Karachi Set to Become World’s 5th Largest City by 2050: UN Report

Karachi, Pakistan’s financial powerhouse, is on track to become the world’s fifth largest city by 2050, according to the United Nations’ World Urbanisation Prospects 2025. The report projects the metropolis will see its population surge to nearly 33 million, surpassing major global cities including Cairo, Tokyo, Guangzhou, Manila, and Kolkata. Currently one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Karachi hosts roughly 25,000 people per square kilometre an intense concentration that has contributed to its ranking among the 10 least liveable cities globally, as noted by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The UN highlights Karachi’s growth as part of broader urbanisation trends across Asia, which already accommodates over half of the world’s 33 megacities in 2025. By 2050, the global count is expected to rise to 37 megacities, driven largely by expanding populations in India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the United States. The rapid escalation of Karachi’s population underscores both major opportunities and pressing challenges for Pakistan’s economic centre. As a magnet for job seekers, students, and families seeking better services, the city’s swelling population continues to strain infrastructure, housing, transportation networks, and public services.

Historically serving as Pakistan’s primary port and commercial nucleus, Karachi’s vast urban sprawl is home to diverse communities, industries, and key financial institutions. Experts caution that without strategic, long-term planning, unchecked urban growth could further amplify issues such as congestion, pollution, and limited access to essential services. The UN report additionally notes that global urbanisation has accelerated dramatically over the past decades, with urban populations swelling by 1.25 billion between 2000 and 2025. This trend reflects a shifting global demographic landscape, where more people now live in cities than in rural regions.