South Papua

South Papua
Papua Selatan
Province of South Papua
Provinsi Papua Selatan
Coat of arms of South Papua
Motto(s): 
Maju Negeriku (Indonesian)"
"Onward My Country"
   South Papua in    Indonesia
OpenStreetMap
Map
Country Indonesia
CapitalSalor, Merauke
Largest cityMerauke, Merauke
Government
 • BodySouth Papua Provincial Government
 • GovernorRudy Sufahriadi (acting)
 • Vice GovernorVacant
Area
 • Total129,715.02 km2 (50,083.25 sq mi)
Population
 ([1])
 • Total537,973
 • Density4.1/km2 (11/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official languageIndonesian
 • Native languages of South PapuaAsmat, Boazi, Citak, Kolopom, Korowai, Marind, Mombum, Muyu, Wambon, Yaqay, and others
 • Also spokenJavanese, Papuan Malay, and others
Demographics
 • Religions
 • Ethnic groupsAsmat, Kombai, Korowai, Marind, Marori, Sawi, Wambon (natives), Javanese (migrant), and others
Time zoneUTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Websitepapuaselatan.go.id

South Papua, officially the South Papua Province (Indonesian: Provinsi Papua Selatan),[3] is an Indonesian province located in the southern portion of Papua, following the borders of the Papuan customary region of Anim Ha.[4][5] Formally established on 11 November 2022 and including the four most southern regencies that were previously part of the province of Papua and before 11 December 2002 had comprised a larger Merauke Regency, it covers a land area of 129,715.02 km2, about the same area as Pennsylvania (or 90% of that of England). This area had a population of 513,617 at the 2020 Census,[6] while the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 537,973,[1] making it the least populous province in Indonesia.

It shares land borders with the separate nation of Papua New Guinea to the east, as well as the Indonesian provinces of Highland Papua and Central Papua to the north and northwest, respectively. South Papua also faces the Arafura Sea in the west and south, which is a maritime border with Australia. Merauke is the economic centre of South Papua, while its administrative centre is the town of Salor located in Kurik District of Merauke Regency, around 60 km northwest of Merauke town.[7]

South Papua landscape predominantly consists of lowland areas characterized by extensive swamps and massive rivers such as the Digul and Maro. Indigenous ethnic group inhabiting this region for example Asmat, Marind, Muyu, and Korowai. They rely on sago and fish as staple dietary sources. Certain tribes like Asmat were recognized for its wood carving and boating culture. There is also massive amount of migrant like Javanese people because of transmigration program sponsored by the government to convert vast amount of swamps into rice paddy and increase this region's population. South Papua is also home to the renowned Wasur National Park, an expansive wetland area with rich biodiversity including agile wallaby, mound-building termites or musamus, and the bird of paradise.[8][9][10][11]

  1. ^ a b c Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Provinsi Papua Selatan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.93)
  2. ^ "Visualisasi Data Kependudukan - Kementerian Dalam Negeri 2022" (visual). www.dukcapil.kemendagri.go.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  3. ^ Aditra, Irsul Panca (2022-04-07). Agriesta, Dheri (ed.). "RUU Pemekaran Provinsi di Papua Disetujui, Ketua Tim PPS Tolak Usulan Nama Provinsi Anim Ha". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  4. ^ Santoso, Bangun; Ardiansyah, Novian (2022-06-30). "DPR Sahkan RUU DOB, Papua Kini Punya 3 Provinsi Baru: Papua Selatan, Papua Tengah Dan Papua Pegunungan". suara.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  5. ^ Utama, Felldy (2022-06-30). "Usai RUU DOB Papua Disahkan, Ini Perintah Mendagri Buat Bupati Papua Selatan: Okezone Nasional". Nasional Okezone (in Indonesian). iNews. Jakarta: Okezone. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  6. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  7. ^ Jimar, Syarif (2023-02-02). Abaa, Gratianus Silas Anderson (ed.). "Melihat Kota Terpadu Mandiri Salor, Pusat Pemerintahan Provinsi Papua Selatan". Tribun-papua.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  8. ^ "PROFIL WILAYAH ADAT ANIM HA". papua.go.id. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21.
  9. ^ Batbual, Agapitus (2015-10-21). "Kala Cendrawasih Terus jadi Incaran Pemburu". mongabay.co.id. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  10. ^ Paino, Christopel (2022-04-04). "Mengenal Rayap yang Membangun "Katedral" di Merauke". mongabay.co.id. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  11. ^ Batbual, Agapitus (2014-09-03). "Walabi, Minyak Kayu Putih dari Taman Nasional Wasur". mongabay.co.id. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-07-03.