West Java

West Java (Indonesian: Jawa Barat, Sundanese: ᮏᮝ ᮊᮥᮜᮧᮔ᮪, romanized: Jawa

Kulon, Pegon: ‫ )جاوا كولون‬is an Indonesian province on the western part of West Java
the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung. West Java is Jawa Barat
bordered by the province of Banten and the country's capital region of Jakarta
Province
to the west, the Java Sea to the north, the province of Central Java to the east
and the Indian Ocean to the south. With Banten, this province is the native Province of West Java
Provinsi Jawa Barat
homeland of the Sundanese people, the second-largest ethnic group in
Indonesia.

West Java was one of the first eight provinces of Indonesia formed following
the country's independence proclamation and was later legally re-established
on 14 July 1950. In 1966, the city of Jakarta was split off from West Java as a Coat of arms
'special capital region' (Daerah Khusus Ibukota), with a status equivalent to
that of a province,[8] while in 2000 the western parts of the province were in Nickname(s): Bumi Pasundan (Sundanese)
ᮘᮥᮙᮤ ᮕᮃᮞᮥᮔ᮪ᮓᮃᮔ᮪
turn split away to form a separate Banten province. Homeland of the Sundanese
Motto(s): Gemah, Ripah, Répéh,
Even following these split-offs, West Java is by far the most populous province Rapih (Sundanese)
of Indonesia with a population of 48,274,162 as of the 2020 Census,[9] which ᮌᮨ ᮙᮃᮂ ᮛᮤᮕᮃᮂ ᮛᮦᮕᮦᮂ ᮛᮃᮕᮤᮂ
grew to 49,860,330 at mid 2023 according to the official estimates;[2] the Prosperous, Serene, Peaceful, and Harmonious
population continues to grew and surpassed the 50 millions milestone during
late 2023. The province's largest cities, Bekasi (a satellite city within the
Jakarta metropolitan area), Bandung and Depok (the latter also within the
Jakarta metropolitan area), are the third, fourth and sixth most populous cities
in Indonesia respectively. Bandung is also one of the most densely populated
cities proper in the world.[10]
West Java in Indonesia

