Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has become the world’s largest urban centre, with a population of nearly 42 million, according to a United Nations report. The city has surpassed Tokyo, Japan, which had held the top spot since 2000, due to slower population growth over the past two decades.
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Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, is now the second-most populous city, with almost 37 million residents. Tokyo, with a population of around 33 million, is expected to continue declining over the next 25 years as Japan grapples with an aging and shrinking population. Dhaka is projected to become the largest city in the world by 2050.
According to a new UN report, Jakarta is now the world’s most populous city, with nearly 42 million inhabitants.
https://t.co/5N5FLxhrgP pic.twitter.com/13kXYH8RgW
— DW News (@dwnews) November 23, 2025
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Population Division report shows that nine of the ten most populous cities are in Asia, with Cairo in Egypt as the only non-Asian city in the top 10. Other major megacities include Delhi and Shanghai (30 million each), Guangzhou (28 million), Cairo (26 million), Manila (25 million), Kolkata (23 million), and Seoul (22 million).
Urban experts say Jakarta’s massive population presents significant challenges, including extreme traffic congestion, flooding, and pollution. Elisa Sutanudjaja, director of the Rujak Centre for Urban Studies, noted that poor coordination between local governments has exacerbated these issues. Indonesia announced in 2019 plans to relocate its capital to Nusantara in Borneo, but progress has been slow due to delays and limited investment.
According to a new UN report, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, have surpassed Tokyo as the world’s largest cities by population. Jakarta now has an estimated 42 million people, followed by Dhaka with nearly 40 million, while Tokyo stands at around 33 million. pic.twitter.com/GPNSgeg485
— 由仁アリン Arin Yuni (@Arin_Yumi) November 24, 2025
The report highlights the broader trend of urbanization. In 2025, 45 per cent of the world’s 8.2 billion people lived in cities, up from just 20 per cent in 1950. The number of megacities — urban areas with more than 10 million people — has quadrupled since 1975, rising from eight to 33, with 19 of them located in Asia.
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The UN report underscores the rapid growth of Asian cities and the pressing need for sustainable urban planning to manage infrastructure, environmental, and social challenges posed by these megacities.