List of highest large cities

A list of highest large cities ranks major urban centers worldwide with populations of at least one million inhabitants by their mean elevation above sea level, drawing from geospatial databases that define urban extents based on built-up areas and population density. These lists typically focus on cities situated at elevations of 1,000 meters or higher, predominantly in mountainous terrains such as the Andes in South America, the Tibetan Plateau in Asia, and the Ethiopian Highlands in Africa, where approximately 82 million people (as of 2021) reside permanently above 2,500 meters despite physiological challenges like reduced oxygen availability. The compilation underscores the adaptation of human settlements to extreme altitudes, with data sourced from satellite imagery and demographic surveys to ensure accuracy in elevation measurements and population estimates.^[1][2] The highest such city is the El Alto–La Paz metropolitan area in Bolivia, averaging 3,869 meters (12,694 feet) in elevation and home to more than two million residents, making it not only the world's highest large urban center but also a key economic hub in the Andes.^[1] Ranked second is Quito, Ecuador, at 2,784 meters (9,134 feet), the nation's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colonial architecture amid volcanic surroundings.^[1] Third is Bogotá, Colombia, situated at 2,601 meters (8,530 feet), South America's fourth-largest city by population, serving as a major center for finance, culture, and governance.^[1] Globally, of the approximately 50 cities meeting these criteria, 22 are national capitals, with Latin America dominating the rankings due to the extensive Andean cordillera, while China and Mexico each contribute eight entries reflecting highland urbanization in Asia. Other prominent examples include Mexico City at 2,316 meters, the largest metropolis in the list with over 21 million inhabitants, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at 2,355 meters, a diplomatic hub in Africa.^[1] These lists evolve with updated population censuses and remote sensing data, highlighting trends in urban growth at high altitudes amid climate change concerns.^[3]

Introduction

Definition and Criteria

In this encyclopedia entry, a large city is defined as an urban area with a population of at least one million inhabitants, drawing from classifications of urban agglomerations that utilize this threshold to identify significant population centers.^[1] This criterion ensures the inclusion of substantial urban entities capable of supporting diverse economic and social functions, based on the most recent census data or reliable estimates from authoritative demographic sources such as satellite imagery and geospatial databases. The elevation threshold for inclusion is an average height of 1,000 meters above sea level, measured for the city's primary urban area while excluding peripheral rural zones to maintain focus on core built environments.^[1] These parameters—combining a population minimum of one million with an elevation of 1,000 meters or higher—were selected to emphasize major urban centers in high-altitude regions such as the Andes and Tibetan Plateau, deliberately excluding smaller settlements like La Rinconada in Peru. Although La Rinconada reaches approximately 5,100 meters, its estimated population of 10,000 to 50,000 (with official figures around 12,000 as of 2017) falls below the urban scale threshold, classifying it more as a mining outpost than a large city. Population metrics in this list distinguish between the city proper (administrative boundaries), metropolitan area (broader economic region), and urban agglomeration (continuous built-up zone), prioritizing the urban agglomeration for comparability across global contexts. For instance, El Alto in Bolivia is treated as a distinct entity from the adjacent La Paz, despite their proximity and overlapping metropolitan influences, due to El Alto's independent administrative status and population over 1 million as of 2025 projections.^[4] This approach avoids double-counting in contiguous highland urban systems while highlighting unique elevational profiles.

Historical and Geographical Context

High-altitude large cities are predominantly located in tectonically active regions shaped by major plate interactions. In South America, the Andes Mountains owe their uplift to the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate, a process that has elevated vast areas to over 4,000 meters and fostered the development of urban centers in these highlands.^[5] Similarly, in Asia, the Tibetan Plateau formed primarily from the collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates, which began around 40-50 million years ago and continues to drive crustal thickening and elevation across the region.^[6] Historical settlement in these elevated areas traces back to indigenous adaptations that leveraged high altitudes for both sustenance and security. In the Andes, civilizations like the Inca developed sophisticated terracing and irrigation systems to cultivate crops such as potatoes and quinoa at elevations exceeding 3,000 meters, enabling agricultural productivity in harsh conditions while using the rugged terrain for defensive fortifications against invaders.^[7] European colonial expansion in the 16th century further spurred urbanization through mining booms, exemplified by Potosí in Bolivia, where the discovery of vast silver deposits in 1545 attracted laborers and transformed the site into a major economic hub, producing more silver than all of Mexico during its peak from 1545 to 1650.^[8] In modern times, the growth of these cities has been fueled by rural-to-urban migration seeking economic opportunities, the establishment of administrative and commercial centers, and the relative stability of highland climates near the equator. For instance, La Paz in Bolivia serves as the de facto administrative capital, drawing populations for government roles and related services amid ongoing urbanization.^[9] Equatorial highland locations also offer climate resilience against lowland extremes like flooding and heatwaves, supporting sustained habitation and development in regions such as the Andes.^[10] Globally, among the highest large cities, significant concentrations occur in South America and Asia, primarily in the Andes and Tibetan Plateau regions, with examples in Africa and North America, while Europe and Australia have none above 1,000 meters due to less pronounced highland topography.^[11]

