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.