OpenStreetMap
History
The oldest human inhabitant
archaeological findings in the region
were unearthed in Anyer on the western
coast of Java with evidence of bronze
and iron metallurgical culture dating to
the first millennium AD.[11] The
prehistoric Buni culture, near present-
day Bekasi, developed clay pottery
with evidence found in Anyer to Coordinates: 6°45′S 107°30′E
Keraton Kasepuhan is oldest Kraton
and former palace of Prabu Cirebon. Artefacts dated 400 BC — AD Capital Bandung
Siliwangi 100, such as food and drink containers, Largest city Bekasi
were found mostly as burial gifts.[11] Established 14 July 1950
There is archaeological evidence in Government
Batujaya Archaeological Site dating from the 2nd century and, according to Dr • Body West Java Provincial
Tony Djubiantono, the head of Bandung Archaeology Agency, Jiwa Temple in Government
Batujaya, Karawang, was also built around this time. • Governor Bey Triadi Machmuddin
(acting)
One of the earliest known recorded histories in Indonesia is from the former • Vice Governor Vacant
Tarumanagara kingdom, where seven, fourth-century stones are inscribed in • Legislative West Java Regional
People's
Wengi letters (used in the Pallava period) and in Sanskrit describing the kings Representative Council
of the kingdom of Tarumanagara.[11] Records of Tarumanegara lasted until the
sixth century, which coincides with the attack of Srivijaya, as stated in the Area[1]
Kota Kapur inscription (AD 686).
• Total 37,040.04 km2
(14,301.24 sq mi)
The Sunda Kingdom subsequently became the ruling power of the region, as • Rank 21st in Indonesia
recorded on the Kebon Kopi II inscription (AD 932).[11] Highest elevation 3,078 m (10,098 ft)
(Mount Cereme)
An Ulama, Sunan Gunung Jati, settled in Cirebon, intending to spread Islam in
Population (mid 2023 estimate)[2]
the town. Meanwhile, the Sultanate of Demak in Central Java grew to become
• Total 49,860,330
a threat to the Sunda kingdom. To defend against the threat, Prabu Surawisesa • Rank 1st in Indonesia
Jayaperkosa signed the Luso-Sundanese Treaty with the Portuguese in 1512. In • Density 1,346/km2 (3,490/sq mi)
return, the Portuguese were granted access to build fortresses and warehouses
Demographics
in the area, as well as forming trading agreements with the kingdom. This first
• Ethnic groups
international treaty of Sunda Kingdom with the Europeans was commemorated 71.87% Sundanese
by the placement of the Padrao stone monument at the bank of the Ciliwung 13.29% Javanese
River in 1522. 6.2% Betawi
4.22% Cirebonese
Although the treaty with the Portuguese had been established, it could not 1.09% Bataks
come to realisation. Sunda Kalapa harbour fell under the alliance of the 0.63% Minangkabau
Sultanates of Demak and Cirebon (former vassal state of Sunda kingdom) in 2.7% Others[3]
1524 after forces under Paletehan alias Fadillah Khan had conquered the city. • Religion
In 1524–1525, troops under Sunan Gunung Jati also seized the port of Banten 97.34% Islam
and established the Sultanate of Banten which was affiliated to the Demak 1.78% Protestanism
Sultanate. The war between the Sunda kingdom and the Demak and Cirebon 0.61% Roman
Catholic
sultanates continued for five years until a peace treaty was made in 1531
0.2% Hinduism
between King Surawisesa and Sunan Gunung Jati. From 1567 to 1579, under
0.035% Buddhism
the last king Raja Mulya, alias Prabu Surya Kencana, the Sunda kingdom
0.025%
declined, under pressure from Sultanate of Banten. After 1576, the kingdom Confucianism
could not maintain control over its capital at Pakuan Pajajaran (present-day 0.010% Others
Bogor), and gradually the Sultanate of Banten took over the former Sunda (including Hyang,
kingdom's territory. The Mataram Sultanate from Central Java also seized the Sunda Wiwitan,
Priangan region, the southeastern part of the kingdom. etc.)[4]
• Languages
Indonesian (official)
In the 16th century, Dutch and British trading companies established trading
Sundanese (native)
ships in western Java after the fall of the Sultanate of Banten. For the next
Cirebonese
three hundred years, western Java fell under the Dutch East Indies'
Betawi
administration. West Java was officially declared as a province of Indonesia in
1950, referring to a statement from Staatblad number 378. On 17 October Time zone UTC+7 (Indonesia
Western Time)
2000, as part of nationwide political decentralization, Banten was separated
from West Java and made into a new province. There have been recent ISO 3166 code ID-JB
proposals to rename the province Pasundan ("Land of the Sundanese") after GDP (nominal) 2022[5]
the historical name for West Java.[12] - Total Rp 2,422.8 trillion (3rd)
US$ 163.2 billion
Int$ 509.1 billion (PPP)
- Per capita Rp 49.0 million (23rd)
Government and administrative division US$ 3,302
Int$ 10,305 (PPP)
Since the creation of West Java Province,[13] the province of West Java was - Growth 5.45%[6]
subdivided into four cities (Kota) and sixteen regencies (Kabupaten), HDI (2024) 0.749[7] (15th) – high
excluding the four regencies which were separated off in 2000 to form the new
Website [Link] ([Link]
Banten Province. Subsequently five new independent cities were created [Link])
between 1996 and 2002 by separation from their surrounding regencies -
Bekasi on 16 December 1996, Depok on 27 April 1999, Cimahi and Tasikmalaya on 21
June 2001, and Banjar on 11 December 2002. A 17th regency was formed on 2 January
2007 – West Bandung Regency – from the western half of Bandung Regency, and an 18th
regency was formed in October 2012 – Pangandaran Regency – from the southern half of
Ciamis Regency. On 25 October 2013, the People's Representative Council (DPR) began
reviewing draft laws on the establishment of 57 prospective new regencies (and eight new
provinces),[14] including a further three regencies in West Java – South Garut (Garut
Selatan), North Sukabumi (Sukabumi Utara) and West Bogor (Bogor Barat) – but no action
has followed in view of the moratorium adopted since 2013 by the Indonesian government Parahyangan highland near
on the creation of new provinces, regencies and cities, so none of these three prospective Buitenzorg (Bogor City), c. 1865–
1872
regencies are shown separately on the map below, nor in the following table.
These 9 cities and 18 regencies are listed below with their areas and their populations at the
2010 Census [15] and 2020 Census, [9] together with official estimates as at mid 2023.[2]
They are divided into 627 districts (Kecamatan) as at 2023, which comprise 663 urban
villages (Kelurahan) and 5,294 rural villages (Desa).[13] The table also includes the average
population density as at mid 2023 for each regency or city.[16]).

Gedung Sate is a governor office of

West Java

2nd-level Administrative map of

West Java Province

Cities and Regencies of West Java

Regencies

Bekasi Regency
Bogor Regency
Sukabumi Regency
Cities Cianjur Regency
West Bandung Regency
1. Bekasi
Bandung Regency
2. Depok
Garut Regency
3. Bogor
Tasikmalaya Regency
4. Sukabumi
Pangandaran Regency
5. Cimahi
Ciamis Regency
6. Bandung
Kuningan Regency
7. Tasikmalaya
Cirebon Regency
8. Banjar
Majalengka Regency
9. Cirebon
Sumedang Regency
Indramayu Regency
Subang Regency
Purwakarta Regency
Karawang Regency
 Pop'n
Name of Area Pop'n Pop'n Pop'n
Region Density
Logo Regency Seat in 2010 2020 mid 2023
Code mid 2023
or City km2 Census Census Estimate
(per km2)