Methodology

Data Sources and Population Estimates

The population data utilized in this article are sourced primarily from official national censuses, including Bolivia's Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) results for 2024, which reported a national population of 11,365,333 following the March 2024 census.^[12] Additional key sources include the United Nations World Population Prospects 2022 revision, providing urban population estimates and projections through 2100 based on harmonized national data, and World Bank urban agglomeration indicators up to 2025, derived from United Nations Population Division datasets.^[13][14] For cities with outdated census information, 2025 population figures are estimated through interpolation of growth rates observed in recent censuses, incorporating regional economic data while acknowledging higher uncertainties in baselines due to limited granular updates. These methods ensure consistency with broader Latin American urbanization trends documented in United Nations reports.^[15] Population estimates employ linear extrapolation for short-term projections, as seen in El Alto, Bolivia, which grew from 848,452 residents in the 2012 census to an estimated 1.15 million (urban agglomeration) by 2025, adjusted for migration influences from mining and economic developments in the Altiplano region.^[12] Such adjustments draw on national statistical models that factor in internal migration rates from sources like the World Bank.^[14] As of 2025, the dataset achieves greater completeness by incorporating recently urbanized areas, such as Shangri-La City in China, confirmed to exceed 100,000 inhabitants (186,412 total) via the 2020 national census conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics. Similarly, gaps in earlier African estimates have been addressed, updating Addis Ababa's population from 2.7 million in 2005 to approximately 5.5 million in 2025 using revised United Nations projections that integrate Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency data.^[16]

Elevation Measurement and Verification

Elevation measurements for high-altitude cities rely on a combination of ground-based and remote sensing techniques to capture accurate topographic data. GPS surveys provide precise point elevations in urban areas by using differential GPS methods, which achieve centimeter-level accuracy for coordinates and heights through static or real-time kinematic positioning.^[17] Satellite-derived data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) offers global digital elevation models at 1 arc-second resolution, approximately 30 meters, enabling broad-scale mapping of land surface heights.^[18] Local topographic maps, produced by national mapping agencies, supplement these by detailing contour lines and elevations, allowing for the calculation of average urban elevation through area-weighted averaging that prioritizes densely populated city centers over less developed outskirts.^[19] Verification involves cross-referencing data from multiple independent sources to resolve potential discrepancies and ensure reliability. For instance, elevations extracted via Google Earth Pro, which integrates SRTM and other datasets, are compared against national geological surveys; in Potosí, Bolivia, this confirms an elevation of 4,090 meters above sea level.^[20][21] Similarly, for La Paz, Bolivia, varying reports between 3,200 and 4,000 meters due to the city's steep topography are reconciled by averaging validated point data to 3,640 meters, drawing from GPS and satellite validations.^[22] This multi-source approach minimizes errors from single-method limitations, such as satellite voids in rugged terrain. Measuring elevations in high-altitude cities presents challenges stemming from topographic variability and environmental factors. Stepped or undulating terrain, as seen in Andean cities with abrupt elevation changes over short distances, complicates uniform averaging and requires dense sampling to avoid underestimating urban extent.^[18] Climate conditions at high altitudes, including low temperatures, high humidity, and reduced air pressure, can induce instrument drift in GPS receivers and altimeters, leading to inaccuracies of several meters if not calibrated frequently.^[23] To address these, all measurements are standardized to the mean sea level (MSL) vertical datum, which serves as a global reference by adjusting ellipsoidal heights via geoid models for orthometric elevations consistent across datasets.^[24] As of 2025, advancements incorporate LiDAR data from NASA's ICESat-2 mission, launched in 2018, which provides photon-counting altimetry with 0.1-meter vertical accuracy and 17-meter footprints for refined elevation mapping. On the Tibetan Plateau, ICESat-2 crossover analyses have improved digital elevation models by evaluating and correcting older datasets, such as those from 2009 ASTER Global DEM, enhancing accuracy for cities like Lhasa through high-resolution change detection over diverse terrains including urban peripheries.^[25][26]

