From economic superpowers to largest cities in the world

Over the past two centuries, the center of global economic power has moved dramatically — from China, to the British Empire, then to the United States, and increasingly back toward Asia.

In 1820, China was the world’s dominant economic force. The 19th century brought the rise of Britain and industrialization, while the 20th century firmly established the U.S. as the leading global economy.

Today, the balance is shifting again, with China, India and the broader Asian region gaining an increasingly large share of global GDP.

A fascinating reminder that economic dominance is never permanent — it moves in cycles.

It is only a small step from economic superpowers in the past to largest cities now and predicted.

Having lived in Dhaka myself for 3 years, with an easy comparison made to be living in an ant colony (both good and bad), the projections of the largest cities in the world is frightening.

The world’s biggest cities are shifting East — and increasingly, South.

In 1950, Tokyo and New York were the two largest cities on Earth.

By 2050, the picture could look completely different: all 15 of the world’s most populous cities are projected to be in Africa or Asia.

And the scale is staggering. Dhaka, Bangladesh is projected to approach 60 million inhabitants around 2075.

Over 150 years, the centre of urban population growth moves dramatically:

1950 → Europe, North America & Asia

2050 → Asia dominates

2100 → Africa becomes increasingly prominent

Cities that once defined global economic power are gradually giving way to a new generation of megacities.

Demographics reshape everything — infrastructure, consumption, labour markets, investment and ultimately economic power. Follow the people. Follow the growth.

Sources: Visual Capitalist, Maddison Project Database, COLDAT Colonial Dates Dataset & IMF World Economic Outlook, Valérie Noël