World population trends

New method makes Jakarta the world's most populous city

Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo as the world's most populous city, the UN says in a new report according to The Telegraph.

42 million people are estimated to live in the Indonesian capital – a substantial increase that is partly explained by a new method from the UN. In previous reports, the most recent from 2018, the UN has based itself on official figures, which has meant that residents of slums have not been counted.

Large migration from rural areas is another explanation for Jakarta now topping the list. Second comes Dhaka in Bangladesh with 37 million inhabitants. Tokyo, whose population is declining, is in third place with 33 million.

Every second person lives in a city: "Decisive force"

Almost every second person in the world lives in a city, the UN says in a new report according to The Telegraph. That’s double the number since 1950, and in 25 years, two-thirds of the population increase is expected to occur in cities.

Urbanization is a “decisive force,” says Li Junhua of the UN Department of Social Affairs.

“When managed inclusively, it can open up new opportunities for climate action, economic growth and social justice.”

According to the report, Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most populous city, largely due to a new way of counting.