Most Culturally Diverse Cities in the World
Our world is an amazing place. Often, the more you travel, the more you feel like you haven’t even scratched the surface — spectacular sights, a melting pot of flavors, thousands of different cultural ethnicities. Different languages add to the mix.
There are a few cities around the world that showcase an immense amount of diversity and culture in one place. that top the list when it comes to the most diverse in the world. We have here a list of some of the world’s most culturally diverse cities just wait for you to explore!
These are the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Which one is next on your list?
Singapore
Malay, Chinese, and Indians are who make up this itty bitty city in Southeast Asia. Although this is considered one of the smallest countries in the world, there is a population of over 5.3 million, more than a quarter of whom were born somewhere other than Singapore. Mandarin Chinese and English are major languages as well as Tamil and Malay.
Singapore is a city-state, meaning that it’s entire economy and population is based in a small quarters. Along with Hong Kong, it is considered one of Asia’s “world cities.”
Sydney, Australia
Not even half of the Sydney-siders in Sydney were actually born in there! Immigrants from around the world including the UK, China, New Zealand, India, and the Philippines all call Sydney their home. Let’s not forget the Aboriginals who were here before everyone else as well. You will hear at least 6 languages being spoken here.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is the city where East meets West. A former British colony, this Asian city is the definition of a melting pot and not just in terms of language either. There are over 5 major religions practiced here and while Cantonese is the primary language, Mandarin and English are widely spoken as well.
San Francisco, USA
With a quarter Asian and nearly another quarter of Latin decent, this city is a certainly a fusion of people. When discussing food, language, and the city’s population, it is the most culturally diverse in the United States. If you speak English, you may be in the minority.
Of diverse American cities like Houston, Miami, Dallas, San Jose, and others, San Fransico’s large hispanic population and rich ethnic diversity actually help it continue to become even more of a world city — many people see the diverse population when visiting, and then decide to relocate.
California is ranked highest in the world in terms of immigrants from Latin America and Asian countries. Nearly half a million people in San Francisco are multilingual.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
With Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Tamil (Sri Lanka) all inhabiting this spectacular city, it’s easy to see why Dubai is very diverse. However, that’s not all. This city is inundated with tons of expats from around the world too. So while you walk the streets of Dubai don’t be surprised if you not only seeing different people walking the streets but also hearing 8-10 other language being spoken.
Most of the city is expats, and while it’s near impossible for a foreigner to obtain citizenship in the United Arab Emirates, it is quite easy to get a work permit and live here for a while.
Paris, France
People from other European countries have been hopping over to this gorgeous capital for decades. Paris is a mix of all kinds of Europeans, Americans, Africans, and Asians, and while the French culture dominates — you’d be hardpressed to walk more than a few blocks without finding any ethnic diversity in terms of restaurants.
Manchester, England
With at least 150 other languages being spoken in Manchester, you will wonder if countries in the world collided recently to make this city. Considering the small population of a just a little over half a million this city boasts one of the highest concentration of languages compared to the competing cities on this list, putting it among the most culturally diverse cities in the world.
You might expect to see London listed above Manchester here, and while England’s capital is known for being a hotspot for different nationalities, Manchester tends to keep newcomers around for the long term.
Los Angeles, USA
Over half of Los Angeles residents are multilingual, with one of the largest Hispanic populations outside of Latin America. The small cultural pockets of this city are proof of its diversity — Koreatown, Little Ethiopia, the multitude of beach towns. When walking around LA you will find yourself in a portal to another country — and it only gets better once you try the food.
London, England
Of course, London made the list as it is among the most globalized cities in the world. The city is massive, and is the first arrival for many first-comers to Europe.
Curry, fish and chips, and kebabs all on the same street? Yes, you must be in London. People from around the world are calling the great city of London home. From India to Nigeria and from China to Jamaica, there are tons of non-indigenous groups scattered about London.
New York City, USA
Another United States city, and perhaps the most well known, is home to a population of which nearly 50% speak a language other than English. This exciting and culturally diverse city is perhaps the biggest melting pot of them all — truly one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.
New York has neighborhoods resembling a little Tokyo, a famous Chinatown, and is among the best places outside of Sao Paulo to find food and culture from Brazil.
No matter which of these cities you’re headed to, being able to speak a little bit of the language will make your travels that much better. Sign up for our FREE Language Learning Crash Course and we’ll send you audio files and PDFs to help you learn basic greetings and phrases for international travel.