World’s Largest Non-capital Cities

In most countries, the national capital city is always the nation’s largest city, as well. Because it serves as the seat of government the capital city is usually the chief commercial city and the center of the nation’s economical development and the nation’s transportation hub. Capital cities usually bustle with lots of career opportunities. As it is usually the nation’s gateway to the rest of the world, it’s no wonder that most people around the world usually choose to take up residence in their nation’s capital.

However, the cities on this list are impressive in their own right. Some, such as New York City and Shanghai, are not their nation’s capital yet are the largest cities in their nations. Because of their large populations, many of these cities have managed to overshadow their national capitals and become centers of economical and social importance and far outrank their nation’s capitals in economic stature.

1.  New York City, U.S., population: 21.4 million – Leading the list is the United States’ very own Big Apple and North America’s largest metropolitan area. Being the headquarters of the United Nations and the world famous New York Stock Exchange, NYC is considered by many to be the world’s most important city. Often referred to as “The City That Never Sleeps” because of its legendary nightlife, it is also widely considered to be the world’s most exciting city. The city owes much of its spectacular growth to being the main receiving station for European immigrants up until the mid-1900’s. After a grueling trans-Atlantic voyage, many immigrants were understandably too tired to continue any further after reaching U.S. shores and just opted to remain where they were. But even after the closing of Ellis Island it still remained the East Coast’s main sea and air gateway and never stopped growing.

2. Shanghai, China, population: 20.6 million – Shanghai is the perfect example of a city that rose, fell, and rose again. Up until the late-1930’s, Shanghai was Asia’s most exciting city, commonly referred to as “The Paris of the Orient”. With its large foreign population, it was Asia’s glitziest, most cosmopolitan city. World War II and, later, communist victory in China’s Civil War, ended all of that and the city entered four decades of decline. In the early 1990’s when China introduced economic reforms and relaxed travel restrictions Shanghai came back with a vengeance. As a busy port city, it was one of the main beneficiaries of China’s rise as economic power and the city was back in business. Today, Asia’s third-largest city boasts one of its most impressive skylines and it poses a serious threat to Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s main financial and banking hub. The city’s residents are now getting in gear to host the 2010 World Expo.