Sarmi Regency

Sarmi Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in Papua Province of Indonesia. It was formed from the western districts which had until then been part of Jayapura Regency with effect from 12 November 2002. It covers an area of 18,034.0 km² (note that the province-level Statistics Bureau gives an alternate area figure of 14,068.37 km²), and had a population of 32,971 at the 2010 Census^[2] and 41,515 at the 2020 Census;^[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 42,680.^[1] The regency's administrative centre is at the town of Sarmi.

Sarmi Regency Kabupaten Sarmi
Regency
Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Mandiri dan Bermartabat (Independent and Dignified)
Location in Papua Province
Sarmi Regency Location in Indonesian Papua#Location in Indonesia Show map of Western New Guinea Sarmi Regency Sarmi Regency (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 2.4167°S 139.0833°E / -2.4167; 139.0833
Country	Indonesia
Province	Papua
Capital	Sarmi
Government
• Regent	Markus O. Mansnembra
• Vice Regent	Vacant
Area
• Total	18,034.0 km2 (6,963.0 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)[1]
• Total	42,680
• Density	2.4/km2 (6.1/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Area code	(+62) 966
Website	sarmikab.go.id

Sarmi is named from an acronym of the five main ethnic groups, which are the Sobey, Armati, Rumbuai, Manirem, and Isirawa. These five tribes do not represent the overall tribal diversity in this regency which has 87 tribes, each with their own language.^[4]

Demographics

The majority of Sarmi residents are native Papuans, with significant numbers of transmigrants from Java, Bali, Madura.

Religion

The majority religion adopted by the Sarmi community is Christianity, with a significant presence of Islam brought by transmigrants from Java and Madura, as well as a small minority of Hindus and Buddhists from Bali.

• Christianity (76.94%)
  • Protestantism (74.74%)
  • Catholicism (2.20%)
• Islam (22.96%)
• Hinduism (0.05%)
• Buddhism (0.05%)

Ethnic

Sarmi is inhabited by Sobey, Armati, Rumbuai, Manirem, and Isirawa - all of who are native Papuans - together with migrants from other parts of Indonesia, especially Javanese, Madurese, Batak, Minangkabau, Bugis etc.

Culture

Long before European explorers landed on the northern coast of Papua, since prehistoric times the region had been in contact with various foreign cultures. About 3,000 years ago, Austronesian speakers migrated to the northern coast of Papua.

They made and used boats adapted for sea voyages, they were the ones who managed to find an outrigger system (balance on the left and right of the boat) to deal with the fierce waves of the ocean.^[5]

Administrative Districts

At the 2010 Census, Sarmi Regency comprised ten districts (distrik), but subsequently nine additional districts (Sungai Biri, Veen, Bonggo Barat, Ismari, Sobey, Muara Toy, Verkam, Apawer Hilir and Apawer Tengah) have been created by splitting existing districts. These nineteen districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census^[2] and the 2020 Census,^[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.^[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 92 rural kampung and 2 urban kelurahan), and their post codes.

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (distrik)	Area in km2	Pop'n 2010 Census	Pop'n 2020 Census	Pop'n mid 2023 Estimate	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
91.10.14	Pantai Timur Bagian Barat (Western East Coast)	2,455	3,701	3,077	3,200	Nenke Dua	9	99371
91.10.04	Pantai Timur (a) (East Coast)	1,794	2,132	2,179	2,200	Betaf	7	99370
	Sungai Biri	1,422	(b)	695	700	Ansudu	3	99370
	Veen	1,829	(b)	1,919	2,000	Wakde/Ampera	7	99371
91.10.05	Bonggo (c)	385	3,883	3,115	3,200	Kiren	7	99381
91.10.15	Bonggo Timur (East Bonggo)	863	2,846	3,285	3,400	Mawes Mukti	6	99382
	Bonggo Barat (West Bonggo)	308	(d)	1,221	1,300	Podena	9	99382
91.10.02	Tor Atas	1,988	1,713	930	1,000	Samanente	4	99372
	Ismari	1,687	(b)	365	400	Waaf	4	99372
91.10.01	Sarmi (e)	419	11,633	13,813	14,100	Sarmi	9 (f)	99373
91.10.13	Sarmi Timur (East Sarmi)	222	1,555	777	800	Waskey	4	99377
91.10.12	Sarmi Selatan (South Sarmi)	302	1,799	2,178	2,200	Wapoania	3	99376
	Sobey	127	(b)	1,862	1,900	Ragaiserwar	5
	Muara Toy	782	(b)	1,079	1,100	Ebram	5	99377
	Verkan	649	(b)	1,062	1,100	Amsira	6	99376
91.10.03	Pantai Barat (West Coast)	810	2,248	1,281	1,300	Arbais	7	99375
91.10.09	Apawer Hulu (Upper Apawer)	779	1,461	1,232	1,300	Aurimi	6	99374
	Apawer Hilir (Lower Apawer)	578	(b)	878	900	Burgena	5	99375
	Apawer Tengah (Central Apawer)	635	(b)	567	600	Airoran	5	99374
	Totals	18,034	32,971	41,515	42,680	Sarmi	94

Notes: (a) including the offshore islands of Pulau Masimasi, Pulau Wakde Besar, Pulau Wakde Kecil, Pulau Yamna Besar and Pulau Yamna Kecil.
(b) the 2010 population of this new district is included with the figure for the district from which it was subsequently cut out.
(c) including the offshore islands of Pulau Anus, Pulau Yersun, Pulau Podena, Pulau Mengge and Pulau Kaycebo.
(d) the 2010 population of this new district is included with the figure for Bonggo District, from which it was subsequently cut out.
(e) including the offshore islands of Pulau Armo, Pulau Kosong, Pulau Liki and Pulau Sawar. (f) including the 2 kelurahan of Sarmi Kota (Sarmi town) and Mararena.

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Sarmi Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9110)
2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
4. History of Sarmi Regency
5. Sarmi Regency Culture

External links

• Statistics publications from Statistics Indonesia (BPS)