The top spot has changed! Here is the world's most populous city with 42 million people

Tokyo, which has held the title of the world's most populous city for years, has handed over its leadership in this area to Jakarta. The latest United Nations report revealed that the population of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, has reached approximately 42 million, while Tokyo has dropped from the top spot despite still having a population of over 37 million.

The rapid increase in Jakarta's population brings with it many problems that make life in the city difficult. Following this development, the city administration plans to allocate more resources to infrastructure and public transportation projects.

EFFECTS OF POPULATION GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS

Azis Muslin, a public policy expert at the University of Indonesia, stated that this change serves as a warning, noting, “This is a call for the government to seriously address Jakarta's problems. The real challenge is how we will prepare the infrastructure for this population and how we will improve the quality of life.”

The city's growing population brings major structural challenges. Problems such as flooding due to land subsidence, air and water pollution, heavy traffic, and inadequate infrastructure are prominent in Jakarta. The economic and social divide across the city is particularly striking; millions of people live in shantytowns, lacking basic services.

The daily movement of the population into the city center is also massive. The city administration plans to make significant investments in public transportation systems to reduce this traffic and improve the quality of life.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung pointed out that the latest data serves as a “preparation signal” for them, emphasizing that approximately 3.5 to 4 million people enter and exit the city every day. Anung announced that they have increased the share allocated to transportation and infrastructure projects in the new budget to 30 percent, which will be approximately 4.9 billion dollars.

From an economic perspective, Jakarta continues to be Indonesia's most powerful metropolis. The city, which alone produces about one-fifth of the country's gross domestic product, stands out in finance, services, and industry, as well as wholesale and retail trade.

Governor Pramono Anung expressed his positive expectations for the city's future with the words, “For me, Jakarta is a city full of dreams. I am not against people coming here, because hope and dreams are here.”

News Source: 12punto