Jakarta overtakes Tokyo as world's most populous city, according to UN

"Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo as the world's most populous city, according to a UN study that uses new criteria to give a more accurate picture of the rapid urbanisation driving the growth of megacities. The Indonesian capital is home to 42 million people, according to an estimate by the population division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in its World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 report published this month. Jakarta is followed by the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka with 37 million people."

"That contrasts dramatically with the UN's previous report in 2018, which placed the Japanese capital top with a population of 37 million. The shift in rankings is the result of new methodology that is more consistent in the way it categorises cities, towns and rural areas, according to UN officials. Earlier assessments using data from countries based on wildly varying definitions tended to prioritise Tokyo, said Patrick Gerland, head of the UN department's population estimates and projection section."

"The number of people living in cities has more than doubled since 1950, when urban dwellers accounted for 20% of the world's 2.5 billion people, according to the report. Now they comprise nearly half of the planet's 8.2 billion people. By 2050, two-thirds of global population growth is projected to occur in cities, and most of the remaining one-third in towns, the report added. The number of megacities defined as those with at least 10 million inhabitants - has quadrupled from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025."

Jakarta has 42 million residents, making it the world's most populous city under newly applied urban criteria. Dhaka follows with 37 million and Tokyo, defined as a megalopolis including three neighbouring prefectures, has 33 million. The UN population division applied a consistent methodology to delimit urban extents using population and geospatial criteria. Urban populations have more than doubled since 1950 and now comprise nearly half of 8.2 billion people. By 2050, two-thirds of global population growth will occur in cities and the number of megacities has risen to 33.

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