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Shanghai is China’s largest city and a major global center for finance, trade, and culture, located on the eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River. The city is known for landmarks such as the Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower, which illustrate its blend of historical heritage and modern development.
On this page, readers can explore Shanghai’s main landmarks as well as a selection of famous people born in the city, including basketball player Yao Ming and writer Eileen Chang.
Shanghai in China
121.5° E
Shanghai Population Evolution
The population of Shanghai in 2026 is estimated to 27,539,620 inhabitants. This estimate is taken from our extrapolation of available data and not an official estimate.
Population Summary
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 5,258,210 | |
| 1982 | 6,320,829 | +20.2% |
| 2000 | 14,489,919 | +129.2% |
| 2010 | 20,555,098 | +41.9% |
| 2023 | 24,874,500 | +21.0% |
Interactive Map of Shanghai
What to see in Shanghai
Shanghai World Financial Center
skyscraperskyscraper in Shanghai
Shanghai Tower
skyscrapermegatall skyscraper in Lujiazui, Shanghai, China
Jin Mao Tower
skyscraperlandmark skyscraper in Shanghai
Oriental Pearl Tower
skyscraperTV tower in Shanghai, China
Shanghai International Circuit
motorsport racing trackmotorsport track in China
Shanghai Museum
museummuseum in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, China
Port of Shanghai
deep water portport in China
The Bund
thoroughfarehistorical district in central Shanghai, China
Famous People Born in Shanghai
Soong Ching-ling
former Vice President of the People's Republic of China and third wife of Sun Yat-sen
Sòng Měilíng
Chiang Kai-shek's wife, First Lady of the Republic of China
Eileen Chang
Chinese-born American essayist, novelist, and screenwriter
Tsung-Dao Lee
Chinese-American physicist
Li Peng
4th Premier of the People's Republic of China
J. G. Ballard
British novelist
Charles K. Kao
Hong Kong-British-American physicist
Wong Kar-wai
Chinese-born Hong Kong filmmaker
Joan Chen
Chinese-American actress and director
Yao Ming
Chinese basketball player
Liu Xiang
Chinese athlete
Ju Wenjun
Chinese chess player
Sister Cities of Shanghai
Sister cities, also known as twin cities, are formal partnerships between cities in different countries to promote cultural and commercial ties.
This list is based on publicly available structured data and may differ slightly from official municipal publications.
| City | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | 🇹🇷 Turkey | 15,655,924 |
| Karachi | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 14,910,352 |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 14,002,598 |
| São Paulo | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 11,451,999 |
| Jakarta | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 11,135,191 |
| New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | 8,804,190 |
| London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8,799,728 |
| Bangkok | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 5,676,648 |
| Saint Petersburg | 🇷🇺 Russia | 5,652,922 |
| Alexandria | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 5,362,517 |
| Dubai | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 3,944,751 |
| Yokohama | 🇯🇵 Japan | 3,757,630 |
| Busan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 3,453,198 |
| Casablanca | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 3,215,935 |
| Tashkent | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 2,956,384 |
| Osaka | 🇯🇵 Japan | 2,751,862 |
| Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | 2,746,388 |
| Guayaquil | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 2,650,288 |
| Phnom Penh | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 2,129,371 |
| Minsk | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 1,996,730 |
| Hamburg | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1,910,160 |
| Manila | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 1,902,590 |
| Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1,800,055 |
| Barcelona | 🇪🇸 Spain | 1,731,649 |
| Budapest | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 1,685,209 |
| Tabriz | 🇮🇷 Iran | 1,558,693 |
| Prague | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 1,397,880 |
| Milan | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1,354,196 |
| Rosario | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1,193,605 |
| Aden | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 1,154,410 |
| Maputo | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 1,133,200 |
| Yerevan | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 1,106,300 |
| Marseille | 🇫🇷 France | 886,040 |
| San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States | 873,965 |
| Hamhung | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 768,551 |
| Zagreb | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 767,131 |
| Oslo | 🇳🇴 Norway | 717,710 |
| Rotterdam | Netherlands | 664,311 |
| Colombo | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 647,557 |
| Vladivostok | 🇷🇺 Russia | 591,628 |
| Antwerp | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 529,247 |
| Liverpool | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 513,441 |
| Gdańsk | 🇵🇱 Poland | 487,834 |
| Windhoek | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 431,000 |
| Hirakata | 🇯🇵 Japan | 396,694 |
| Espoo | 🇫🇮 Finland | 314,821 |
| Valparaíso | 🇨🇱 Chile | 296,655 |
| Haifa | 🇮🇱 Israel | 282,831 |
| Yao | 🇯🇵 Japan | 264,913 |
| Constanța | 🇷🇴 Romania | 263,707 |
| Winston-Salem | 🇺🇸 United States | 249,545 |
| Lille | 🇫🇷 France | 238,246 |
| Porto | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 231,800 |
| Neyagawa | 🇯🇵 Japan | 227,997 |
| Cork | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 222,333 |
| Basel | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 176,329 |
| Piraeus | 🇬🇷 Greece | 168,151 |
| Salzburg | 🇦🇹 Austria | 155,021 |
| Dunedin | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 106,200 |
| Izumisano | 🇯🇵 Japan | 99,328 |
| Port Vila | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 49,034 |
| Okahandja | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 45,159 |
| City of London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 8,583 |