List of regencies and cities of Indonesia

This is the list of regencies and cities of Indonesia. Both regencies and cities are second-level administrative subdivision in Indonesia, immediately below the provinces, and above the districts. They are roughly equivalent to American counties.^[1]

In Indonesia, both regency and city are at the same administration level, each having their own local government and legislative body. The difference between a regency and a city lies in demography, size, and economy. Generally, a regency comprises a rural, larger area than a city. A city usually has non-agricultural economic activities.

A regency (Indonesian: kabupaten) is headed by a regent, known locally as bupati, while a city (Indonesian: kota) is headed by a mayor (walikota). All regents, mayors, and members of legislatures are directly elected via elections to serve for a five year term which can be renewed once. Each regency or city is divided further into districts more commonly known as kecamatan, or distrik in Papua.

An administrative city is a city without its own local legislatures (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah). The mayor of an administrative city is directly appointed by the Governor. This type of city in Indonesia is only found in Jakarta which consisted of 5 administrative cities and 1 administrative regency.

Following the implementation of decentralization beginning on 1 January 2001, regencies and municipalities became the key administrative units responsible for providing most governmental services.^[2]

The list below groups regencies and cities in Indonesia by provinces. Each regency has an administrative centre, the regency seat.^[3]

Description

Origin of "regency"

Portrait of a Javanese regent in gala uniform (circa 1900).

A regency (Indonesian: kabupaten) is a political subdivision of a province in Indonesia. The Indonesian term kabupaten is also sometimes translated as "municipality". Regencies and cities are divided into subdistricts (Kecamatan).

The English name "regency" comes from the Dutch colonial period, when regencies were ruled by bupati (or regents) and were known as regentschap (kabupaten in Javanese and subsequently Indonesian). Bupati had been regional lords under the pre-colonial monarchies of Java. When the Dutch abolished or curtailed those monarchies, the bupati were left as the most senior indigenous authority. They were not strictly speaking "native rulers" because the Dutch claimed full sovereignty over their territory, but in practice they had many of the attributes of petty kings (including elaborate regalia and palaces, and a high degree of impunity).

List of regencies and cities by province

Proposed new regencies

On 25 October 2013 the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) began reviewing draft laws on the establishment of 57 prospective regencies/cities (and 8 new provinces),^[9] as set out below:

“With these new regions, it is hoped that we can shorten the line of governance, improve land and security aspects, and no less important, support historical and cultural [institutions],” House Speaker Marzuki Alie said.

The agreement will be forwarded on for government approval.

Marzuki said that the new regions, especially in areas bordering other nations, will be able to support more development so that border areas develop faster and become less vulnerable to the territorial claims of other countries.

“We hope everything will go smoothly,” he said.

Under the new package, eight new provinces will join Indonesia’s current 34; three of the new provinces are in Papua and West Papua. The new provinces are Pulau Sumbawa, South Papua, Central Papua, Southwest Papua, Tapanuli, Nias, Kapuas Raya and Bolang Mongondow Raya.

The newly created regencies in Papua Province comprise the regencies of Gili Menawa, Moyo, Balin Senter, Bogogha, Puncak Trikora, Muara Digul, Admi Korbay, Katengban, Okika, Northwest Yapen, East Yapen, Numfor Island, Yalimek, Mambera Hulu, Southwest Yahukimo, East Yahukimo and Gondumisisare and the municipalities of Merauke and Lembah Baliem (Baliem Valley). The newly created regencies in West Papua comprise the regencies of Malamoy, Maibratsau, North Raja Ampat, South Raja Ampat, Raja Maskona, Okas, Kota Manokwari, West Manokwari and Imeo.

The other new regencies will comprise: Simalungun Hataran (created from Simalungun Regency) and Pantai Barat Mandailing (from Mandailing Natal Regency) in North Sumatra, Kundur Island (from Karimun Regency) in Riau Kepulauan, Renah Indojati (from South Pesisir Regency) in West Sumatra, the Muaro Bungo municipality (from Bungo Regency) in Jambi, the Lembak Regency (from Rejang Lebong Regency) in Bengkulu and the regencies of Bigi Maria (from Lahat Regency) and Pantai Timur (from Ogan Ilir Regency) in South Sumatra.

Additionally, three new regencies will be created in West Java: South Garut, or Garut Selatan (created from Garut Regency), North Sukabumi, or Sukabumi Utara (from Sukabumi Regency) and West Bogor, or Bogor Barat (from Bogor Regency).

Kalimantan will see four new regencies: Sekayam Raya (created from Sanggau Regency) and Banua Banjak (from Kapuas Hulu Regency) in West Kalimantan, and South Berau Pesisir (from Berau Regency) and South Paser (from Paser Regency) in East Kalimantan.

Sulawesi will see four as well: South Talaud, or Talaud Selatan (created from Talaud Islands Regency) in North Sulawesi, South Bone, or Bone Selatan (from Bone Regency) in South Sulawesi, and Bolio Huto, Panipi (from Gorontalo Regency) and West Gorontalo (from Pohuwato Regency) in Gorontalo; and two new municipalities: Tahuna (from Sangihe Islands Regency) and Langoa (from Minahasa Regency), both located in North Sulawesi.

Other new regencies will include South Lombok (created from East Lombok Regency) on Lombok island, the regency of Adonara (from East Flores Regency) and the Municipality of Maumere (from Sikka Regency) on Flores island, and the regencies of Wasile (from East Halmahera Regency) and Obi Islands (from South Halmahera Regency) in North Maluku.

Later in the same week, the House, at its last plenary meeting of 2013, approved the creation of a further seven new regencies - Mahakam Ulu (in East Kalimantan), Malaka (in East Nusa Tenggara), Central Mamuju (in West Sulawesi), Banggai Laut (in Central Sulawesi), Tailabu Island (in North Maluku), Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir (in South Sumatra) and East Kolaka (in Southeast Sulawesi).^[9]

References