Data from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, published by Our World in Data, point to a major shift in the global urban population landscape between 2025 and 2050.
In 2025, Jakarta, Indonesia, is projected to be the world’s most populous city, with 41.9 million residents.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, follows with 36.6 million, while Tokyo, Japan, ranks third with 33.4 million.
Other cities among the world’s largest include New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Cairo, Manila, Kolkata and Seoul, alongside Karachi, Mumbai, São Paulo, Bangkok and Mexico City.
The rankings are expected to change significantly by 2050.
Dhaka is projected to overtake Jakarta as the world’s most populous city, reaching 52.1 million residents, while Jakarta is expected to have 51.8 million.
Manila is also projected to record substantial growth, reaching 27.1 million.
The longer-term outlook points to an even more pronounced shift towards Asia and Africa.
By 2100, projections indicate that all 15 of the world’s most populous cities could be located in the two regions, underscoring their rapid urban growth and demographic transformation.
