Top 10 Biggest Cities in Indonesia

Indonesia is a country that is very rich in natural resources. In addition to abundant natural resources, the country with the largest number of Muslims in the world also has ethnic, cultural, and linguistic religions.

The territory of Indonesia is divided into provinces, cities and regencies which are divided into more than 13 thousand islands, both small and large.

As a country that has a large area and abundant resources, of course, Indonesia also has a very large population.

Based on the results of the Intercensus Population Survey (SUPAS) of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2015, it is projected that the total population of this country in 2020 will reach 269,600,000 people.

The entire population is spread over various areas of this archipelagic country. In this article, we will reveal the 10 largest cities in Indonesia in terms of the total population.

Makassar (1,508,154 inhabitants)

The capital city of South Sulawesi province has a large population. It is recorded that there are 1,508,154 people living in the city of Makassar. This number is likely to continue to grow given the rapid economic progress the city is experiencing.

No wonder the city, which is famous for its Coto Makassar, occupies the 10 largest cities in Indonesia based on population.

In fact, about 17% of the total population on the island of Sulawesi resides in this city. From an economic perspective, it is true that most of the economic and trade activities on the island of Sulawesi are centered in this city.

The ethnic groups that populate this city are very diverse, ranging from native Makassarese, Bugis, to Toraja. In fact, there are also migrants from the islands of Java and Sulawesi, as well as quite a lot of Chinese in this city.

Semarang (1,814,110 inhabitants)

As the capital city of Central Java province, the city of Semarang is one of the largest and most influential metropolitan cities in Indonesia.

Because it is located on the island of Java, the people who inhabit this area are mostly Javanese. The language used by them, of course, is Javanese.

However, Semarang also has ethnic Chinese associations and migrant residents from other areas. The various tribes and ethnicities in Semarang live side by side in harmony in everyday life.

The religion adopted by the majority of the local population is Islam, followed by other religions such as Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Chinese.

With a population of around 1.8 million, Semarang is the 9th largest city in Indonesia by population.

Palembang ( 1,843,488 inhabitants)

This city, located on the island of Sumatra, is the capital of the province of South Sumatra. This city has a population of 1,843,488 people and is the second most populous city on the island of Sumatra after the city of Medan.

Most of the local residents are Malays who use the Malay language which is adapted to the local accent. However, many also use Javanese and Indonesian.

The people who live in this city are not only native to Palembang, but there are also other immigrants, for example Banjar, Madura, Javanese, Minangkabau, Bugis, Chinese, Indian, and Arab.

These groups will then form tribal communities, such as Arab and Chinese villages. This tribal community is classified as a cultural enclave because it has characteristics that are quite different from the surrounding area.

Depok ( 1,857,734 inhabitants)

The city which is famous for the existence of the University of Indonesia and several other universities is located in West Java, close to DKI Jakarta.

As a buffer for the city of Jakarta, this city also receives the impact of a fairly high population migration. The population of this city reaches 1,857,734 inhabitants. This makes Depok one of the largest cities in Indonesia.

The population of Depok city consists of various ethnic groups, such as the Betawi (37%), Sundanese (19%), Javanese (35.9%), and other ethnic groups. However, because it is a city that supports Jakarta and is part of the JABODETABEK conurbation, this area has many other tribes and ethnicities from all over Indonesia or even the world.

The varied culture as a result of ethnic diversity makes local residents continue to strive to maintain harmony so as to create peace.

Depok is also known as a city of trade and services. In 2015, the city received an award for the reporting aspect of regional administration.

Tangerang (2,185,304 inhabitants)

The city, which is located in the province of Banten, is also one of the supporting cities for the capital city of DKI Jakarta. Therefore, Tangerang is also influenced by the dynamics of the population and economy of the city of Jakarta.

The population in this city continues to increase every year, either due to natural growth, urbanization, or migration from outside the region. It is recorded that there are 2,185,304 people who live in this city.

