West Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara
Nusa Tenggara Barat
Province

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Location of West Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia
Coordinates: 8°35′S 116°7′E / 8.583°S 116.117°ECoordinates: 8°35′S 116°7′E / 8.583°S 116.117°E
Country Indonesia
Capital Mataram
Government
  Governor M. Zainul Majdi (PD)
  Vice Governor Muhammad Amin
Area
  Total 19,708.79 km2 (7,609.61 sq mi)
Population (2014 Estimate)[1]
  Total 4,702,389
  Density 240/km2 (620/sq mi)
Demographics
  Ethnic groups Sasak (68%), Bimese (14%), Sumbawan (8%), Balinese (3%), Dompuan (3%), Javanese (2%)[2]
  Religion Islam (96%), Hindu (3%), Buddhist (1%)
  Languages Indonesian (official)
Time zone WITA (UTC+8)
Website www.ntbprov.go.id

West Nusa Tenggara (Indonesian: Nusa Tenggara BaratNTB) is a province of Indonesia. It comprises the western portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the exception of Bali which is its own province. Mataram, on Lombok, is the capital and largest city of the province. The 2010 census recorded the population at 4,496,855; the latest estimate (for January 2014) is 4,702,389.[3] The province's area is 19,708.79 km2. The two largest islands in the province are Lombok in the west and the larger Sumbawa island in the east.

History

In 1938, the Neo Municipality was formed, a self regulated area (Dutch: Zelf Bestuur Regelen). Based on the Lombok government constitution, East Indonesia Presidents' decision on 9 May 1949 No.5/Prv/49, Lombok did not contain a municipality but was an area conducted by Dutch Government. Formerly known as Sunda Kecil (Lesser Sunda), the West Nusa Tenggara Province was formed from part of the former State of East Indonesia in 1951. In 1957, the regional government was established.

Administration

The province is administratively divided into eight regencies (kabupaten) and two municipalities (kotamadya), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and at the latest (2014) Estimates:[4]

Name Capital Area
(km²)
Population
2010
Census
Population
2014
Estimate
Mataram City 61.30 402,296 420,941
Central Lombok Regency
(Lombok Tengah)
Praya 1,208.39 859,309 898,855
East Lombok Regency
(Lombok Timur)
Selong 1,605.55 1,105,671 1,155,247
North Lombok Regency
(Lombok Utara)
Tanjung 776.25 199,904 209,060
West Lombok Regency
(Lombok Barat)
Gerung 862.62 599,609 626,941
Total Lombok 4,514.11 3,166,789 3,311,044
Bima City Bima 222.25 142,443 148,984
Bima Regency Woha 4,389.40 438,522 458,961
Dompu Regency Dompu 2,321.55 218,984 228,811
Sumbawa Regency Sumbawa Besar 6,643.98 415,363 434,469
West Sumbawa Regency
(Sumbawa Barat)
Taliwang 1,636.95 114,754 120,115
Total Sumbawa 15,214.13 1,330,066 1,391,340

The Indonesian Government is currently considering the division of Nusu Tenggara Barat Province to create a separate Sumbawa Island province.[5] There is no information as to whether the remaining part of the present province (i.e. the districts comprising Lombok Island) would then be renamed.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1971 2,203,465    
1980 2,724,664+23.7%
1990 3,369,649+23.7%
1995 3,645,713+8.2%
2000 4,009,261+10.0%
2010 4,500,212+12.2%
Source: Statistics Indonesia 2010

Lombok is mainly inhabited by the Sasak ethnic group, with a minority Balinese population, and Sumbawa is inhabited by Sumbawa and Bima ethnic groups. Each of these groups has a local language associated with it as well. The population of the province was 4,496,855 (at the 2010 census); 70.4% of the population lives on Lombok (at the 2010 census), which has only 22.9% of the area. The latest estimate (for January 2014) is 4,702,389.[6] The province is considered to be one of the least developed of Indonesia's 33 provinces. In 2005, Nusa Tenggara Barat was reported as the most affected area for malnutrition and kwashiorkor.[7] Life expectancy in Nusa Tenggara Barat amounting to only 54 years is the lowest in Indonesia (69 years) and infant mortality rate is the highest.[8]

References

  1. Estimasi Penduduk Mennurat Jenis Kelamin dan Provinsi di Indonesia Tahun 2014.
  2. Indonesia's Population: Ethnicity and Religion in a Changing Political Landscape. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. 2003.
  3. Estimasi Penduduk Mennurat Jenis Kelamin dan Provinsi di Indonesia Tahun 2014.
  4. Estimasi Penduduk Mennurat Jenis Kelamin dan Provinsi di Indonesia Tahun 2014.
  5. Officials support new province for Sumbawa | The Jakarta Post
  6. Estimasi Penduduk Mennurat Jenis Kelamin dan Provinsi di Indonesia Tahun 2014.
  7. Ragil Suwito: Geography 2, p.151. Jakarta Timur 2010. ISBN 978-979-019-896-8
  8. Ragil Suwito: Geography 2, p.149. Jakarta Timur 2010. ISBN 978-979-019-896-8

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for West Nusa Tenggara.