UN projects 37 megacities by 2050 as gigacities emerge
The number of megacities (10M+ population) grew from 8 in 1975 to 33 in 2025, with the UN projecting 37 by 2050. Jakarta leads with ~42M people, followed by Dhaka (36.6M) and Tokyo (33.4M). By 2050, Dhaka could reach 52.1M and Jakarta 51.8M. Projections for 2100 show Lagos at 88.3M, Kinshasa 83.5M, Dar es Salaam 73.7M, Mumbai 67.2M, and New Delhi 57.3M. Lagos may range from 61M to over 100M, entering gigacity status. Urbanization is shifting toward Africa and South Asia. Vertical construction records loom: the Burj Khalifa (828m) remains tallest, but the Jeddah Tower, now resumed, is expected to exceed 1km.
Key facts
- Megacities (10M+) rose from 8 in 1975 to 33 in 2025
- UN projects 37 megacities by 2050
- Jakarta has ~42M people, Dhaka 36.6M, Tokyo 33.4M
- By 2050, Dhaka could reach 52.1M, Jakarta 51.8M
- 2100 projections: Lagos 88.3M, Kinshasa 83.5M, Dar es Salaam 73.7M, Mumbai 67.2M, New Delhi 57.3M
- Lagos may have 61M to over 100M residents by 2100
- Urbanization center shifting to Africa and South Asia
- Jeddah Tower construction resumed, expected to exceed 1km
Entities
Institutions
- United Nations
Locations
- Jakarta
- Indonesia
- Dhaka
- Bangladesh
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Lagos
- Nigeria
- Kinshasa
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dar es Salaam
- Tanzania
- Mumbai
- India
- New Delhi
- Burj Khalifa
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Jeddah Tower
- Jeddah
- Saudi Arabia
- Africa
- South Asia