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

Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, is home to nearly 42 million people, making it the most densely populated urban area in the world, according to a new United Nations report. This is followed by Dhaka, Bangladesh, with approximately 37 million people, and Tokyo, Japan, with 33 million people.

When the UN last published its “World Urbanization Prospects” report in 2018, Tokyo was the world’s largest city, while Jakarta ranked 33rd. The November 2025 report stated that Tokyo’s population growth has lagged behind Jakarta and Dhaka over the past 25 years, leading to a decline in the rankings, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years.

Future Projections: Dhaka on the Rise

While Jakarta currently ranks first, experts predict that Dhaka will be the largest city by 2050. The UN report provides both current estimates and projections of global population trends, highlighting how urbanization is reshaping cities globally.

How Are Urbanization and Mega Cities Changing the World?

The report outlines the sharp increase in urban population, the decline in numbers in rural areas, and the emergence of megacities with more urban centers of more than 10 million inhabitants. He noted that more than half of the world’s 8.2 billion people currently live in cities; This is a huge jump from 1950, when only 20% of the global population was in metropolitan areas.

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

The UN currently defines a city as a “contiguous agglomeration” of one-square-kilometer grid cells containing at least 1,500 people per square kilometer and having a minimum total population of 50,000. This updated definition focuses on providing a consistent understanding of urbanization across regions.

FAQ;

1. What is the largest city in the world right now?
Jakarta is currently the world’s largest city with a population of approximately 42 million. This detail comes from the United Nations’ 2025 urbanization report.
2. Why did Tokyo drop in the rankings?
Tokyo’s population has grown more slowly than Jakarta and Dhaka over the past 25 years. This trend caused him to fall from the top position.