What's happened
A UN report shows Jakarta has become the world's most populous city with 42 million residents, surpassing Tokyo. The shift results from new methodology and rapid urban growth in Asia, with Dhaka projected to become the largest city by 2050. Climate and migration are key drivers.
What's behind the headline?
Urbanization in Asia is accelerating faster than previously understood, with Jakarta's population growth nearly tripling since 2010. This rapid expansion highlights the costs of unplanned urban sprawl, including traffic congestion, pollution, and sinking infrastructure. The new UN methodology exposes the true scale of urban populations, emphasizing the need for sustainable urban planning. Climate change exacerbates these issues, with rising sea levels threatening Jakarta and other coastal cities. The shift in global urban rankings signals a future where Asian megacities dominate, but also face immense environmental and infrastructural pressures. Governments must prioritize resilient infrastructure and equitable development to manage this demographic surge effectively.
What the papers say
The Guardian highlights Jakarta's explosive growth and the costs of rapid urbanization, emphasizing the recent population surge and environmental challenges. The New York Times discusses the methodological changes in UN estimates, revealing Jakarta's new ranking and the decline of Tokyo. Al Jazeera provides context on climate impacts, noting Jakarta's sinking and the Indonesian government's plan to build a new capital in Borneo. Sky News underscores the global rise in megacities, with a focus on Asia's dominance and future projections for Dhaka. These sources collectively illustrate the demographic, environmental, and methodological shifts shaping the world's urban landscape today.
How we got here
The UN's new methodology standardized city population estimates, revealing rapid urbanization in Asia. Jakarta's explosive growth is driven by rural migration, climate change impacts, and urban sprawl, while Tokyo's population declines. The rise of megacities reflects broader demographic shifts and environmental challenges.
Go deeper
Common question
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Why Has Jakarta Overtaken Tokyo as the World's Most Populous City?
Recent reports reveal a major shift in global urban populations, with Jakarta now holding the title of the world's most populous city, surpassing Tokyo. This change raises questions about what drives such rapid urban growth and what it means for the future of cities in Asia and beyond. Below, we explore the key factors behind this demographic shift and what it indicates about global urbanization trends.
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What’s Next for Cities? How Urban Populations Are Changing
Urbanization is accelerating worldwide, with cities like Jakarta now surpassing Tokyo as the most populous. Factors like climate change, migration, and new measurement methods are reshaping our understanding of city growth. Curious about which cities are growing fastest and what this means for the future? Below, we answer key questions about the shifting landscape of urban populations and what it could mean for us all.
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Why Has Jakarta Overtaken Tokyo as the World's Most Populous City?
Recent reports reveal a major shift in global urban populations, with Jakarta now holding the title of the world's most populous city, surpassing Tokyo. This change raises questions about what drives such rapid urban growth and what it means for the future of cities worldwide. Below, we explore the key factors behind this demographic shift and what to expect in the coming decades.
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Why Did Jakarta Overtake Tokyo as the World's Most Populous City?
Recent reports reveal Jakarta has become the world's most populous city, surpassing Tokyo with a population of 42 million. This dramatic shift highlights the rapid urban growth happening across Asia, driven by migration, environmental factors, and changing methodologies in population estimates. Curious about what’s fueling this urban transformation? Below, we explore the key reasons behind Jakarta's rise and what it means for future megacities.
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What Does Jakarta's Rise Mean for Global Urbanization?
Jakarta has recently overtaken Tokyo as the world's most populous city, a shift driven by rapid urban growth, climate change, and migration. This change signals significant trends in global urbanization, especially in Asia. But what does this mean for the future of cities worldwide? Below, we explore the implications of Jakarta's rise and what it reveals about the changing landscape of urban living.
More on these topics
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Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital and most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Tokyo.
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Jakarta, officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. On the northwest coast of the world's most-populous island of Java, it is the centre of economy, culture and politics of Indonesia with a population o
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Dhaka, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and the largest city of Bangladesh. It is the ninth-largest, and the sixth-most densely populated city in the world, with a population of 8.9 million residents within the city limits, and a population of over
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Borneo is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and east of Sumatra.