Overview
- The UN estimates greater Jakarta’s population at about 42 million, placing it first globally.
- Dhaka ranks second at nearly 37 million and is projected to become the largest city by 2050, while Tokyo’s roughly 33 million are set to decline as Japan’s population ages.
- Nine of the world’s ten most populous urban centres are in Asia, with Cairo the only non-Asian city in the top 10.
- Cities house 45% of the world’s 8.2 billion people in 2025, and the number of megacities has grown to 33 from eight in 1975.
- Jakarta’s scale magnifies traffic, pollution and flooding, and Indonesia’s planned move to the new capital Nusantara is delayed and struggling to attract investment.