The question of determining the
world's largest cities does not allow a single, simple answer. It depends on which definitions of "
city" and "size" are used, and how those definitions are applied. Complex
political/
cultural/
social situations, sometimes controversial or
disputed, further confuse the discussion. Debate on this field is highly vulnerable to
bias or manipulation, as people tend to prefer whichever definition most flatters their own city.
The "size" of a city can refer to either its
land area or, more typically, its
population.
The
borders of a city can also be defined in any of several ways:
Morphological
"City" defined as a physically
contiguous urban area, without regard to territorial or other boundaries. The delineation is usually done using some type of
urban density, such as
population density or density of
buildings (for example, "gaps between structures may not exceed 200
metres").
Satellite and/or
aerial maps may be used. For statistical convenience, such areas are sometimes adjusted to appropriate administrative boundaries, yielding an
agglomeration.
Functional
Administrative
See also
Category:Urban geographyCategory:DemographyCategory:Populationno:Liste over verdens mest befolkede byerru:Крупнейшие города мира 
