Top 10 Richest Cities In The World 2020

This article takes a look at the top 10 wealthiest richest cities in the world in terms of their GDP. Some of these cities are major tourist sites and the economic hub of the world. It is interesting that cities on this list are from arguably the three most powerful continents of the world.

Top 10 Richest Cities In The World 2020

1. Tokyo, Japan

    • GDP: $1,520 billion
    • Area: 2,187.6 square kilometers
    • Population: 13,185,502

Ranking 1st as the richest city in the world is Tokyo located in the Asian country of Japan. There is a popular saying that great things come from small beginnings, little drops of water make the mighty ocean. This is the case in Tokyo. The city started as a small fishing village eventually becoming the seat if the power of Japan when Tokugawa Ieyasu ascended to power as Shogun and chose Edo which is the old name of Tokyo as the location of his headquarters.

Tokyo has had a turbulent past as an earthquake in the year 1923 almost leveled the city which was also the receiving end of extensive bombing during the Second World War. After Japan surrendered in 1945, Tokyo went ahead to rebuild and grew into the most progressive city in the world today. Tokyo is well known as a world leader in industries such as electronics, telecommunications, and publishing. The city is home to the highest number of millionaires living in the same city in the world.

2. New York, USA

    • GDP: $1,210 billion
    • Area: 1,213square kilometers
    • Population: 8,244,910

Ranking Second among the richest cities in the world list is New York City. The American city never sleeps. It is widely said that If you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere in the world. New York has a history of one being one of the richest cities in the United States, particularly in the East Coast right from time. It featured in the Anglo-Dutch War, where the Dutch took over the city but eventually turned it over to the English as decreed via a treaty in the year 1647. 

New York City was one of the cities in the United States that called for the abolition of the slave trade and it also served as an entry port to immigrants from Europe, which transformed New York City into a culturally diverse modern city that it is today. Popular sites of attraction in the city include; Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building.

3. Los Angeles, USA

    • GDP: $789.7 billion
    • Area: 1,302 square kilometers
    • Population: 3,792,621

The third city on this list is another American city known to the world as the City of Angels. The beautiful and plush city of Los Angeles rose from a very humble beginning. It started as a small village filled with predominantly Spanish-descent settlers. The village transformed into a huge town when Americans won it in the year 1847. The construction of railway tracks in the city drew more settlers and helped build businesses until it blossomed into the city as we know it today. The city is regarded by many as the filmmaking and showbiz hub in the entire United States. Most of the businesses in the city belong to the finance and banking sectors.

4. Seoul, South Korea

    • GDP: $779.3 billion
    • Area: 605.21 square kilometers
    • Population: estimated 10 million

The fourth wealthiest city in the world is the city of Seoul, South Korea. Historically, it is believed that Seoul was founded as early as 17BC and is considered to be one of the oldest surviving settlements in the whole of East Asia. The city suffered heavily and was badly bruised during the Second World War against Japan and also against China and Korea during the Korean War that lasted from 1950 to 1955. When eventually a truce between the two Koreas was signed, Seoul began to develop as a city and has not looked back ever since.

Today, the city of Seoul plays host to tourists from all over the world. These tourists visit places of note like the Korean War Memorial, Namsan Park, Changdeokgung Palace, and the N Seoul Tower. Major business ventures anchored in Seoul are electronics, textile and iron, and steel production.

5. London, England

    • GDP: $731.2 billion
    • Area: 1,570 square kilometers
    • Population: 8,173,194

The next city is London, one of the best cities to live in the world. London initially started out as a Roman settlement called Londinium and rapidly grew to become a huge city even after the Roman Empire fell. The city has suffered much historically. The city was affected by the Great Fire in the year 1666. This was then followed by the Black Plague about a century after. The city also featured as very important during the two World Wars. London city is a dream destination for people of different races, cultures, and religions all over the world. This has made London a vital melting pot of the world. Important tourist spots worth seeing when in London are the Buckingham Palace, the Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and the world-famous Big Ben clock tower. The city of London thrives on commerce, mostly finance and banking.

6. Paris, France

    • GDP: $669.2 billion
    • Area: 105.4 square kilometers
    • Population: 10,413,386

The French capital, Paris is the 6th wealthiest city in the world. The city has the reputation of being the City of Romance as of today. Paris, however, has a very turbulent history. The city had been involved in many countless wars during the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. The city also featured in battles fought during the Medieval Period, the Black Plague, invasions from Asia, and two World Wars.

Apart from being the city of Romance, Paris is also the Fashion Capital of the world currently. Several high-end clothing labels line up the streets of Paris with several designers and models flocking to the city daily so they can achieve their dreams of making it big in the fashion industry. Important places worthy of attention if you find yourself in this beautiful city include; the famous Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, the Louvre Museum, and the Arc de Triomphe.

7. Osaka, Japan

    • GDP: $654.8 billion
    • Area: 552.26 square kilometers
    • Population: 1,545,410

Another Japanese city to feature on this list is Osaka. This isn’t quite surprising as the Japanese are renowned for their hard work. It is one of the oldest and historically significant cities in Japan. The origin of Osaka can be traced as far back as the 6th century BC. The city only began to truly flourish during the Edo period which lasted from 1603 to 1867. As of today, only about 223 square kilometers of the total land area of Osaka can be described as an urban metro, the rest of the land is either designated as agricultural or cultural. Popular tourist attractions in the city include; the Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan. The most popular industries found in the city engage in metal, textile, and plastic production.

8. Chicago, USA

    • GDP: $524.6 billion
    • Area: 606.1 square kilometers
    • Population: 2,707,120

Ranked 8th on this list of richest cities in the world is Chicago. The beautiful and wealthy city is home to the Chicago Bulls, the basketball team that lorded over the basketball scene during the 1990s. The city is also home to the deep-dish pizza, a culinary offering that is rarely found anywhere else in the world.

However, Chicago is more than just a city of basketball and an Italian dish. The roots of this city are so deep that they can be traced back to Native Americans who called it Windy City home. Modern Chicago was founded in the year 1833 and has been growing ever since. The city has evolved into a megacity and is still growing. Popular industries found in Chicago are manufacturing, printing, and publishing.

9. Moscow, Russia

    • GDP: $520.1 billion
    • Area: 2,510 square kilometers
    • Population: 11,503,501

Moscow, the Russian capital offers more than just their famed vodka and luxurious caviar. It is the 9th richest city in the world currently. After Moscow was dethroned as the official seat of the country when St. Petersburg was founded, Moscow was reinstated as the capital city of Russia after the Revolution of 1917. The city has been involved in countless wars and historical milestones over the years. The city of Moscow currently provides a huge fraction of Russia’s food, steel, minerals, and chemical supplies.

10. Shanghai, China

    • GDP: $516.5 billion
    • Area: 6,340.5 square kilometers
    • Population: 23,019,148

Shanghai, China closes this list of top ten world richest cities per capita. The economy China is currently experiencing a big boom which makes it not surprising that a Chinese city will feature on this list. Though Beijing is the cultural and political headquarter of China, Shanghai is known to be the commercial hub of the country and will likely remain as such for years to come. Most of the major industries in Shanghai are involved in tourism, chemical, and steel production sectors. This beautiful city plays host to most foreign embassies in China.

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CONCLUSION ON THE TOP 10 RICHEST CITIES IN THE WORLD 2020

The above cities are world leaders and the enormous amount of wealth possessed by each city on this list ranks it high amongst cities of the world.

Tag: Wealthiest richest cities in the world 2020 GDP Per Capita