Cities change with time. Since there have been cities, this has always been a fact. The majority of the historic cities that date back to the first settlements in human history are no longer standing. Most of them are currently archaeological sites or ruins, and occasionally their exact location is unknown.

On the other hand, certain ancient towns that are thousands of years old and are still going strong still exist. The inhabitants of these cities, which were established many thousands of years ago, are still there. Even now, people still reside in those. Interested in experiencing as much prehistoric history as possible without having to travel to an uninhabited archaeological site?

The following ranking lists the oldest 10 cities in the world that are still inhabited today.

10. Beirut

Founded in: ~ 3,000 B.C. (~ 5,000 years old)

Today part of: Beirut Governorate, Lebanon
Today’s population: 360,000

9. Luxor

Founded in: ~ 3,200 B.C. (~ 5,200 years old)

Today part of: Luxor Governorate, Egypt
Today’s population: 510,000

8. Gaziantep

Founded in: ~ 3,600 B.C. (~ 5,600 years old)

Today part of: Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey
Today’s population: 1.5 million

7. Erbil

Founded in: ~ 4,000 B.C. (~ 6,000 years old)

Today part of: Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Today’s population: 880,000

6. Aleppo

Founded in: ~ 4,300 B.C. (~ 6,300 years old)

Today part of: Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Today’s population: 1.9 million

5. Argos

Founded in: ~ 5,000 B.C. (~ 7,000 years old)

Today part of: Peloponnese Region, Greece
Today’s population: 22,000

4. Ray

Founded in: ~ 5,500 B.C. (~ 7,500 years old)

Today part of: Tehran Province, Iran
Today’s population: 250,000

3. Damascus

Founded in: ~ 6,300 B.C. (~ 8,300 years old)

Today part of: Damascus Governorate, Syria
Today’s population: 1.7 million

2. Byblos

Founded in: ~ 8,800 B.C. (~ 10,800 years old)

Today part of: Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Today’s population: 40,000

1. Jericho

Founded in: ~ 9,600 B.C. (~ 11,600 years old)

Today part of: West Bank, Palestine
Today’s population: 22,000

The oldest city in the world that is still populated is Jericho. Around 9,600 BC, the first permanent settlement was established within the city limits. The oldest walled city in the world is located in Jericho. The famed Wall of Jericho, which dates back to 8,000 BC, is the oldest city wall ever discovered. Jericho had been abandoned a few times over history, usually because of shifting climates, but it was always repopulated. The Palestinian territories' West Bank contains the oldest city in existence today. The oldest city in the world is now home to about 22,000 people.