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Jakarta Overtakes Tokyo as World’s Largest City in 2025

Source: Indonesia’s Jakarta now the world’s largest city, Tokyo falls to third: UN (2025-11-26)

A groundbreaking United Nations report confirms Jakarta, Indonesia, has become the world’s largest city, surpassing Tokyo with a population of 41.9 million. This shift highlights rapid urban growth in Asia, driven by economic development, rural-to-urban migration, and demographic trends. Jakarta’s rise reflects broader regional patterns, with nine of the top ten mega-cities now in Asia, and projections indicating Dhaka, Bangladesh, will be the largest city globally by 2050. The decline of Tokyo’s population to 33.4 million underscores demographic shifts in developed nations, where aging populations and low birth rates are slowing growth. Recent facts expanding on this trend include: 1. **Urbanization Accelerates in Southeast Asia:** Countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam are experiencing unprecedented urban growth, with infrastructure development struggling to keep pace. 2. **Climate Change Impact:** Jakarta faces severe flooding and land subsidence, threatening its sustainability as the population grows, prompting investments in resilience and green infrastructure. 3. **Smart City Initiatives:** Jakarta is investing heavily in smart city technologies, including IoT-based traffic management and renewable energy projects, to accommodate its expanding population sustainably. 4. **Migration Patterns:** Economic opportunities, improved connectivity, and government policies are fueling internal migration within Indonesia, further swelling Jakarta’s population. 5. **Global Urbanization Trends:** By 2030, over 60% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas, emphasizing the importance of sustainable urban planning and infrastructure resilience. This demographic shift has profound implications for global economics, climate policy, and urban planning. As mega-cities like Jakarta grow, they become hubs of innovation and economic activity but also face challenges such as pollution, congestion, and resource management. Governments worldwide are increasingly prioritizing smart, sustainable urban development to ensure these cities can thrive amid rapid growth. The rise of Jakarta as the world’s largest city marks a pivotal moment in global demographic trends, emphasizing the need for adaptive policies that address the complexities of megacity life in the 21st century.

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