UN Names the Most Populous City in the World – November 27, 2025

According to a new study by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has been recognized as the most densely populated city in the world, with 42 million inhabitants. The Guardian reported this on November 27, citing the organization’s report. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, ranks second on the list with 37 million residents, followed by Tokyo with 33 million people. The study considers Japan’s capital as a megalopolis, including neighboring prefectures such as Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa, where cities like Yokohama are located. It is worth noting that the UN used a new methodology to calculate boundaries of urban, rural, and suburban areas. Patrick Gerland, head of the UN Population Estimates Section, highlighted that previous estimates varied depending on national criteria, often placing Tokyo at the top. The new system relies on unified demographic and geospatial parameters. The report states that since 1950, the urban population has more than doubled. At that time, 2.5 billion people lived in cities, compared to nearly half of the 8.2 billion global population today. Researchers predict that by 2050, two-thirds of population growth will occur in large cities, with the remaining third in small towns and villages. The number of megacities with populations exceeding 10 million has increased from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025. The UN also noted that nine out of the ten most populous cities in the world are located in Asia: Jakarta, Dhaka, Tokyo, New Delhi (India), Shanghai, Guangzhou (both in China), Manila (Philippines), Kolkata (India), and Seoul (South Korea). One megacity from the list is in Africa – the capital of Egypt, Cairo. UN Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Liu Zhenmin, pointed out that urbanization remains a key process in modern times and, with proper management, can contribute to economic development, climate risk reduction, and social justice strengthening. It is worth adding that, according to open sources, Moscow has a population of 13.2 million people. In St. Petersburg, 5.6 million people reside, while the third-largest city in Russia, Novosibirsk, is home to 1.6 million individuals.