Regional Distributions

South America

South America is home to the majority of the world's highest large cities, with over 40 urban areas exceeding 2,000 meters in elevation and populations greater than 100,000 residents, predominantly along the Andean cordillera spanning Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile. These cities owe their existence and growth to the region's rugged topography, where high-altitude plateaus and valleys support human settlement despite challenging conditions. The Andean highland economies are dominated by mining, which extracts silver, tin, copper, and other minerals, alongside subsistence and commercial agriculture focused on hardy crops like potatoes, quinoa, and alpaca herding.^[27][28] Among these, El Alto in Bolivia stands out as the highest large city globally, perched at 4,150 meters and serving as a rapidly expanding hub adjacent to La Paz. With an estimated population of 1.15 million in 2025, El Alto has experienced annual growth rates averaging around 4% since 2010, driven by rural-to-urban migration and informal trade.^[29][4][30] This growth underscores the city's role as a vibrant Aymara indigenous center, contrasting with the more established colonial foundations of nearby highland settlements. The following table ranks the top high-elevation large cities in South America (population >100,000) by altitude, using 2025 population estimates and primary economic drivers based on regional specializations. Lower but still notable examples include Cochabamba in Bolivia at 2,570 meters with 1.46 million residents, emphasizing agriculture in its fertile valley, and Bogotá in Colombia at 2,640 meters, the continent's largest highland metropolis with nearly 11.8 million inhabitants, centered on finance and services.^{[40][41][42][43]} These cities illustrate the adaptive urbanism of the Andes, where elevation shapes everything from architecture to daily livelihoods, with mining historically fueling wealth in places like Potosí while agriculture sustains broader communities.^[1]

Asia

Asia's high-altitude large cities are concentrated on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayan foothills, regions shaped by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates millions of years ago. These urban centers, often exceeding 3,000 meters in elevation, blend ancient Tibetan Buddhist traditions with modern Chinese infrastructure initiatives, fostering resilience amid harsh climates. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, operational since 2006, has facilitated population growth and economic integration by connecting remote plateau cities to lowland areas, though it navigates challenging permafrost zones that cover much of the region. Environmental pressures from thawing permafrost, driven by rising temperatures, complicate urban expansion and infrastructure stability in these areas. Prominent examples include Shigatse, China's second-largest Tibetan city at 3,836 meters with an estimated 2025 population of around 850,000 (prefecture-level urban area), renowned for the Tashilhunpo Monastery as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Lhasa, at 3,658 meters and home to approximately 900,000 residents (2025 est.), stands as the political and spiritual heart of Tibet, featuring the iconic Potala Palace and serving as the historical residence of the Dalai Lamas. Further examples encompass Shangri-La City at 3,160 meters with about 200,000 inhabitants, a cultural mosaic inspired by James Hilton's novel and anchored by the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, and Leh in India at 3,500 meters with roughly 120,000 people, a vital Buddhist enclave in Ladakh known for its ancient monasteries and strategic location along historic trade routes. The following table lists approximately 15 large cities (population over 100,000) in Asia above 2,000 meters elevation, sorted descending by elevation, with 2025 population estimates derived from recent census data and growth projections. It includes a column highlighting cultural significance, emphasizing monastic histories and regional identities unique to these plateau settlements. Note that Gangtok, India, at 1,650 meters with around 144,000 residents, represents a near-miss below the threshold but exemplifies Himalayan urbanism in Sikkim.