32.75 Bekasi City 213.72 2,334,871 2,543,676 2,627,207 12,293

32.16 Bekasi Regency Central Cikarang 1,273.88 2,630,401 3,113,017 3,237,420 2,541

32.76 Depok City 199.91 1,738,570 2,056,335 2,145,400 10,732

32.71 Bogor City 111.39 950,334 1,043,070 1,070,719 9,612

32.01 Bogor Regency Cibinong 2,991.78 4,771,932 5,427,068 5,627,921 1,881

32.72 Sukabumi City 48.31 298,681 346,325 360,644 7,465

32.02 Sukabumi Regency Palabuhanratu 4,164.15 2,341,409 2,725,450 2,802,404 673

32.03 Cianjur Regency Cianjur 3,614.35 2,171,281 2,477,560 2,558,142 708

West Bandung Regency

32.17 Ngamprah 1,287.41 1,510,284 1,788,336 1,859,636 1,444
(Bandung Barat)

32.77 Cimahi City 42.43 541,177 568,400 590,782 13,924

32.73 Bandung City 167.31 2,394,873 2,444,160 2,506,603 14,982

32.04 Bandung Regency Soreang 1,762.40 3,178,543 3,623,790 3,721,111 2,114

32.05 Garut Regency Garut 3,065.19 2,404,121 2,585,607 2,683,665 876

32.78 Tasikmalaya City 183.14 635,464 716,155 741,760 4,050

32.06 Tasikmalaya Regency Singaparna 2,708.82 1,675,675 1,865,203 1,907,045 704

32.18 Pangandaran Regency Parigi 1,010.92 383,848 423,667 431,464 427

32.79 Banjar City 131.97 175,157 200,973 207,510 1,572

32.07 Ciamis Regency Ciamis 1,595.94 1,148,656 1,229,069 1,251,544 784

32.08 Kuningan Regency Kuningan 1,194.09 1,035,589 1,167,686 1,201,764 1,006

32.74 Cirebon City 39.48 296,389 333,303 341,980 8,662

32.09 Cirebon Regency Sumber 1,076.76 2,067,196 2,270,621 2,360,441 2,192

 32.10 Majalengka Regency Majalengka 1,204.24 1,166,473 1,305,476 1,340,617 1,113

32.11 Sumedang Regency North Sumedang 1,558.72 1,093,602 1,152,507 1,787,235 756

32.12 Indramayu Regency Indramayu 2,099.42 1,663,737 1,834,434 1,894,325 902

32.13 Subang Regency Subang 2,165.55 1,465,157 1,595,320 1,649,821 762

32.14 Purwakarta Regency Purwakarta 971.72 852,521 997,869 1,037,068 1,067

32.15 Karawang Regency West Karawang 1,911.09 2,127,791 2,439,085 2,526,002 1,322

Totals 37,040.04 43,053,732 48,274,162 49,860,330 1,346

Much of the population growth has been in the northwest corner of the province, in those areas bordering Jakarta and forming part
of the Jakarta metropolitan area. These comprise Bekasi and Bogor Regencies, together with the separate cities of Bekasi, Bogor
and Depok; in total they cover an area of 4,790.68 km2 and had a population estimated at 14,707,767 in mid 2023.[2]

The province comprises eleven of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the People's Representative
Council.[17] The province's 91 elected members are comprised as follows:

The West Java I Electoral District consists of the cities of Bandung and Cimahi, and elects 7 members to the
People's Representative Council.
The West Java II Electoral District consists of the regencies of Bandung and West Bandung, and elects 10
members to the People's Representative Council.
The West Java III Electoral District consists of the regency of Cianjur, together with the city of Bogor (these two
areas are non adjacent), and elects 9 members to the People's Representative Council.
The West Java IV Electoral District consists of the regency of Sukabumi and city of Sukabumi, and elects 6
members to the People's Representative Council.
The West Java V Electoral District consists solely of the regency of Bogor, and elects 9 members to the People's
Representative Council.
The West Java VI Electoral District consists of the cities of Bekasi and Depok, and elects 6 members to the
People's Representative Council.
The West Java VII Electoral District consists of the regencies of Bekasi, Karawang and Purwakarta, and elects 10
members to the People's Representative Council.
The West Java VIII Electoral District consists of the regencies of Cirebon and Indramayu, together with the city of
Cirebon, and elects 9 members to the People's Representative Council.
The West Java IX Electoral District consists of the regencies of Subang, Sumedang and Majalenka, and elects 8
members to the People's Representative Council.
The West Java X Electoral District consists of the regencies of Ciamis, Kuningan and Pangandaran, together with
the city of Banjar, and elects 7 members to the People's Representative Council.
The West Java XI Electoral District consists of the regencies of Garut and Tasikmalaya, together with the city of
Tasikmalaya, and elects 10 members to the People's Representative Council.

