Where Data Tells the Story
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With a population of 41.9 million, Jakarta in Indonesia tops the list of the world's most populous cities, followed by Bangladesh's capital Dhaka (36.6 million) and Tokyo (33.4 million). This is according to data from the UN Population Division. The geographical distribution is striking – Asian metropolises dominate the list of the largest cities, while those in Europe and the Americas rank significantly lower. Europe is notably underrepresented: London, with 10.4 million inhabitants, is the only European megacity, which is defined as a place with more than 10 million inhabitants.
At the same time, there are vast differences in population density: Cairo, for instance, has an approximate density of 15,542 inhabitants per square kilometer. In contrast, cities like New York (at 2,961 inhabitants per square kilometer) are significantly more spread out. Mumbai (ranked 12th at 20.2 million inhabitants) has the highest density among megacities, with an average of 27,301 people per square kilometer.
This trend reflects structural patterns of global urbanization. An increasing number of people is flocking to economic hubs, particularly in emerging economies. However, this rapid growth is placing mounting pressure on infrastructure, housing and the environment, creating new long-term challenges for urban planning.