This city has become the world’s largest, UN report says

The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, is home to almost 42 million, as per the new report from the United Nations, making it the most densely populated urban area in the world. It is followed by Dhaka, Bangladesh, with nearly 37 million and Tokyo, Japan, with 33 million residents.

The last time the U.N. published its "World Urbanization Prospects" report in 2018, Tokyo was the world's most largest city, while Jakarta ranked 33rd. The November 2025 report stated that over the past 25 years, Tokyo’s population growth has lagged behind Jakarta’s and Dhaka’s, leading to its drop in rank, a trend anticipated to continue in the coming years.

Future Projections: Dhaka on the Rise

While Jakarta now holds the top rank, experts forecast that Dhaka will become the largest city by 2050. The UN report offers both current estimates and projections on global population trends, emphasizing how urbanization is reshaping cities globally.

How Are Urbanization and Megacities Changing the World?

The report outlines the sharp increase in urban populations, featuring declining numbers in rural regions and the emergence of more megacities, urban centers with more than 10 million inhabitants. It stated that over half of the Earth's 8.2 billion people currently live in cities, a major jump from 1950 when only 20% of the global population is in metropolitan areas.

What Is the UN’s Updated Definition of a City?

The UN currently defines a city as a "contiguous agglomeration" with one square kilometre grid cells containing at least 1,500people per square kilometre, and a minimum total population of 50,000. This updated definition focuses on offering a consistent understanding of urbanization in regions.

FAQs;

1. Which city is currently the largest in the world?
Jakarta is currently the largest city globally, with almost 42 million residents. This detail comes from the United Nations’ 2025 urbanization report.

2. Why did Tokyo drop in ranking?
Tokyo’s population has grown more slowly than Jakarta and Dhaka in the past 25 years. This trend resulted in its decline from the top position.