Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Jakarta Tops World's Most Crowded Cities
A new report from the United Nations says that Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is now the most crowded city in the world with 42 million people.
This is a big change from before when Tokyo, Japan, was the most crowded.
The report also says that there are now 33 very big cities, called megacities, up from just 8 in 1975.
Most of these megacities are in Asia.
By the year 2050, there will likely be even more megacities, and Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is expected to be the most crowded city with 52 million people.
The report shows how cities are growing very fast, especially in Asia.
Jakarta, Indonesia, has overtaken Tokyo, Japan, as the most populous city in the world with 42 million inhabitants, according to a November 2025 UN report.
The number of megacities has increased from 8 in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with Asia hosting 19 of them.
By 2050, the UN projects there will be 37 megacities, with Dhaka, Bangladesh, expected to have 52 million people.
Tokyo's population is now ranked third with 33 million people, a change due to a new UN methodology that better reflects urbanization trends.
Other highly populated cities include New Delhi, India (30.2 million), Shanghai, China (29.6 million), and Guangzhou, China (27.6 million).
- Who
- United Nations (UN)
- What
- Report on megacities and their populations
- When
- November 2025
- Where
- Global, with a focus on Jakarta, Dhaka, Tokyo, and other major cities
- Why
- To provide updated data on urbanization and population trends
- Most Populous City (2025)
- Jakarta, Indonesia (42 million)
- Second Most Populous City (2025)
- Dhaka, Bangladesh (37 million)
- Third Most Populous City (2025)
- Tokyo, Japan (33 million)
- Projected Most Populous City (2050)
- Dhaka, Bangladesh (52 million)
- Number of Megacities (1975)
- 8
- Number of Megacities (2025)
- 33
- Projected Number of Megacities (2050)
- 37
- Megacities in Asia (2025)
- 19