This is INDEPENDENT of population size, as world cities do not have to have huge populations (but usually do) to exert such a huge influence. World cities are those that exert a dominant influence over continental and global economies and processes. Metacities are any urban area or conurbation with more than 20 million people e.g. The distinction between the 2 is simply based upon size, whereas World or global cities are different.ģ. In 1950 only 3 cities satisfied this definition – London, New York and Tokyo, today this number is far greater. Some definitions also set a minimum level for population density (at least 2,000 persons/square km). Megacities which are far larger, they have at least 10 million people.

Millionaire cities are those that have over a million residents.Ģ.

It is important to distinguish between world cities, millionaire cities, megacities and metacities ġ. Part of the global pattern of urbanisation and perhaps one of the most astonishing has been the rise of the MEGACITY. The global pattern: millionaire cities, mega cities and world cities.

Major global city-regions