Indonesia

Jakarta Becomes World's Most Populous City With 42M People

Is Jakarta a beacon of endless opportunity, or a worsening socio-environmental catastrophe?

Published NOV 26 2025

Jakarta Becomes World's Most Populous City With 42M People

Story

Above: Traffic in the central business district in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Oct. 6, 2025. Image credit: Muhammad Fadli/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, has become the world's most populous city with approximately 42 million residents, surpassing Tokyo, which has held the top position since 2000, according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report.
The Sun
NBC
United Nations
Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, ranks second globally with nearly 37 million people and is projected to become the world's largest city by 2050, while Tokyo's population of 33 million is expected to decline to 30.7 million by mid-century.
voidotid
Al Jazeera
Nine of the 10 most populous cities worldwide are located in Asia, with Cairo, Egypt, being the only non-Asian city in the top-10 rankings.
Indonesia Expat
Axios
UPI
The number of megacities — urban areas with populations exceeding 10 million — has increased from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with 19 of these megacities located in Asia and projections showing growth to 37 by 2050.
Daily Times PK
Semafor
Sky News
Jakarta faces significant environmental challenges, including flooding and land subsidence, with scientists estimating that up to 25% of the city could be underwater by 2050 due to rising sea levels and excessive groundwater extraction.
Samaa
Metro
Indonesia announced plans in 2019 to relocate its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan, Borneo, but the project has experienced construction delays, investment challenges and is expected to cost approximately $35 billion.
voidotid
NBC

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Jakarta remains a city of widespread economic opportunity. The capital attracts billions in investment and offers unmatched access to networks, careers and personal growth that simply doesn't exist elsewhere in Indonesia.

Jakarta Globe

The Weekender

Narrative B

Jakarta has become an exceptionally challenging urban environment where 70% of households live in substandard housing and nearly 19% endure slum conditions. The megacity faces environmental catastrophe with ongoing flooding threats, dangerous land subsidence and toxic air quality.