Old kampungs in the city center are densifying, and new kampungs in the outskirts are growing rapidly. Attention is given mainly to the physical environment, while the city's population is often neglected. As a result, the quality of the urban environment is declining, and the mortality rate of children under five years of age is increasing in poor housing environments. Jakarta is currently the third most polluted city in the world. The thirteen rivers that flow across the city are also very polluted due to sedimentation and waste from industry and households.
Respiratory diseases are still on the rise.
Most of the kampung people are still using kerosene stoves for cooking and burning their garbage, causing more air pollution. Since housing density is so high, it is impossible to control the shallow wells from the septic tanks or their drains. Ground water contamination is inevitable, contributing to increases in morbidity. Due to the current monetary crisis, industries are contracting, businesses are closing down, and the rate of unemployment is increasing. Long dry seasons cause agricultural lands to remain unplanted, pushing rural people to migrate to the cities.