By Admin 
The new World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report of the United Nations has completely changed the picture of global cities. Indonesia’s capital Jakarta has emerged as the world’s largest city with a population of about 42 million. Tokyo, which was at the top of the list of world’s number-1 city for decades, has now reached number three. The population of Tokyo is 3 crore 34 lakh. Meanwhile, Dhaka has also captured the second position by growing at a record pace, with a population of 3 crore 66 lakhs.
The report clearly shows for the first time that the heart of the modern world is beating in Asia. By 2025, approximately 80% of the world’s population will live in cities and most of this urban expansion will occur in Asia. While there were only a few megacities in the world in the 1970s, by 2025 their number will cross 33, of which 19 are located in Asia alone.
Asia’s dominance and India’s new status
According to the UN model, Asia has the largest share among the ten largest cities of the world. Jakarta is at first place, Dhaka at second and Tokyo at third. Delhi and Kolkata are also included in the top list, but are out of the top-3. Delhi is at fourth position, while Kolkata is at eighth position. The population of Delhi is 3 crore 2 lakh. Kolkata’s is 2 crore 25 lakh.
How did Jakarta become the world’s largest metropolis?
Decades ago, Jakarta was a coastal city with an average population, but after independence, rapid development, employment opportunities and continuous population flow transformed it into a huge metropolis. With a population of 4.19 crore, it now looks like the urban capital of the world. However, rising sea levels, floods and pollution are its biggest challenges. This is the reason why the Indonesian government is preparing the new capital Nusantara.
Will Dhaka leave Jakarta behind?
Dhaka is a rapidly growing city in South Asia. The textile industry, rural migration and continuous population growth in the city have turned it into the most densely populated city in the world. UN estimates that by 2050, the population of Dhaka could exceed 50 million.
The real reason behind Tokyo
Tokyo’s falling rank is directly linked to Japan’s problems. The city’s growth has stagnated due to low birth rates, declining youth numbers and strict controls on migration. After being number-1 for 70 consecutive years, it has now reached the third position.
The world’s cities will become bigger and there will be problems too.
The UN estimates that urbanization will intensify in the coming years. In countries like India, Pakistan and Nigeria, most of the population is moving towards cities. Cities of the future will have to grapple with challenges like congestion, pollution and climate crisis.
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