jakarta, the world's most populous city
do you know what the world's most populous city is? Many people might think of Tokyo or Mumbai, but according to the recently released United Nations (DESA) World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report, the world's most populous city is Jakarta, Indonesia. Located on the western tip of the island of Java, across the Indian Ocean, the city is a metropolis with a living population of more than 42 million people.
indonesia is a country made up of five major islands, with a population of 280 million people. More than half of the population lives on Java, with many converging on the capital city of Jakarta. the United Nations report measures the size of a city by its livable population, which includes the surrounding area rather than its administrative boundaries, and Jakarta's livable population of around 42 million is the highest in the world.
based on a city's livable population
one of the concepts of city size emphasized by the UN report is livable population. rather than simply counting the population of a city's administrative district, it counts the entire contiguous, densely populated area that extends to the city's periphery as a single living area - in other words, the population of a large urban area that crosses administrative boundaries, such as Seoul and the Seoul metropolitan area. This methodology results in a much larger population for Jakarta, which actually includes both the city center and suburbs.
world metropolitan population rankings
as of 2025, Jakarta is the most populous city with an urban living area (approximately 42 million people), followed by Dhaka, Bangladesh (approximately 36.6 million people), and Tokyo, Japan (approximately 33.4 million people). new Delhi, India (about 30.2 million), Shanghai, China (about 29.6 million), Guangzhou, China (about 27.6 million), Manila, Philippines (about 24.7 million), Kolkata, India (about 22.5 million), Cairo, Egypt (about 32 million), and Seoul, South Korea (about 22.5 million) follow. of these, Seoul is the only South Korean city in the top 10, with a population of approximately 22.5 million.
jakarta (Indonesia): Approximately 42 million people (#1)
dhaka (Bangladesh): 36.6 million (#2)
tokyo (Japan): Approximately 33.4 million (#3)
new Delhi (India): Approximately 30.2 million people
shanghai (China): Approximately 29.6 million people
guangzhou (China): Approximately 27.6 million people
manila (Philippines): Approximately 24.7 million people
kolkata (India): approximately 22.5 million people
cairo (Egypt): approximately 32 million people
seoul (South Korea): Approximately 22.5 million (#10)
as you can see, the majority of the world's most populous cities are located in Asia. however, Cairo (Egypt) is the only city outside of Asia to make the list, with approximately 32 million people.
future city projections for 2050
the ranking of city populations is expected to change significantly in the future. a United Nations report predicts that Dhaka, Bangladesh, will be the world's largest city by 2050. In addition, emerging cities in developing countries, such as Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Hyderabad, India; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are expected to grow rapidly and become megacities with populations of 10 million or more.
on the other hand, Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, are expected to lose population. both cities are likely to lose population by 2050 due to declining fertility rates and aging populations, causing them to drop down the global city rankings. the report predicts that by 2050, Tokyo will be the seventh-largest city in the world and Seoul will drop out of the top 10.
what is a megacity?
the term "megacity" generally refers to a large city with a population of 10 million or more. according to a United Nations report, there are currently about 33 megacities in the world, a dramatic increase from just eight in 1975. Nineteen of these cities are in Asia, with Jakarta, Indonesia and Dhaka, Bangladesh likely to become megacities with populations of 50 million or more in the future. the growth of megacities is an indicator of where urbanization and population migration are headed.
frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the most populous city in the world?
A: Jakarta, Indonesia is the world's most populous city, according to a United Nations report. the Jakarta metropolitan area has the largest population at approximately 42 million people.
Q: How is the urban livability population calculated?
A: The population of a city's livable area includes the entire densely populated area that extends beyond the city center. it is calculated in terms of contiguous urban areas rather than administrative boundaries to measure the true size of the population.
Q: which city will be the largest in 2050?
A: Jakarta currently tops the list, but by 2050, Dhaka, Bangladesh, is expected to be the world's largest city. Emerging cities such as Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, and Hyderabad are also expected to grow into megacities.
Q: what are the criteria for a megacity?
A: A megacity is a large city with a population of 10 million or more. currently, there are about 33 megacities in the world, with more on the way.
Q: What are the populations of Seoul and Tokyo?
A: According to the report, in 2025, the Tokyo metropolitan area will have a population of about 33.4 million people and Seoul will have a population of about 22.5 million, ranking third and 10th respectively. Both cities are expected to lose population in the coming years, which could lead to a lower ranking by 2050.
the world's most populous city is Jakarta, Indonesia. let us know what you think in the comments! Don't forget to subscribe and sign up for our newsletter.