This Asian city overtakes Tokyo as world's most populous city
What's the story
The United Nations has declared Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, to be the most populous city in the world. According to its World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report, Jakarta is home to nearly 42 million people. The report was released earlier this month and uses new criteria for categorizing cities, towns, and rural areas, according to UN officials. It dethroned Tokyo from its long-held position as the world's largest city.
Ranking shift
Tokyo's population decline leads to ranking change
The UN report also puts Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, in second place with a population of nearly 37 million. Tokyo, which includes three neighboring prefectures in the study, has fallen to third with a population of 33 million. This is a stark contrast from the UN's 2018 report, where Tokyo was ranked first with 37 million population. Overall, Asia is home to nine of top 10 most populous cities: Jakarta, Dhaka, Tokyo, New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Cairo, Manila, Kolkata, and Seoul.
Methodology change
New methodology provides more accurate urbanization picture
The change in rankings is due to a new methodology that gives a more accurate picture of urbanization. Patrick Gerland, head of the UN department's population estimates and projection section, said the new assessment "provides a more internationally comparable delimitation of the urban extent based on similar population and geospatial criteria." The number of megacities with over 10 million inhabitants has also quadrupled since 1975.
Urbanization impact
Urbanization: A defining force of our time
Li Junhia, the UN undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, called urbanization "a defining force of our time." She said if managed inclusively and strategically, it could lead to transformative pathways for climate action, economic growth, and social equity. The report also predicts that two-thirds of global population growth by 2050 will be in cities.
Population trends
Tokyo's population growth lags behind Jakarta and Dhaka
The UN report notes that over the last 25 years, Tokyo's population growth has lagged behind that of Jakarta and Dhaka. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years. Experts predict Dhaka will become the largest city by 2050 if current trends continue. The UN defines a city as a "contiguous agglomeration" with specific population density criteria to provide consistent urbanization understanding globally.