Tokyo relinquishes top spot: updated ranking of the world's most populous cities

The world map of megacities is changing rapidly: Asian cities are taking the lead, while the usual favourites are losing ground. A new UN report shows where most people live today and why the planet's demographic balance is shifting right now. Find out which city has become the most populous in the world, where Tokyo now ranks, and how these changes are affecting travel and international trips

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Tokyo is no longer at the top of the list of the world's most populous cities. According to the new UN report World Urbanization Prospects 2025, in 2025, the leader in terms of population will be Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, which is currently home to about 42 million people.

Which cities are in the top 10 most populous?

Jakarta ranks first with 42 million people. Second place goes to Dhaka, the largest city in Bangladesh, with a population of about 37 million. Tokyo has fallen to third place — the Japanese capital now has about 33 million inhabitants. For a city that has held the top spot in the world for decades, this is a significant change.

UN experts note that Tokyo's population is declining faster than it is growing. The reasons for this are an ageing population, low birth rates and a gradual outflow of residents to other regions of the country. According to forecasts, by 2050, the population of the metropolis may decrease to 30 million people, and the city itself will drop to approximately seventh place in the world ranking.

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There are more megacities in the world

At the same time, the number of megacities — cities with a population of over 10 million people — continues to grow worldwide. In 2025, there will be 33 such cities, compared to only eight in 1975. Most megacities are concentrated in Asia: 19 of the 33 largest urban agglomerations are located on this continent. According to UN estimates, by 2050, the number of megacities in the world will grow to 37.

Overall, from 2000 to 2025, the urban population of the planet increased by 1.25 billion people. However, more than half of this increase occurred in just a few countries. India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States of America have collectively added more than 500 million inhabitants to the world's urban population.

Against the backdrop of global urbanisation, the opposite trend is observed in Eastern European countries. In particular, Ukraine continues to experience a decline in population due to demographic decline, migration and the effects of war. Experts emphasise that demographic changes in the coming decades will have an even greater impact on the balance of power in the ranking of the world's largest cities.

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Reminder! The world's gastronomic capitals have topped a new ranking of the best cities for food lovers. Find out which cities have become leaders in gastronomic tourism, what attracts travellers to them, and what dishes are worth trying in each.

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