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Jakarta Sinks: World's Most Populous City Faces Drowning
25 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Jakarta is now the world's most populous city with 42 million residents.
- North Jakarta has sunk 2.5 meters in a decade, with some areas sinking 25 cm annually.
- Indonesia is building a $40 billion sea wall and a new $35 billion capital city.
Jakarta has emerged as the world's most populous city, home to 42 million people. However, this dense population places immense pressure on infrastructure and exacerbates environmental issues, particularly flooding. Scientists warn that significant portions of the city could be submerged by 2050.
The primary cause of Jakarta's rapid sinking, or land subsidence, is excessive groundwater extraction. North Jakarta has sunk 2.5 meters over the past decade, with some areas experiencing subsidence rates of up to 25 centimeters annually. This alarming rate is more than double the global average for coastal megacities.
In response, Indonesia is pursuing ambitious solutions. A $40 billion sea wall project aims to protect coastal areas by 2030, with a planned completion by 2050 to create a reservoir. Simultaneously, a new capital city, Nusantara, is under construction in the jungle at a cost of $35 billion, with completion expected by 2045.