Geography
West Java borders Jakarta and Banten province to the west and Central Java to the east. To the north is the Java Sea. To the south is
the Indian Ocean. Unlike most other provinces in Indonesia which have their capitals in coastal areas, the provincial capital,
Bandung, is located in the mountainous area in the centre of the province. Banten Province was formerly part of West Java but was
created a separate province in 2000. West Java, in the densely populated western third of Java and covering a land area of
37,040.04 km2 (larger than Guinea-Bissau), is home to almost one out of every five Indonesians.

West Java and Banten provinces, as a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, have more mountains and volcanoes than any of the other
provinces in Indonesia. The vast volcanic mountainous region of inland West Java is traditionally known as Parahyangan (also
known as Priangan or Preanger) which means "The abode of hyangs (gods)". It is considered as the heartland of the Sundanese
people. The highest point of West Java is the stratovolcano Mount Cereme (3,078 metres) bordering Kuningan and Majalengka
Regencies. West Java has rich and fertile volcanic soil. Agriculture, mostly traditional dry
rice cultivation (known as ladang or huma), has become the primary way of life of
traditional Sundanese people. Since the era of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), West
Java has been known as a productive plantation area for coffee, tea, quinine, and many other
cash crops. The mountainous region of West Java is also a major producer of vegetables and
decorative flowering plants. The landscape of the province is one of volcanic mountains,
rugged terrain, forest, mountains, rivers, fertile agricultural land, and natural sea
harbours.[18]
View of the mount and the crater of
Flowing through the Bandung Basin to the northeast is the Tarum River (or Ci-tarum), the
Tangkuban Parahu in Lembang.
longest and most important river in the province. This 300-km long river is the site of three Tangkuban Parahu is the centre
dams, namely Cirata Dam, Saguling Dam, and Jatiluhur Dam. point of Sundanese culture
according to the local legend of
Sangkuriang
Economy
Initially, the economy of the Sundanese people in West Java relied heavily on rice
cultivation. Ancient kingdoms established in the province such as the Tarumanagara and
Sunda Kingdom are known to have relied on rice taxes and agriculture revenues. The cycle
of life of the ancient Sundanese people revolved around the rice crop cycle. Traditional rice
harvest festivals such as the Seren Taun were important. The ancient goddess of rice, Nyai
Pohaci Sanghyang Asri, is revered in Sundanese culture. Traditionally, Sundanese people
often used dry rice cultivation (ladang). After the Mataram expanded to the Priangan area in
View of the canyon of Cukang
the early 17th century following the Sultan Agung campaign against Dutch Batavia, sawah Taneuh is the famous canyon in
(wet rice cultivation) began to be adopted in the northern lowlands of West Java. Regencies West Java
such as Indramayu, Cirebon, Subang, Karawang and Bekasi are now well known as vital
rice-producing areas. The mountainous region of West Java supplies vegetables, flower and
much horticultural produce to Jakarta and Bandung, while animal farms in West Java produce
dairy products and meats.

Colonial period
During the entire Dutch colonial era, West Java fell under Dutch administration centered in
Batavia. The Dutch colonial government introduced cash crops such as tea, coffee, and quinine.
Since the 18th century, West Java (known as "De Preanger") was known as a productive
plantation area and became integrated with global trade and economy. Services such as
transportation and banking were provided to cater for wealthy Dutch plantation owners. West
Java is known as one of the earliest developed regions in the Indonesian archipelago. In the West Java GDP share by
early 20th century, the Dutch colonial government developed infrastructures for economic sector (2022)[19]
purposes, especially to support Dutch plantations in the region. Roads and railways were
constructed to connect inland plantations area with urban centres such as Bandung and the port Agriculture (8.57%)
Manufacturing (42.24%)
of Batavia.
Other Industrial (10.10%)
Service (39.09%)
Post independence
After Indonesian independence in 1945, West Java became a supporting region for Jakarta,
the capital of Indonesia. Jakarta remained as the business and political centre of Indonesia.
Several regencies and cities in West Java such as Bogor, Bekasi and Depok were developed
as supporting areas for Jakarta and came to form the Greater Jakarta area or Jabodetabek
(Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi). The northern area of West Java has become
a major industrial area, with areas such as Bekasi, Cikarang and Karawang sprawling with
factories and industries. The area in and around Bandung has also developed as an industrial
area.
Bogor Palace seen from the Bogor
Botanical Garden
Natural resources
Based on the data from Indonesia State Secretary, the total area of rice fields in West Java
Province in 2006 was 9,488,623 km which produced 9,418,882 tons of paddy in 2006,
consisting of 9,103,800 tons rice field paddy and 315,082 tons farmland paddy. Palawija
(non-rice food) production, reached 2,044,674 tons with productivity 179.28 quintal per ha.
Nevertheless, the widest plant's width is for corn commodity which reaches 148,505 ha.
West Java also produces horticulture consists of 2,938,624 tons vegetables, 3,193,744 tons
fruits, and 159,871 tons medicines plants/ bio pharmacology.

