Completing Indonesia’s status as the world’s fourth most populous country, last November Jakarta was also named the most densely populated city in the world, ranking first.
According to a United Nations (UN) report titled “World Urbanization Prospects 2025: Summary of Results” released on November 18, 2025, Jakarta occupies the top spot on the list of the world’s most densely populated cities with a total of 41.9 million residents.
Just below Jakarta is the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, which entered the list with 40 million residents, followed by Tokyo with 33 million.
The figures for Jakarta and Dhaka represent a significant increase since 2020, while Tokyo’s population has grown by only 3 million in the same period.
The updated ranking highlights how new measurement methods and rapid demographic growth are reshaping urban scale across Asia.
List of the 10 most densely populated cities in the world in 2025
Based on the UN’s World Urbanization Prospects 2025, here are the rankings:
1. Jakarta, Indonesia: 41.9 million people
2. Dhaka, Bangladesh: 36.6 million people
3. Tokyo, Japan: 33.4 million people
4. New Delhi, India: 30.2 million people
5. Shanghai, China: 29.6 million people
6. Guangzhou, China: 27.6 million people
7. Al-Qahirah (Cairo), Egypt: 25.6 million people
8. Manila, Philipphine: 24.7 million people
9. Kolkata, India: 22.5 million people
10. Seoul, South Korea: 22.5 million people
Among these major cities, Dhaka and Shanghai are the fastest-growing in 2025, with growth rates approaching five percent per year and projected to continue increasing until 2050.
