The capital Dhaka has become the second largest city in the world, surpassing the ninth position in population growth and urbanization at an astonishing pace. The latest United Nations report shows that unprecedented population density and migration flows have pushed Dhaka to the top of the megacities.
The report said that the Indonesian capital Jakarta has now overtaken Tokyo as the world’s most populous city, with a population of 41.9 million. Dhaka, which is in second place, has a population of 36.6 million, more than Tokyo’s 33.4 million.
According to the United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects 2025, the number of megacities worldwide now stands at 33, of which 19 are in Asia. Nine of the top 10 cities are in Asia—New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila, Kolkata, and Seoul among them. Cairo is the only African city not on the list.
Internal migration is the main reason behind Dhaka’s population growth. People affected by employment, climate-related risks, river erosion and floods are flocking to the capital to take shelter. The United Nations predicts that if current trends continue, Dhaka could emerge as the world’s largest megacity by 2050.