Forest in West Java covers 764,387.59 ha or 20.62% from the total size of the province. It
Tea plantations at Puncak. Tea
consists of productive forest 362,980.40 ha (9.79%), protected forest 228,727.11 ha (6.17%),
plantations are a common sight
and conservation forest 172,680 ha (4.63%). Mangrove forest reaches 40,129.89 ha, and across mountainous West Java
spread in 10 regencies where coasts are available. Besides, there is also another protected
forest of about 32,313.59 ha organized by Perum Perhutani Unit III West Java and Banten.

From the productive forest, in 2006 West Java harvested crop of about 200,675 m³ wood, although the need for wood in this
province every year is about 4 million m³. Until 2006, populace forest's width 214,892 ha with wood production is about
893,851.75 m³. West Java also produces non-forest's crop which is potential enough to be developed as forestry work, such as silk,
mushroom, pine, dammar, maleleuca, rattan, bamboo, and swallow bird's nest.

In the fishery sector, commodities include goldfish, nila fish, milkfish, freshwater catfish, windu shrimp, green mussel, gouramy,
patin, seaweed and vaname shrimp. In 2006, this province harvested 560,000 tons of fish from fishery cultivation crop and brackish
or 63.63% from fishery production total in West Java.

In the poultry field, dairy cow, domestic poultry, and ducks are common commodities in
West Java. 2006 data stated that there are 96,796 dairy cows (25% of the national
population), 4,249,670 sheep, 28,652,493 domestic poultries, and 5,596,882 ducks (16% of
the national population). Now there are only 245,994 beef cattle in West Java (3% national
population), whereas the need every year is about 300,000 beef cattle.

This province has many plantation crops, such as tea, cloves, coconut, rubber, cacao,
tobacco, coffee, sugar, palm and akar wangi (Chrysopogon zizanioides). From all those
commodities, cloves, coconut, rubber, cocoa, tobacco, and coffee are common in West Java. Rice terrace in Kampung Naga.
Rice terraces are grow very well on
From area side, the best productivity, that is plan area's width equals with the plant's width
the island of Java, especially in
that produces tobacco and sugar palm commodities. From the production side, the highest
West Java.
productivity is oil palm (6.5 tons per ha) and sugar palm (5.5 tons per ha).

West Java also has several mining operations. In 2006, it contributed 5,284 tons zeolite, 47,978 tons bentonite, iron sand, pozzolan
cement, feldspar, and jewel barn/ gemstone. Precious stone mining potential generally is found in Garut, Tasikmalaya, Kuningan,
and Sukabumi Regency areas.

As consequences of having many volcanoes, West Java has the potential of geothermal energy. There are eleven points of
geothermal energy, and three, i.e. Papandayan, Ceremai, and Gede Pangrango have conducted pre-exploration.[20]

Raw natural resources include chalk, several offshore oilfields in the Java Sea, and lumber. Most of the province is very fertile,
with a mix of small farms and larger plantations. There are several hydropower dams, including Jatiluhur, Saguling, Cirata, and
Jatigede.

Tourism
Tourism is an important industry in West Java, and the Bandung and Puncak areas have long
been known as popular weekend destinations for Jakartans. Today, Bandung has developed
into a historical tourist destination, with the Merdeka Building and Braga Street shopping
area popular not only among locals, but also with visitors from Malaysia and Singapore.[21]
The history-rich coastal city of Cirebon is also a cultural tourism destination since the city
has several kratons and historical sites such as Gua Sunyaragi. Other tourist destinations
include the Bogor Botanical Garden, Taman Safari, Tangkuban Perahu crater, Pelabuhanratu
Bay, Ciater hot springs, Kawah Putih crater to the south of Bandung, Pangandaran beach, Kawah Putih in Southern Bandung
and various mountain resorts in Cianjur, Garut, Tasikmalaya, and Kuningan. is the most beautiful Volcanic crater
lake in Java beside of Ijen
Demographics
The population of West Java was 43,053,732 at the 2010 Census and 48,274,162 at the 2020
Historical population
Census, making it the most populous province of Indonesia, home to 18% of the national
total on 1.8% of the country's land. The mid-2022 official estimate was 49,405,808 Year Pop. ±%
(comprising 25,067,226 males and 24,338,582 females).[1] Aside from the special district of 1971 21,623,529 —
Jakarta, it is the most densely populated province in the country with an average of 1,364.5 1980 27,453,525 +27.0%
1990 35,384,352 +28.9%
people per km2 (2020 Census). The average annual population growth rate recorded in the
1995 39,206,787 +10.8%
ten years to 2010 was 1.9%,[22] but the growth has since slowed and was just 1.1% between
2000 35,729,537 −8.9%
2020 and 2022.
2005 38,965,440 +9.1%
2010 43,053,732 +10.5%
Ethnic and linguistic composition 2015 46,668,214 +8.4%
2020 48,274,162 +3.4%
West Java is the native homeland of Sundanese people which forms the largest ethnic group 2022 49,405,808 +2.3%
in West Java. Since Jakarta and the surrounding area, including West Java, is the business 2000 Census decline was due to the
and political centre of Indonesia, the province has attracted various people from other parts splitting off of Banten as a separate
province. Source: Badan Pusat
of Indonesia. The biggest minority is Javanese who migrated to the province centuries ago.
Statistik, Jakarta, 2023[1] and
Other Native Indonesian ethnic groups such as Minangkabau, Batak, Malay, Madurese, previous reports. Note 1995, 2005
Balinese, Ambonese and many other Indonesians who migrated to and settled in West Java and 2015 totals are Inter-Censal
estimates.
cities can also be easily found. The urban areas also have a significant population of Chinese
Indonesians.

