Jakarta Becomes World’s Largest City; Tokyo Drops to Third

Nine of the top 10 mega-cities are in Asia, with Bangladesh’s Dhaka projected to be the world’s largest city by 2050.

A UN report reveals Jakarta as the world’s largest city with 41.9 million residents, followed by Dhaka at 36.6 million. Dhaka has surged to second place, driven by rural migration and climate issues, while Jakarta faces rising sea levels prompting a planned new capital. Asia hosts 19 of 33 global megacities, with Cairo as the only non-Asian city in the top 10. The report adjusts urbanization definitions, reflecting a growing population challenge.