The 2018’s edition of Global Metro Monitor ranked New Delhi as the sixth best performing metropolitan economy in the world. Delhi has the second largest metro area after Mumbai but with a per capita income of $18,600, which is three times the national average. The city has become a destination for people to migrate to for better opportunities and a high living standard, the Global Metro Monitor report said.
The national capital has just one million fewer people living in it than New York. But while New York’s population is expected to be stable, Delhi’s population is projected to rise rapidly and reach forty million by 2030.
The report also lists the challenges Delhi faces: it is covered by a thick blanket of smog for a few days every year during the winter season, along with consistently high air pollution levels. “The city faces crippling congestion and pollution challenges that have accompanied its rapid urbanization,” it noted.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