In addition to Indonesian, the official national language, the other widely spoken language in
the province is Sundanese. In some areas near the southern borders with Central Java, Javanese
is also spoken. The main language spoken in Cirebon and nearby areas (Majalengka,
Indramayu, Sumber) is Cirebonese, a dialect of Javanese with Sundanese influence.[23]

Indonesian is widely spoken as a second language.

Religion
As of 2022, Islam is the largest religion in West Java, being practiced by 97.34% of the
Ethnic Groups in West
population. Minority religions are Christianity with 2,39% (Protestantism 1.78% and Roman
Java[3]
Catholic 0.61%) , Buddhism 0.2%, Hinduism 0.035%, Confucianism 0.025% and Folk religion
0.01% of the population.[4] Sundanese (71.87%)
Javanese (13.29%)
Betawi (6.2%)
Cultures Cirebonese (4.22%)
Batak (1.09%)
The Sundanese share the Java island with the Javanese and primarily live in West Java. Minangkabau (0.63%)
Although the Sundanese live on the same island as the Javanese, their culture is distinct and Others (2.7%)
likewise consider themselves to live in a separate cultural area called Pasundan or Tatar Sunda.
Someone moving from West Java to Central or East Java is literally said to be moving from
Sunda to Java worlds. Bandung is considered as the cultural heartland of Sundanese people, and many indigenous Sundanese
artforms were developed in this city. The nearby province of Banten is similar in this regard and is also considered to be part of
Pasundan as well.

Music
The musical arts of Sunda, which is an expression of the emotions of Sundanese culture, express politeness and grace of
Sundanese. Degung orchestra consists of Sundanese gamelan. In addition to the Sundanese forms of Gamelan in Parahyangan, the
region of Cirebon retains its own distinct musical traditions. Amongst Cirebons' varying Gamelan ensembles the two most
frequently heard are Gamelan Pelog (a non-equidistant heptatonic tuning system) and Gamelan Prawa (a semi-equidistant
pentatonic tuning system). Gamelan Pelog is traditionally reserved for Tayuban, Wayang Cepak, and listening and dance music of
the Kratons in Cirebon, while Gamelan Prawa is traditionally reserved for Wayang Purwa.
Cirebon also retains specialised Gamelan ensembles including Sekaten, which is played in
the Kratons to mark important times in the Islamic calendar, Denggung, also a Kraton
ensemble, which is believed to have some "supernatural powers", and Renteng, an ensemble
found in both Cirebon and Parahyangan known for its loud and energetic playing style.

Tembang Sunda is a genre of Sundanese vocal music accompanied by a core ensemble of

two Kacapi (zither) and a Suling (bamboo flute). The music and poetry of tembang Sunda
are closely associated with the Parahyangan, the highland plateau that transverses the central
and southern parts of Sunda. The natural environment of Priangan, an agricultural region Kacapi and Suling Orchestra

surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, is reflected in some songs of the tembang

Sunda.[24]

Kacapi suling is tembang Sunda minus vocal. Tarawangsa is a genuine popular art is
performed on ensemble consists of tarawangsa (a violin with an end pin) and the jentreng (a
kind of seven-stringed zither). It is accompanied by a secret dance called Jentreng. The
dance is a part of a ritual celebrating the goddess of paddy Dewi Sri. Its ceremonial
significance is associated with a ritual of thanksgiving associated with the rice harvest.
Tarawangsa can also be played for healing or even purely for entertainment.
Tembang Sunda performance in
The three main types of Sundanese bamboo ensembles are angklung, calung, karinding and Cologne 2010
arumba. The exact features of each ensemble vary according to context, related instruments,
and relative popularity. Angklung is a generic term for sets of tuned, shaken bamboo rattles.
Angklung consists of a frame upon which hang several different lengths of hollow bamboo.
Angklungs are played like handbells, with each instrument played to a different note. Angklung
rattles are played in interlocking patterns, usually with only one or two instruments played per
person. The ensemble is used in Sundanese processions, sometimes with trance or acrobatics.

Performed at life-cycle rituals and feasts (hajat), angklung is believed to maintain balance and
harmony in the village. In its most modern incarnation, angklung is performed in schools as an aid
to learning music. The Angklung received international attention when Daeng Soetigna, from
Bandung, expanded the angklung notations not only to play traditional pélog or sléndro scales but
also diatonic scale in 1938. Since then, angklung is often played together with other Western Angklung is one of the most
musical instruments in an orchestra. One of the first well-known performances of angklung in an famous musical instruments
in West Java
orchestra was during the Bandung Conference in 1955. Like those in angklung, the instruments of
the calung ensemble are of bamboo, but each consists of several differently tuned tubes fixed onto a
piece of bamboo; the player holds the instrument in his left hand and strikes it with a beater held in his right.

