The two European cities 'bigger' than London - number one has 3 million more people

London is a very densely-populated city (Image: Getty)

London's population is steadily increasing, with projections showing 9.6 million people will live in the capital by 2035. Its current population is around 8.9 million - but there are two European cities that actually home more residents.

While the city of London is bigger than both Moscow and Paris in terms of land size, the Russian and French capitals have large populations within their urban areas. With just over 13 million people, Moscow is the "biggest" city in Europe. The wider region has a much larger 21.5 million people.

Moscow is the biggest city in Europe (Image: Getty)

Moscow's population grew steadily through the 20th century. In 1970, the city had a population of around 7 million before hitting the 10 million mark in 2002.

Moscow is the political and economic hub of Russia. It's home to the Kremlin, where the Russian government is based, and major businesses.

It's also Russia's richest and most expensive city to live in. It has good transport links, including the Moscow Metro which is the busiest in Europe, and a number of international schools.

However, travellers are advised against visiting Moscow due to the ongoing war with Ukraine. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) adds that "there is also a high likelihood terrorists will try to carry out attacks" in the Russian capital.

Meanwhile, data shows that the city of Paris only homes around 2.1 million residents but the broader metropolitan area has a around six times as many at 12 million.

Paris, which is home to the iconic Eiffel Tower, also welcomes around seven million tourists a year. The surrounding suburbs home around 10.5 million people, which makes it one of the most populous urban areas in Europe.

The population of Paris steadily increased after World War One when people returned to the city to access merchants and other goods that couldn't be found elsewhere. Despite dropping in the 1960s, the population began to rise again at the start of the 21st century.