Tangerang residents come from various ethnic groups in Indonesia such as Banten, Sundanese, Javanese, Batak, Chinese and others. The majority religion embraced by the residents of this city is Islam, followed by other religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and others.

Medan ( 2,279,894 inhabitants)

Medan city is the capital city of North Sumatra province on the island of Sumatra. This city is one of the centers of economic growth in North Sumatra.

Here there are 2 transportation centers which are the gateways to Indonesia in the western part, namely Kuala Namu airport which is an international airport and Belawan port which is classified as one of Indonesia’s major ports.

The city area is divided into 151 sub-districts and 21 sub-districts. There are various ethnic groups that inhabit the city of Medan, for example the Minangkabau ethnicity, the Batak ethnicity, the Javanese ethnicity, and the Chinese ethnicity. While the pure ethnicity of this area is the coastal Karo tribe and the Malay tribe.

Not only does it have ethnic diversity, but Medan also has a diversity of religions that are embraced by the population. When visiting here, you will find temples, mosques, and churches that are spread throughout the city area.

With a population of around 2.27 million, the city of Medan is the largest city on the island of Sumatra and one of the largest cities in Indonesia.

Bandung ( 2,575,478 inhabitants)

This city has the status as the largest metropolitan city in the province of West Java with a population of about 2.5 million people.

The city which is often referred to as the flower city is also one of the economic centers on the island of Java. In fact, we know the Greater Bandung metropolitan development area which includes the surrounding areas.

The icon that stands out from Bandung is the existence of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) campus, which is one of the best campuses in the country. In addition, there are also other campuses such as Itenas, Unisba, and Unpas.

The Bandung area is administratively divided into 151 urban villages and 30 sub-districts. The majority of local residents are Sundanese, followed by Javanese.

Surabaya (3,158,943 people)

As the capital city of East Java province, the city of Surabaya is classified as a metropolitan city with a very large population. In fact, with a population of around

This city is one of the main growth cities in Indonesia. The administrative area of ​​this area is divided into 154 sub-districts and 31 sub-districts.

The majority of the population in Surabaya adheres to Islam, although here there are also adherents of other religions, such as Protestants, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Confucians and Hindus.

The population in this area is mostly Javanese. The language used by the people is the Suroboyoan language. This language is like Indonesian which

Bekasi ( 3,431,480 inhabitants)

Bekasi City is one of the cities that is part of the province of West Java. As a city that is included in the metropolitan category, Bekasi has developed into an industrial center as well as a residential area for urban residents.

With a very diverse and well-agglomerated economic activity, it is not surprising that this city has shot up to become the second largest city in Indonesia with a population of 3,431,480 people.

In this city, many independent urban areas have been built, such as Kemang Pratama, Harapan Indah, and Galaxy City. Most of the residents here are people from the Jakarta area.

Because the population in the city of Bekasi is very heterogeneous, the mix of Sundanese and Betawi cultures is felt in this area. In addition, there are also many people from tribes from all over Indonesia.

DKI Jakarta (10,557,810 inhabitants)

The title of the largest city in Indonesia is of course owned by the capital city of Indonesia, namely DKI Jakarta. This megapolitan city has even become one of the largest cities in the world with a population of more than 10 million people.

Apart from being the center of government, Jakarta is also the center of economy and business in Indonesia. The Indonesia Stock Exchange and Bank Indonesia are also located in this city.

Because it is the center of the Indonesian economy and government, residents in this area do not only come from within the country but also from abroad. The existence of foreign nationals living here makes the social life of the local community more diverse.

We can see all kinds of life in Jakarta, from the life of the elite upper class, middle class, to the lower class living in urban villages.

We can also see how the lifestyle of western expatriates differs greatly from the Chinese and Indian migrant communities which generally have their own communities in Indonesia. Chinatown or Little India.

Those are the 10 largest cities in Indonesia by population. The data above may change at any time considering that population growth in Indonesia is running very fast.