Daily Digit: Jakarta is the fastest-sinking city in the world
Daily Digit is the story behind the numbers that make our world work. Today we’re looking at a city that may soon be gone. Jakarta, Indonesia, is sinking at an average of 1 to 15 cm per year, though some areas are dropping as much as 25 cm, making it the fastest-sinking city in the world. With 13 rivers running through it, almost half of Jakarta sits below sea level. Combined with rising sea levels as a result of climate change, that puts the city is in serious trouble. It’s estimated that 95% of north Jakarta will be submerged by 2050, and its 1.8 million current residents could be displaced as a result.