Africa

Africa hosts a limited number of large cities at elevations exceeding 2,000 meters, primarily concentrated in the Ethiopian Highlands and Eritrea due to the continent's predominantly lowland topography and historical migration patterns favoring fertile plateaus. These urban centers, though fewer than in other regions, demonstrate significant demographic and economic vitality, with populations driven by agricultural exports, administrative functions, and industrial expansion. The global elevation threshold for "high" cities typically begins at 2,000 meters, placing Africa's examples in a unique ecological niche that influences climate, agriculture, and urban planning.^[44] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital at 2,355 meters, exemplifies this trend as Africa's highest large city and a major metropolitan area with an estimated 2025 population of 5.96 million. It serves as the headquarters of the African Union, fostering pan-African diplomacy and international conferences that bolster its status as a continental hub. The city's rapid urbanization, with its population more than doubling from approximately 2.7 million in 2005 to current levels, stems from Ethiopia's coffee trade—originating in the highlands and accounting for over 30% of the nation's export earnings—and growing manufacturing sectors in textiles and food processing.^{[45][46][47][48][49]} Asmara, Eritrea's capital at 2,325 meters, supports a 2025 estimated population of 1.15 million and functions as the country's primary administrative and trade center, leveraging its highland location for agriculture and light industry amid regional connectivity challenges. Other highland cities like Gondar, Mekelle, Dessie, and Debre Berhan contribute to this cluster, each with populations surpassing 100,000 and roles in tourism, education, commerce, and emerging industry. Cities such as Dire Dawa at 1,900 meters, with over 500,000 residents, approach the elevation threshold but fall short, highlighting the sparse distribution of qualifying urban areas.^[50][51] The following table lists Africa's principal large cities above 2,000 meters, sorted by descending elevation, with 2025 population estimates derived from United Nations projections and regional demographic analyses. A regional economic role column is included to underscore their contributions to East African highland dynamics.

North America and Other Regions

North America hosts several of the world's highest large cities, primarily concentrated in Mexico's central highlands within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a geologically active region shaped by volcanic activity and tectonic forces. These elevations, often exceeding 2,000 meters, result from the uplift of ancient volcanic terrains, contrasting with the lower, more varied topography of the United States and Canada. In contrast, other regions such as Oceania and Antarctica lack any large permanent settlements above 2,000 meters due to their predominantly coastal or icy landscapes, with Oceania's highest urban centers, like Australia's Armidale at around 1,000 meters, serving primarily regional roles without megacity scale.^[56] Mexico City stands as the continent's highest and most populous large city, situated at an average elevation of 2,240 meters in a basin formed by an extinct volcanic lake, which has led to significant subsidence issues over the past century. Excessive groundwater extraction from the underlying compressible clay layers has caused the city to sink at rates up to 50 centimeters per year in some areas, exacerbating infrastructure strain and flood risks in this ancient lake bed environment.^[57] With a 2025 metropolitan population estimated at 22.75 million, Mexico City exemplifies urban adaptation to high-altitude challenges, including moderated temperatures but increased vulnerability to seismic activity due to its volcanic setting.^[58] Nearby, Toluca, at 2,663 meters, represents another key highland hub, its elevation tied to the flanks of the Nevado de Toluca volcano, fostering a cooler climate that supports agriculture and industry for its 2.72 million metropolitan residents in 2025.^[59][60] Further examples include Puebla at 2,135 meters, built on volcanic soils in the same belt, with a 2025 metropolitan population of 3.44 million, where the elevation influences a mild, spring-like climate ideal for talavera pottery production and historical preservation.^[61][58] In the United States, large cities above 1,500 meters are fewer and lower, such as Colorado Springs at 1,839 meters amid the Rocky Mountains' foothills, home to 496,500 residents in 2025 and noted for its role in military and aerospace sectors adapted to thinner air.^[62][63] Albuquerque, at 1,616 meters in the Rio Grande Valley, supports 559,200 people in 2025 and contributes to regional climate studies on arid highland effects, though it falls short of the 2,000-meter threshold.^[64][65] Denver, the "Mile High City" at 1,609 meters, is often highlighted as a benchmark for North American high-elevation urbanism, with its proximity to the Rockies enabling outdoor economies despite exclusion from stricter altitude lists.^[62] Canada's highest large cities, like Calgary at 1,045 meters with 1.57 million residents, occur in the prairie-foothill transition but do not approach Mexican altitudes. The following table summarizes select high large cities in North America (metro populations over 500,000 where applicable, sorted by elevation), incorporating 2025 estimates from demographic projections and geological context from volcanic or tectonic origins.

