The bar chart illustrates population growth across five major cosmopolitan areas, namely Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, Bombay, and Jakarta, from 1970 to 2010. Overall, the number of residents increased in all five cities during the period, with Tokyo remaining the most densely populated city throughout.
In detail, the populations of Tokyo, New York, and Shanghai grew steadily. In 1970, Tokyo had approximately 16 million inhabitants, and this figure grew rapidly to nearly 30 million by 2010. Likewise, Shanghai, starting at around 12 million people, experienced a sharp increase and surpassed 20 million by the end of the period. New York underwent the most stable growth among the three nations, rising from around 14 million in 1970 to around 16 million in 2010.
Conversely, Bombay and Jakarta experienced more dramatic increases. Jakarta’s population underwent a fivefold increase, from around 4 million in 1970 to under 20 million in 2010. Starting at 5 million, Bombay’s population skyrocketed, reaching over 25 million by 2010, making this city the second most populated city by the end of the period.