A new UN report has named the Indonesian capital Jakarta as the world’s most populated capital with 42 million people, with Dhaka in Bangladesh coming in second with 37 million people.
The UN’s World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report highlights how swiftly cities are drawing people in. Cities now house 45 percent of the global population of 8.2 billion, a dramatic rise from past decades.
The number of megacities quadrupled from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with 19 in Asia.
Jakarta (Indonesia) is the world’s most populous city, with nearly 42 million inhabitants in 2025, followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh) with almost 37 million and Tokyo (Japan) with 33 million. Cairo (Egypt) is the only city among the world’s ten largest (25 million people) that is not located in Asia.
Fast-growing Dhaka is expected to become the world’s largest city by mid-century. Karachi (Pakistan) will enter the top ten by 2030 and could rank fifth by 2050.
The report also notes that since 1950 the share of people living in cities has more than doubled. By 2050 two thirds of global population growth is expected to occur within cities, showing how heavily the future depends on urban development.
The rise of megacities is a central feature of the report. This shift places added pressure on infrastructure and public services. Cities are expanding faster than many can manage, raising concerns about sustainability and quality of life.
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The urbanization trend also plays a significant role in shaping national policies. Governments are now rethinking transportation, housing, and environmental strategies as populations concentrate in a few major hubs.
Jakarta’ core province, DKI Jakarta, holds more than 11 million people within a compact area, making it extremely dense. When including the surrounding metropolitan region—known as Jabodetabek — the population rises above 40 million residents in the full urban agglomeration.
Such a huge population brings significant challenges. Infrastructure, from roads to public transit and utilities, is constantly under pressure, and daily commuting from surrounding cities contributes to severe traffic congestion.
Environmental problems, including flooding, land subsidence, and pollution, are intensified by high population density. Social inequality is also evident, with sharp contrasts between modern, affluent districts and densely packed, lower-income neighborhoods.
Despite these issues, Jakarta remains Indonesia’s economic engine, with its population fueling commerce, culture, and national growth.
The government plans to move its capital to Nusantara, a new city under construction.
The project carries a price tag of 32 billion dollars and aims to ease strain on Jakarta. It was first slated for completion in 2024 but is now expected in 2028.
Indonesia currently has a population of 286 million, according to Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest UN data. The country ranks fourth globally by population.