The highest-pitched calung has the highest number of tubes and the densest musical activity; the lowest-pitched, with two tubes,
has the least. Calung is nearly always associated with earthy humour, and is played by men. Arumba refers to a set of diatonically
tuned bamboo xylophones, often played by women. It is frequently joined by modern instruments, including a drum set, electric
guitar, bass, and keyboards.

Theatre
Wayang golek is a traditional form of puppetry from Sunda. Unlike the better-known leather
shadow puppets (wayang kulit) found in the rest of Java and Bali, wayang golek puppets are
made from wood and are three-dimensional, rather than two. They use a banana palm in
which the puppets stand, behind which one puppeteer (dalang) is accompanied by his
gamelan orchestra with up to 20 musicians. The gamelan uses a five-note scale as opposed
to the seven-note western scale. The musicians are guided by the drummer, who in turn is
guided by signals from the puppet master dalang gives to change the mood or pace required.
Wayang golek are used by the Sundanese to tell the epic play "Mahabarata", and various Wayang Golek, a traditional
other morality-type plays. Sandiwara Sunda is a type folk theater performed in Sundanese Sundanese puppetry.
and presenting Sundanese themes, folklores and stories.

Dance
Sundanese dance shows the influence of the many groups that have traded and settled in the
area over the centuries, and includes variations from graceful to dynamic syncopated
drumming patterns, quick wrist flicks, sensual hip movements, and fast shoulder and torso
isolations. Jaipongan is probably the most popular traditional social dance of Sundanese
people. It can be performed in solo, groups, or pair. The Tari Merak (Peafowl Dance) is a
female dance inspired by the movements of a peafowl and its feathers blended with the
classical movements of the Sundanese dance. Jaipongan dance performance
accompanied by Sundanese
degung mixed with modern
Folktales and legend stories instruments.

There are stories and folktales transcribed from Pantun Sunda stories.[25] Among the most
well-known folktale and stories are:

Mundinglaya Dikusumah, which tells of Mundinglaya visiting Jabaning Langit to find

layang Salaka Domas. It is a symbolic story of Surawisesa visiting Malaka to establish
a peace treaty with the Portuguese before 1522.
Lutung Kasarung, tells the life of a beautiful princess, in the era of Pasir Batang
kingdom, a vassal of Sunda kingdom. She faces the evil of her older sister willing to
seize her right as a queen.[26]
Ciung Wanara, tells of the fight of two princes of Sunda kingdom and the history of
Cipamali river (present-day Brebes river) as a boundary between Sundanese and
Javanese territories.
Sangkuriang, which tells the story of the creation of Mount Tangkuban Parahu and the
ancient lake Bandung.[27]
Nyai Loro Kidul (also spelt Nyi Roro Kidul) is a legendary female spirit or deity, known A painting depicting Nyai
as the Queen of the Southern Sea of Java (Indian Ocean or Samudra Kidul south of Loro Kidul
Java island) in Sundanese as well in Javanese and Balinese mythology.

Literature
Old Sundanese literature, among others, are:

Bujangga Manik, which was written on 29 palm leaves and kept in the Bodleian Library in Oxford since 1627,
mentioning more than 450 names of places, regions, rivers and mountains situated on Java island, Bali island and
Sumatra island.[28]
Carita Parahyangan, telling Sundanese kings and kingdoms from the pre-Islamic period.[28]
Siksakandang Karesian, providing the reader with all kinds of religious and moralistic rules, prescriptions and
lessons.[28]

Cuisine
Sundanese cuisine is one of the most famous traditional food in Indonesia, and it is also
easily found in most Indonesian cities. The Sundanese food is characterized by its freshness;
the famous lalab (raw vegetables salad) eaten with sambal (chili paste), and also karedok
(peanuts paste) demonstrate the Sundanese fondness for fresh raw vegetables. Similar to
other ethnic groups in Indonesia, Sundanese people eat rice for almost every meal. The
Sundanese like to say, "If you have not eaten rice, then you have not eaten at all." Rice is
prepared in hundreds of different ways. However, it is simple steamed rice that serves as the
centrepiece of all meals.
A typical modest Sundanese meal
Next to steamed rice, the side dishes of vegetables, fish, or meat are added to provide a
consists of steamed rice, fried salted
variety of tastes as well as for protein, mineral and nutrient intake. These side dishes are
fish, sayur asem (vegetable with
tamarind based soup), lalab sambal grilled, fried, steamed or boiled and spiced with any combination of garlic, galangal (a plant
(raw vegetables salad with chili of the ginger family), turmeric, coriander, ginger, and lemongrass. The herb-rich food
paste) and karedok (vegetable saladwrapped and cooked inside banana leaf called pepes (Sundanese: pais) is popular among
with peanuts paste). Sundanese people. Pepes are available in many varieties according to their ingredients; carp
fish, anchovies, minced meat with eggs, mushroom, tofu or oncom. Oncom is a fermented
peanut-based ingredient that is prevalent within Sundanese cuisine, just like its counterpart,
Tempe, which is popular among Javanese people. Usually, the food itself is not too spicy, but it is served with a boiling sauce made
by grinding chilli peppers and garlic together. On the coast, saltwater fish are common; in the mountains, fish tend to be either
pond-raised carp or goldfish. A well-known Sundanese dish is lalapan, which consists only of raw vegetables, such as papaya
leaves, cucumber, eggplant, and bitter melon.[29]

