughout-history-4068071
- Ian Morrishttps://web.archive.org/web/20110726164950/http://www.ianmorris.org/docs/social-development.pdf
- World Cities: -3000 to 2000https://web.archive.org/web/20081228052839/http://faculty.washington.edu/modelski/
- Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Censushttps://irows.ucr.edu/research/citemp/citemtoc.htm
- The date that the population of Beidha, Basta and Çatalhöyük is estimated to be 1,000 is given as 7500 BCE in Morris's p
- Suggested to be the largest cities in Modelski's text, but not given constantly prior to 3700 BCE (p. 3, p. 17, and p. 2
- A Pre-Pottery Neolithic B settlement located ca. 25 km north of Petra.
- The rough year that Çatalhöyük was supposed to be the largest is not given in Modelski's text which cites Ian Hodder's r
- The date that the population of Çatalhöyük is estimated to be 3,000 is given as 6500 BCE in Morris's published text (p.
- Suggested to be housing up to 10,000 people in Modelski's text (pp. 24–25), but only Eridu is listed as the largest city
- Suggested to be more than 45,000 in Morris's published text (p. 632).
- According to Modelski's list of world's largest cities (p. 218), Nippur shares the top with Lagash with 60,000 inhabitan
- Girsu (Telloh), the later capital of the state of Lagash, was situated 25 km NW of Lagash (Tell al Hiba), though both si
- According to Modelski's list of world's largest cities (p. 218), Girsu shares the top with Mari with 50,000 inhabitants,
- According to Modelski's list of world's largest cities (p. 218), the population of Girsu for 2300 BCE is estimated as 50
- Location uncertain. Maybe west of Sippar.
- Modelski's list of world's largest cities (p. 218) excludes Girsu for 2000 BCE, though Table 2 (b) lists Girsu with 40,0
- The palace of Pi-Ramses (Qantir) was founded 2 km NE of Avaris (or Hawaret, Tell el-Dab'a), the residential area of whic
- When the city first passed 100,000, suggested by Richard Forstall (pp. 541–542).
- According to Chandler's list of the largest cities (pp. 523–527), Thebes was the largest for 1400–668 BCE, but Memphis w
- Modelski's list of the world's largest cities treats Thebes and Haojing as the top cities with 100,000 inhabitants (p. 2
- Chandler listed Thebes, Haojing, and Chengzhou (Luoyang) as the largest, second-largest, and third-largest cities (p. 46
- Haojing, which formed the capital of Western Zhou together with Fenghao, was located 15 km SW of Chang'an, the capital o
- Chengzhou was founded on the east side of the Luo river with Wangzheng on the west side. Both cities were later annexed
- According to Modelski's list of world's largest cities (p. 219), the population of Babylon for 700 BCE is estimated as 1
- Modelski's list of world's largest cities (p. 219) excludes Linzi for 500 BCE, though Table 5 (a) lists Linzi with 200,0
- According to Chandler's list of the largest cities (pp. 523–527), Pataliputra was the largest for 300 to 195 BCE, but Ch
- Based on historical documents, in Southern Liang dynasty, Jiankang (Nanjing) had 280,000 registered households, and assu
- Seleucia was founded on the right bank of Tigris opposite to Ctesiphon. Figures for Seleucia include the population of C
- The population of Daxing (Chang'an) in AD 600 is estimated at 250,000 in Morris's published text (p. 632), while the sup
- Modelski's list of world's largest cities (p. 219) estimates the population of Baghdad for AD 1000 as 1,500,000, which i
- The population of Hangzhou in AD 1200 is estimated at 800,000 in Morris's published text (p. 632), while the supporting
- Includes Üsküdar in Asia Minor as a suburb.
- According to Morris (p. 483), Edo grew into the world's biggest city by 1720, but the estimated population for Edo is no
- The population of Tokyo in AD 2000 is estimated at 26,700,000 in Morris's published text (p. 632), while the supporting