NewStats: 3,263,667 , 8,180,948 topics. Date: Saturday, 07 June 2025 at 07:52 AM 5p4m26

Charted: Cities with the Largest Working-Age Populations

As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, cities are transforming into economic engines driven by people of working age, who form the backbones of local economies.

From Shanghai to London, several cities have become hubs for urbanization, forming massive economies on their own.

This infographic breaks down the cities with the largest working-age populations aged 25–64 globally, based on data from Oxford Economics via CBRE Research.

The World’s Largest Urban Workforces
Chinese cities dominate the list of cities with the largest working-age populations, with four of the top five cities in China.

Here’s a look at the world’s top cities by working-age population:

Shanghai leads the list with 18.4 million working-age residents, followed by Beijing at 16.5 million. Shenzhen, ranking fifth on the list, is a manufacturing hub and has the highest proportion of working-age adults aged 25–64, ing for 83.3% of its population.

Meanwhile, India, the world’s most populous country, has two cities on the list with Delhi and Mumbai both being among the cities with the biggest workforces.

New York is the largest U.S. city on the list, ranking sixth with 13.3 million working-age adults. Other American cities with significant workforces include Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas.

In of growth in working-age populations, the city of Bengaluru in India leads, averaging 2.4% annual growth over the last five years. Canada’s financial hub, Toronto, follows at 2.2%, with Shenzhen ranking third at 2.1% average growth in working-age population from 2019 to 2024.

However, urban labor markets are not growing everywhere. Cities like Seoul, Hong Kong, and San Francisco are seeing declines in their working-age populations, driven by aging, declining birth rates, and migration patterns.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/charted-cities-with-the-largest-working-age-populations/#google_vignette

No African country, always lagging behind

Onitsha is number 27.

How is Lagos not on this list?

Lagos should be no:5

SusanOpeyemi:
Onitsha is number 27.

Shey u take codeine.. Abi na monkey tail?

Seign.

No african country. Lagos and cairo should be on that list

If Lagos is not there then it's a lie.

Odingo1:
No African country, always lagging behind

Foreign researchers usually don't cover African countries due to lack of data and budget constraints. Blame the quality of the research on the researchers, don't condemn your own people. 😒

Lagos has at least 10 million people below the age of 40, so the research failed to capture Africa as a whole.

Africans must desist from using research that doesn't cover our continent, cos it's really useless to us, just like this thread.

when i told people that only few people are working in Lagos

In africa one successful working class is sponsoring 3 other lazy families 😂

Africa has no data, its countries could have been in the list.

Il y a sapé!

Ou est la ville du Lagos?


Why undermining our almighty Eko?
Imagine even Manilla sef made the list, and Lag was left out!

#ojoro

They didn’t include unemployed working age, if not 3 Nigeria cities would have made the list

Go to the newspaper stands, bases, motorparks, markets, you will see many roaming around.

Lagos and Nigeria in general should be part

Note: the report says: working-age populations

SusanOpeyemi:
Onitsha is number 27.

Onisha na city?

cyberbro:


Foreign researchers usually don't cover African countries due to lack of data and budget constraints. Blame the quality of the research on the researchers, don't condemn your own people. 😒

Lagos has at least 10 million people below the age of 40, so the research failed to capture Africa as a whole.

Africans must desist from using research that doesn't cover our continent, cos it's really useless to us, just like this thread.

Uninformed people like him does not always understand the background of some research companies and the data they used in coming up with their findings. Just because some people have data and time, they don't think before they expose their ignorance online. Lagos with the population of 20 million people would have occupied a vantage position if the research had spread to Africa. Thank you for taking your time to respond to him

Even here in Lag 👍

I dunno why they always exclude us in everything...leadership?

Chaii Nigeria supposed to be number 1. We have mass number of youths from 18- 35 but unfortunately our government failed us! In those days other African countries do come to Nigeria to work, study, for medical trip etc. not now. It's not only the fault of APC and PDP but they can still do better. Enabling environment for private sectors to grow only that ... This includes good roads, hospital, school, good policy, security, power etc.

benuejosh:
If Lagos is not there then it's a lie.

agbero no be work. Owomida, shandy, vipper etc no be work. Lol

The thread is talking about working hands and not children or old tenants and spiritualists or yahoo boys.

Dbestbrest:


Uninformed people like him does not always understand the background of some research companies and the data they used in coming up with their findings. Just because some people have data and time, they don't think before they expose their ignorance online. Lagos with the population of 20 million people would have occupied a vantage position if the research had spread to Africa. Thank you for taking your time to respond to him

how many of the 20m people are in thw age bracket mentioned talk less of being employed?

Impressive.

Wow

CodeTemplarr:
agbero no be work. Owomida, shandy, vipper etc no be work. Lol

The thread is talking about working hands and not children or old tenants and spiritualists or yahoo boys.

hilarious 😂

Had it been it is other way round news, Nigeria of APC will be number 1

This overview highlights the critical role of working-age populations in powering urban economies globally. The dominance of Chinese cities—especially Shanghai and Beijing—underscores the country’s rapid urban expansion and economic centralization. It’s also notable how Shenzhen stands out not just for its size but for the sheer concentration of working-age adults, reflecting its status as a magnet for younger, economically active migrants.

Meanwhile, India's emergence with cities like Delhi and Mumbai—and especially the high growth rate in Bengaluru—signals a shifting global labor dynamic, as younger populations in developing nations increasingly drive urban growth.

The contrasting trends in cities like Seoul and San Francisco show how demographic challenges and migration shifts can hamper workforce sustainability. Overall, the data emphasizes how cities must adapt their infrastructure, housing, and job markets to and attract working-age residents if they want to remain economically competitive.