Challenges and Adaptations

Physiological and Health Impacts

Living at elevations above 2,500 meters exposes residents and visitors to hypobaric hypoxia, leading to acute mountain sickness (AMS) characterized by symptoms such as headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness.^[68] The incidence of AMS among unacclimatized travelers arriving by air to La Paz, Bolivia (3,640 meters), is 40-50%.^[69] Rapid ascent exacerbates risks, with overall AMS prevalence reaching 25-50% for those ascending above 4,000 meters without prior acclimatization.^[68] Long-term residents in high-altitude cities exhibit chronic physiological adaptations to hypoxia, varying by population genetics. Andean groups, such as the Aymara people in cities like La Paz, maintain elevated hemoglobin concentrations—often 15-20% higher than sea-level norms—to enhance oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.^[70] In contrast, Tibetan populations in Lhasa (3,650 meters) rely on variants in the EPAS1 gene, which regulate hypoxia-inducible factors to improve oxygen efficiency without substantially increasing hemoglobin levels, reducing the risk of excessive erythrocytosis.^[71] These adaptations highlight divergent evolutionary responses: polycythemia in Andeans versus normocytic oxygen utilization in Tibetans.^[72] Health risks persist despite adaptations, particularly chronic mountain sickness (CMS), also known as Monge's disease, which involves excessive erythrocytosis, hypoventilation, and right heart strain. In unadapted or mixed-ancestry groups at Andean cities above 3,000 meters, CMS prevalence ranges from 5-10%, rising to 15% among older males and miners exposed to additional occupational stressors like dust and exertion.^[73] Pregnancy at elevations over 3,000 meters increases complications, including preeclampsia (up to 2-3 times higher risk) and intrauterine growth restriction, due to reduced uteroplacental oxygen delivery and maternal hypertension.^[74] These outcomes contribute to lower birth weights (average 200-300 grams less) and higher neonatal morbidity in high-altitude urban settings.^[69] Mitigation strategies emphasize gradual acclimatization, with guidelines recommending 2-3 days of rest at intermediate altitudes for tourists arriving in cities like Lhasa, allowing physiological adjustments such as increased ventilation and erythropoiesis.^[69] Medical infrastructure supports these efforts; in Lhasa, facilities like the People's Hospital of the Tibet Autonomous Region provide specialized care for altitude-related illnesses, including oxygen therapy and monitoring for severe cases of AMS or CMS.^[75] Pharmacological aids, such as acetazolamide, further aid acclimatization by promoting renal bicarbonate excretion to counteract hypoxia-induced respiratory alkalosis.^[68]

Urban Development and Infrastructure

Urban development in high-altitude cities necessitates specialized engineering and planning to address environmental extremes, including seismic activity, temperature fluctuations, and reduced oxygen levels that increase physiological stress on residents. These adaptations prioritize durability, energy efficiency, and accessibility while mitigating the impacts of low atmospheric pressure and isolation. For instance, buildings and infrastructure must withstand earthquakes common in the Andes and provide thermal regulation against the diurnal temperature swings prevalent on the Tibetan Plateau. Architectural designs in Andean cities like Cusco incorporate earthquake-resistant features, such as reinforced adobe structures using geomesh or traditional battering techniques to enhance stability in seismic zones. In Cusco, retrofitting existing two-story adobe houses with horizontal reinforcements has been shown to significantly improve resistance to tremors, drawing on both modern materials and indigenous methods. Similarly, in Lhasa, traditional buildings feature thick rammed-earth walls and filled ceilings for superior insulation against cold winter nights, where temperatures average -10°C, helping maintain indoor warmth in a high-radiation, low-temperature environment. These passive designs reduce reliance on mechanical heating, aligning with local resource constraints. Infrastructure in these cities grapples with steep topography and altitude-related challenges, exemplified by La Paz's Mi Teleférico cable car system, the world's highest and longest urban aerial network operating at elevations around 4,000 meters, which eases commuting and reduces physical exertion in oxygen-scarce conditions. Water management faces complications from low atmospheric pressure, which lowers the boiling point of water to approximately 90-95°C at these altitudes, complicating purification processes and daily efficiencies like cooking that require pressure cookers for adequate heat transfer. In response, cities invest in elevated reservoirs and alternative sourcing to ensure reliable supply amid rugged terrain. Construction in high-altitude regions incurs elevated costs due to logistical difficulties in transporting materials over mountainous routes, as seen in major Andean projects like the Bolivia-Brazil gas pipeline, costing approximately $2.2 billion (as of 1999), where terrain premiums drive up expenses by factors related to access and weather.^[76] Sustainable practices, such as widespread solar energy adoption in remote Asian highland cities, help offset these burdens; near Lhasa, recent installations of 150 megawatts of panels at over 5,000 meters leverage intense solar radiation for clean power generation. These initiatives promote energy independence in isolated areas. Looking ahead, climate change exacerbates vulnerabilities, with glacial retreat having already reduced Quito's water supply from glacier melt by about 50% since 1978 and projections indicating near-total glacier loss by mid-century, necessitating diversified reservoirs and conservation measures.^[77] In Addis Ababa, smart city initiatives integrate digital monitoring for urban resilience, including IoT-enabled water and energy systems tailored to highland conditions, fostering adaptive governance against environmental stresses.