Indonesians weigh peril and promise of life in Jakarta - the world most populous city

SCMP · 2026-02-15
Indonesians weigh peril and promise of life in Jakarta - the world most populous city

Indonesia’s capital is now officially the world’s most populous city, but for many among the 42 million people who call the greater Jakarta metropolitan area their home, the ranking is less a badge of honour than a symbol of endurance. Jakarta overtook Tokyo late last year under new UN criteria that