Europe’s Urban Titans: A Look at the Top 20 Most Populous Cities
Europe, a continent renowned for its rich history and vibrant cultures, is home to numerous cities with populations exceeding one million. While not as densely populated as megacities like New York, some European countries boast multiple large cities rather than a single dominant metropolis. However, when it comes to sheer numbers, Russia takes the cake, claiming five of the top 20 spots, with Moscow leading the pack with over 10 million residents.
Joining Moscow in the top 20 are popular Western European tourist destinations such as London, Madrid, Rome, Paris, and Berlin. Here’s the complete list of the top 20 most populous cities in Europe, as compiled by Express.co:
| Rank | City | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moscow | Russia | 10,381,222 |
| 2 | London | United Kingdom | 7,556,900 |
| 3 | Saint Petersburg | Russia | 5,028,000 |
| 4 | Berlin | Germany | 3,426,354 |
| 5 | Madrid | Spain | 3,255,944 |
| 6 | Kyiv | Ukraine | 2,797,553 |
| 7 | Rome | Italy | 2,318,895 |
| 8 | Paris | France | 2,138,551 |
| 9 | Bucharest | Romania | 1,877,155 |
| 10 | Minsk | Belarus | 1,742,124 |
| 11 | Budapest | Hungary | 1,741,041 |
| 12 | Hamburg | Germany | 1,739,117 |
| 13 | Warsaw | Poland | 1,702,139 |
| 14 | Vienna | Austria | 1,691,468 |
| 15 | Barcelona | Spain | 1,621,537 |
| 16 | Stockholm | Sweden | 1,515,017 |
| 17 | Kharkiv | Ukraine | 1,430,885 |
| 18 | Novosibirsk | Russia | 1,419,007 |
| 19 | Yekaterinburg | Russia | 1,349,772 |
| 20 | Nizhny Novgorod | Russia | 1,284,164 |
As the list shows, two Russian cities make it to the top 10, with many others flying under the radar despite their significant historical importance. For instance, Yekaterinburg, located in the Ural Mountains, is the birthplace of Boris Yeltsin, the first president of the Russian Federation. Today, the city is home to the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center, which includes a museum, exhibition, and discussion center, as well as a branch of the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library.
