Jakarta has recently overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most populous city. A UN study revealed this shift, showing Jakarta’s population at 42 million. The report, titled World Urbanisation Prospects 2025, also states that Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, comes in second with 37 million residents. Tokyo, which includes its neighboring prefectures, is now third with 33 million.
This change stems from new guidelines that offer a clearer view of city sizes, explained Patrick Gerland, head of the UN’s population estimates section. In the past, various criteria skewed reports, often favoring Tokyo. The updated methodology offers a more standardized way to define urban areas.
Urban life has surged dramatically over the years. In 1950, only 20% of the world’s population lived in cities, amounting to 2.5 billion people. Today, that number has nearly doubled, with around half of the planet’s 8.2 billion residing in urban areas. By 2050, it’s expected that two-thirds of global population growth will take place in cities.
The rise of megacities—defined as areas with at least 10 million people—has been remarkable. In 1975, there were just eight megacities. Now, that number has quadrupled to 33. Among the ten most populated cities in the world, nine are located in Asia, including Jakarta, Dhaka, New Delhi, and Shanghai.
Li Junhia, a UN undersecretary-general, highlighted that properly managed urban growth could lead to significant advancements in climate efforts, economic development, and social equity.
In metropolitan Tokyo, the population covers a large area that includes neighboring prefectures like Saitama and Kanagawa. The city itself has recently seen slight growth. Currently, the Tokyo area, often referred to as “Tokyo proper,” has about 14 million residents, up from 13.2 million a decade ago. After a dip in migration due to the pandemic, the city has attracted young people again, drawn by job and education prospects.
This urban shift isn’t just a numbers game—it speaks to broader trends in migration, economic opportunity, and how cities adapt to change.
