The World's Urban Shift: Jakarta's Rise and the Future of Cities
The global population is rapidly shifting towards urban areas, with a staggering 45% of the world's 8.2 billion people now calling cities home. This trend is transforming the urban landscape, with megacities—urban hubs boasting 10 million or more residents—on the rise. According to the UN's World Urbanization Prospects 2025 report, the number of megacities has quadrupled since 1975, reaching 33 in 2025, with over half of them located in Asia.
Among these urban giants, Jakarta stands out as the world's most populous capital, with a staggering 42 million residents. This is closely followed by Dhaka, Bangladesh, with nearly 40 million inhabitants, and Tokyo, Japan, with 33 million. These figures highlight the immense growth and concentration of populations in urban centers.
The report also sheds light on the global urban population growth. In 1950, only 20% of the world's 2.5 billion people lived in cities, but this number has more than doubled since then. By 2050, it's projected that two-thirds of the global population growth will occur in cities, while the remaining third will be concentrated in towns. This shift underscores the critical role cities will play in shaping the future of our planet.
Indonesia, with a current population of 286 million, is a key player in this urban transformation. In 2019, the country announced its plans to move its capital to Nusantara, a new city under construction. This ambitious $32 billion project, initially set for inauguration in 2024, has been postponed to 2028. The move aims to address the challenges of overcrowding in Jakarta and promote more balanced development across the nation.
As of July 1, 2025, Kazakhstan's population reached 20,387,811, according to Qazinform. These demographic shifts and urban transformations are reshaping the global landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the world's cities and nations.
