Jakarta has been named the world’s most populous city, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in its latest report released on 23 November 2025.
The report, World Urbanization Prospects 2025: Summary of Results, states that the Indonesian capital now has 41.9 million residents.
The UN notes that rapid urbanisation has continued worldwide, with cities now home to 45 per cent of the global population of 8.2 billion. Jakarta’s population places it above other megacities in Asia and beyond. Dhaka in Bangladesh follows with 36.6 million residents, while Tokyo in Japan has 33.4 million.
“According to a UN report, Jakarta is now the most populous city in the world, with nearly 42 million residents,” the UN said in a release on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. The only non-Asian city in the top 10 is Cairo, Egypt, listed with 25 million residents.
Other major cities on the list include New Delhi in India with 30.2 million residents, Shanghai in China with 29.6 million, Guangzhou in China with 27.6 million, Manila in the Philippines with 24.7 million, Kolkata in India with 23.5 million, and Seoul in South Korea with 22.5 million.
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Urban Growth Raises Policy Demands, UN Says
Li Junhua, Head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said urbanisation could support sustainable development if managed with appropriate policies.
“If managed inclusively and strategically, urbanisation can open transformative pathways for climate action, economic growth, and social equity,” he said.
Junhua emphasised that national governments should align housing, land use, and public services across both urban and rural areas. He noted that coordinated planning would be essential as population centres expand.
According to the UN’s latest data via Worldometer, Indonesia now has a population of 286 million and ranks fourth globally. The government is progressing with its long-term plan to shift the seat of government to Nusantara (IKN) in East Kalimantan.
The new capital, valued at US$32 billion (around Rp 534.2 trillion), was initially scheduled for inauguration in 2024. It is now expected to function as Indonesia’s political centre by 2028.
The UN report lists the world’s 10 most populous cities in 2025 as:
- Jakarta – 41.9 million
- Dhaka – 36.6 million
- Tokyo – 33.4 million
- New Delhi – 30.2 million
- Shanghai – 29.6 million
- Guangzhou – 27.6 million
- Cairo – 25 million
- Manila – 24.7 million
- Kolkata – 23.5 million
- Seoul – 22.5 million
