PBB Says Jakarta Is The Most Populated City With A Population Of 42 Million, Chairman Of The DPRD: There Are Many Social Problems, But Also Sources Of Sustenance

Chairman of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Khoirudin (Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - The chairman of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Khoirudin, responded to the United Nations (UN) report in the World Urbanization Prospect 2025 which projects Jakarta as the world's most populous city with a population of 42 million.

Khoirudin assessed that the density of residents brings two sides at once, namely increasing social problems and ongoing economic opportunities. He said the complexity of social problems in Jakarta today cannot be separated from the large population.

"Today, our social problems are very large due to the population. However, a large population is also a source of sustenance. Yes, because everyone has guaranteed their rizki by the creator, and when there are people, there is an economic screening," Khoirudin told reporters, Sunday, November 30.

Khoirudin explained that the administrative population of Jakarta, which was recorded at around 11.6 million people, could increase significantly during the day. This condition, according to him, actually revives economic activity.

Khoirudin compared Jakarta with other areas with far fewer populations, such as Central Kalimantan. According to him, the economic turnover in the province is so large. The average population density there is also only 17 people per kilometer.

"In Jakarta, everyone sells cilor, cilok, cireng, cimol. Everything, the activities of the traders and everything is sold. Everything is still safe, meaning that you can send money to the village, you can pay rent, it's extraordinary," he said.

However, he emphasized that the large number of people still raises social challenges that must be handled together. The consequence is the increasing need for social handling in the capital city.

"So it's true, there are a lot of social problems but there are also a lot of rizki. We just have to work with the local government to create programs that minimize social problems," he said.

It is known that the United Nations released a report recording Jakarta as the world's most populous city with a population of nearly 42 million people. In this global ranking, the population density in Jakarta beat Dhaka (Bangladesh) in second place with around 40 million people, and Tokyo (Japan) which is said to have around 33 million people.

According to a UN report, currently about 45 percent of the world's population lives in urban areas. This urbanization rate has soared rapidly since 1950 where only 20 percent of the world's population live in cities.

Responding to this, the Special Staff of the Governor of DKI Jakarta for Social Communication Chico Hakim revealed that the definition of the UN was caused by the presence of millions of residents of buffer areas in Jabodetabek who were active in Jakarta.

"Every day, millions of people are active in Jakarta from Bogor City, Bogor Regency, Depok, Tangerang City, Tangerang Regency, South Tangerang, Bekasi City, and Bekasi Regency," Chico told reporters, Friday, November 28.