Most Monitored Cities in the World

Despite growing concerns over privacy violations and widespread surveillance abuses, certain cities stand out for their unprecedented levels of monitoring per capita. Naked Science has published a list of the ten cities in the world with the highest number of surveillance cameras per 1,000 people.

Leading the list is Beijing, with 439.07 cameras per 1,000 people. The Chinese capital has over 9.5 million cameras installed, primarily due to prioritizing public safety and national security.

Outside of China, the most surveilled city is Hyderabad, India, with 83.32 cameras per 1,000 residents. The city is equipped with around 900,000 cameras, making it one of the most monitored places in the world.

Another major Indian city, Indore, ranks third with 60.57 cameras per 1,000 residents. Approximately 200,000 surveillance devices ensure constant monitoring of the city's inhabitants.

In India’s capital, Delhi, there are 19.96 cameras per 1,000 people, totaling 449,934 cameras, positioning it as one of the main surveillance centers in the country.

In Singapore, there are 17.94 cameras per 1,000 residents, with a total of 109,072 surveillance devices, allowing the city-state to be considered one of the safest urban areas in the world.

Moscow has more than 270,000 cameras, equating to 16.88 cameras per 1,000 people, highlighting Russia's comprehensive approach to security.

Baghdad's tense situation is managed with around 120,000 cameras, providing 15.56 units per 1,000 individuals, which ranks it seventh on the list.

Seoul occupies the eighth position with 14.47 cameras per 1,000 people. The city's 144,513 surveillance devices reflect South Korea’s commitment to citizen safety.

Russia's second-largest city, Saint Petersburg, has 13.49 cameras per 1,000 residents with around 75,000 surveillance devices, making it one of the most monitored cities in Europe.

Concluding the ranking is London, where there are 13.21 cameras per 1,000 people, with a total of 127,423 cameras installed in the British capital.