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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Justin McCurry in Tokyo

Jakarta overtakes Tokyo as world’s most populous city, according to UN

People in Jakarta.
Indonesia’s capital city Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most populous city, according to the UN. Photograph: Pacific Press/Alamy

Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most populous city, according to a UN study that uses new criteria to give a more accurate picture of the rapid urbanisation driving the growth of megacities.

The Indonesian capital is home to 42 million people, according to an estimate by the population division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in its World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 report published this month.

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