Jakarta Crowned the New Megacity King
Big news for city lovers and urban explorers! Jakarta has officially overtaken Tokyo as the most populous city in the world, according to the United Nations. This shift happened after the UN adopted new criteria to better reflect the realities of rapid urbanization. The updated rankings show just how quickly Jakarta has grown, leaving the once-untouchable Tokyo in second place.
A New Era of Urban Growth
The UN’s revised criteria aim to provide a clearer picture of urban expansion, focusing on factors like metropolitan boundaries and daily commuting patterns. Jakarta’s population boom reflects broader trends in global urbanization, especially in Southeast Asia where cities continue to swell at breakneck speed. If you thought the Jakarta traffic was bad before, just wait until you see what the “world’s most crowded city” title brings!
It’s both inspiring and a little mind-boggling—Jakarta has transformed itself from a regional hub into the world’s urban epicenter. As megacities like Jakarta keep growing, the world will watch closely for lessons in sustainability, innovation, and (let’s be honest) how to fit a few more million people into rush hour.
Sources:
The Guardian: Jakarta overtakes Tokyo as world’s most populous city