Jakarta, a city with a population of around 10 million people, has sunk 13 feet (4 meters) over the past three decades. The capital city of Indonesia has sunk that much in such little time because it sits on top of swap land and also because of a phenomenon called subsidence, sinking ground caused by underground material movement. Subsidence is a major problem caused by the millions of residents who suck up groundwater from underground aquifers. by 2050, 95 percent of North Jakarta could be submerged.

images from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44636934

With a poverty rate of 3.42% (recorded September 2019), Jakarta has been trying to stop its residents from sucking up groundwater. However, enforcement is not effective and there is an abundance of illegal wells. Three-fourths of Jakarta’s residents rely on groundwater and refuse to use the piped water distribution system because it is more expensive and unreliable.

95% of North Jakarta
could be submerged by 2050.

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3/4 of Jakarta's residences rely on groundwater.

Jakarta, continuously sinking, is experiencing more and more floods. These floods are caused by torrential rain that overflows the sea, which an existing 20-mile seawall tries to block off. The World Bank has warned that these routine floods will result in severe socio-economic damage. In
response to the increased flooding and World Bank’s warning, a giant sea wall complex or the “Great Garuda” is to be constructed. It will consist of a 15-mile outer seawall and 17 artificial islands and will cost $40 billion.

The "Great Garuda"
will cost $40 billion.

The capital city will begin moving in 2024.

Joko Widodo, Indonesia’s president has planned on relocating the capital city to the province of East Kalimantan (Borneo). The government owns 440,000 acres of land in that location, which has not seen any natural disasters for the past 20 months. Moving means construction of new
governement infrastructure, which could begin as early as 2021. The target is to begin moving in 2024.

Jakarta's population has more than tripled in 50 years.

After the 1970s oil boom, Jakarta’s population has more than tripled in 50 years. The population grew faster than its supporting infrastructure. For example, piped water services only covered 60% of the population. Because of this groundwater is pumped out of the ground.

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