Cairo has surpassed Lagos to become the continent’s most populated city under the UN’s updated assessment.
Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo to become the world’s most populated urban area, according to a newly released report by the United Nations on global urban growth.
The finding is contained in the UN’s World Urbanization Prospects 2025, published by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The report estimates that the Indonesian capital now has nearly 42 million residents, placing it ahead of Japan’s Tokyo, which had held the top position for many years.
The UN said its updated measurement standards now use uniform geospatial methods to define urban areas across countries, focusing on continuous built-up zones and population density rather than national boundaries.
By comparison, Tokyo’s wider metropolitan population is estimated to be just over 33 million, according to the report. Although parts of central Tokyo continue to grow, overall population growth is slowing due to Japan’s ageing population and declining birth rate.
“Urbanization is a defining force of our time,” said Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “When managed inclusively and strategically, it can drive economic growth, strengthen social development and help address climate challenges.”
Cairo becomes Africa’s largest city
In Africa, the Egyptian capital is now estimated to have more than 25 million inhabitants, while Lagos stands at approximately 17 million.
This is due to the rapid growth of Greater Cairo’s surrounding districts and satellite cities, alongside a revision of urban boundaries used in population calculations.
Population figures for African cities have often been difficult to compile accurately due to fast growth, informal settlements and irregular census schedules. However, the UN’s standardized methodology aims to make city-to-city comparisons more reliable.
The report shows that nine of the ten most populated cities in the world are now in Asia.
After Jakarta and Tokyo, the world’s largest cities include Dhaka, New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila, Kolkata and Seoul. The only non-Asian city in the global top ten is Cairo.
Ranking
Jakarta — ~41.9 million
Dhaka — ~36.6 million
Tokyo — ~33.4 million
New Delhi — ~30.2 million
Shanghai — ~29.6 million
Guangzhou — ~27.6 million
Cairo — ~25.5 million (the only non-Asian city in top 10)
Manila — ~24.7 million
Kolkata — ~22.5 million
Seoul — ~22.5 million
The UN estimates that nearly half of the world’s 8.2 billion people now live in cities, a dramatic increase from about 20 percent in 1950.
In 1975, only eight cities worldwide had populations of more than 10 million. In 2025, that number has risen to 33, with 19 located in Asia.
Dhaka projected to overtake Jakarta
The report projects that by 2050, Dhaka in Bangladesh could become the world’s largest city, with a population of more than 52 million. Tokyo is forecast to lose about 2.7 million residents within the same period, largely due to demographic decline.
Despite its record break, Jakarta faces serious environmental risks. The city is affected by flooding, air pollution and land subsidence, with some areas sinking several centimetres each year.
In 2019, then-president Joko Widodo announced plans to relocate Indonesia’s capital to a new city, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo. Construction has since faced delays, funding challenges and unresolved land issues. Jakarta continues to serve as the country’s main administrative and economic centre.
The UN warned that unchecked urban growth could worsen housing shortages and strain transport, water and health systems if governments do not invest in sustainable development.
“To achieve balanced development,” Li said, “countries must connect housing, transport, land policy and public services across urban and rural areas.”
