Jakarta

Indonesia · mega-city · Southeast Asia · politics

Colossal Urban Area. Jakarta's metropolitan area is one of the largest cities in the world by area, with over 40 million people living there. That's more people than the entire population of Canada packed into one region.

Coastal Location. The city sits on the northwestern coast of Java island, right where it meets the Java Sea. Being on the coast made it a perfect spot for trade and business for hundreds of years.

Indonesia's Heart. Jakarta is Indonesia's political, economic, and cultural centre, meaning the government, big businesses, and important cultural institutions all operate there. It's also where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) runs its secretariat.

Gateway to Java. The city covers about 662 square kilometres, but borders the provinces of West Java and Banten, making it a major hub connecting different parts of the island. Its official name is the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, giving it special status like a province.

Global Powerhouse. Jakarta hosts countless corporate headquarters and national institutions that shape not just Indonesia, but influence much of Southeast Asia and the wider world.