The United Nations has revised its approach to measuring urban populations, leading to Jakarta, Indonesia, overtaking Tokyo as the world’s most populous city. This recalibration of urban population data has significant implications for global urban planning and demographic analysis.
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, now holds the title of the most populous city in the world, surpassing Tokyo. This shift underscores the growing urbanization trends in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Indonesia, which is experiencing rapid economic development and urban expansion.
The change in rankings has sparked discussions among urban planners and policymakers about the challenges of managing such a massive population in a city with existing infrastructure issues. The UN’s updated methodology, which factors in more detailed geographic and demographic data, has allowed for a more accurate assessment of urban populations, leading to this new classification.