According to a recent report by the United Nations, Karachi is projected to become the world’s 5th-largest city by population by 2050, driven by rapid urban growth and demographic expansion.
The study states that the number of global megacities (with populations over 10 million) has grown from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, and is expected to reach 37 by 2050 — with Karachi among those at the forefront.
This raises major urban governance, infrastructure and sustainability challenges for Karachi, already ranked among the world’s least liveable cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit.