In the report "Prospects for Global Urbanization by 2025," prepared by the UN Population Division, it is stated that the population of Jakarta has reached 42 million people.
In second place by population is Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, with 37 million residents, while Tokyo, with a population of 33 million, now holds the third position. In the previous UN report from 2018, the Japanese capital was the leader with 37 million people.
The document also emphasizes that in 1950, only 20% of the world's population lived in cities, whereas today this figure has increased to 50%.
It is projected that by 2050, two-thirds of the global population growth will be concentrated in cities, while the remaining third will be in urban-type settlements.
The number of megacities with populations exceeding 10 million has increased from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025.
Among the ten most populous cities, which include Jakarta, Dhaka, Tokyo, New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Cairo, Manila, Kolkata, and Seoul, all are located in Asia.
"Urbanization is a key factor of our time. With the right and strategic approach, it can become a foundation for combating climate change, promoting economic growth, and ensuring social justice," noted Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, in his comments on the report.