Human Development Index

Cities and Regencies in West Java range high to medium
Human Development Index (HDI).

# City / Regency HDI (2024 data)[30]

Very high human development

1 Bekasi City 0.835

2 Bandung City 0.835

3 Depok City 0.829

High human development

4 Cimahi City 0.800

5 Bogor City 0.785

6 Cirebon City 0.770

7 Sukabumi City 0.768

8 Bekasi Regency 0.764

9 Tasikmalaya City 0.750

Cities and regencies of West Java by Human Development Index in 2024
- West Java 0.744 0.801 above 0.701 to 0.750
- Indonesia 0.742 0.751 to 0.800 0.651 to 0.700

10 Bandung Regency 0.742

11 Sumedang Regency 0.737

12 Banjar City 0.736

13 Karawang Regency 0.729

14 Purwakarta Regency 0.726

15 Ciamis Regency 0.725

16 Bogor Regency 0.723

17 Cirebon Regency 0.714

18 Subang Regency 0.713

19 Kuningan Regency 0.712

Medium human development

20 West Bandung Regency 0.700

21 Pangandaran Regency 0.698

22 Indramayu Regency 0.698

23 Majalengka Regency 0.697

24 Sukabumi Regency 0.689

25 Garut Regency 0.687

26 Tasikmalaya Regency 0.683

27 Cianjur Regency 0.672

Transportation

Toll roads
Due to its proximity to Jakarta and its growing population and industry, West Java has the
longest tolled highway road of any provinces. As of April 2015, there are several toll roads
in West Java

Jakarta–Cikampek Toll Road (73 km)

Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan Toll Road (60.5 km)
Cipularang Toll Road (58.5 km)
Padaleunyi Toll Road (33 km)
Cipularang Toll Road
Jagorawi Toll Road (46 km)
Palimanan–Kanci Toll Road (28.8 km)
Bogor Ring Road (partially built)
Cinere–Jagorawi first section (3.7 km, as part of Jakarta Outer Ring Road 2)
Kanci–Pejagan Toll Road (35 km)
Cikopo–Palimanan Toll Road (116 km)
Soreang–Pasir Koja Toll Road (10.6 km)
Bogor–Ciawi–Sukabumi Toll Road (built: Bogor-Cigombong) (15.3 km)
In addition to completed highways there are some highways that are being built, one of them is Cileunyi–Sumedang–Dawuan
(Cisumdawu) with length 60.1 kilometers.

Several other proposed toll roads are Bandung Intra-Urban Toll Road, Cileunyi–Tasikmalaya, and Jakarta Outer Ring Road 2 (a
section of this road has been built).

Railways
Most cities and towns in West Java are served with narrow-gauge (mainly 1067mm) lines
and connected to other provinces on Java Island. An example commuter rail in West Java
which is Bandung Commuterline and KRL Commuterline electric suburban trains of Greater
Jakarta covered the cities to Bogor and Cikarang, also Jabodebek LRT is a light rapid transit
covered into Bekasi, Depok, and Bogor with Bekasi Line and Cibubur Line.

A high-speed railway, connecting Jakarta and Bandung, was opened in October 2023.[31]
Padalarang station is a high-speed
Then Jakarta MRT Phase 3 with Balaraja to Cikarang, will be under construction in railway and local train station in
2024.[32][33] West Java

Air
Bandung Husein Sastranegara International Airport serves direct domestic flights to Batam, Pekanbaru, Medan, Bandar Lampung,
Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Denpasar, Semarang, Banjarmasin, Makassar, and also international services to/from Kuala Lumpur and
Singapore. The Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka Regency is built to replace the Husein Sastranegara Airport and to
ease air traffic at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.[34][35][36]

Education
West Java is one of the most popular destinations for higher education in Indonesia. It has many well-known universities joined by
many students from the entire country. Some of which are:

Bandung Institute of Technology

Indonesia University of Education
Padjadjaran University
Bogor Agricultural University
Parahyangan Catholic University
UIN Sunan Gunung Djati
Gunadarma University
Telkom University
President University
Another important form of education that is available in most cities in West Java is the Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri (IPDN)
located at Sumedang Regency and the Immigration Polytechnic (Politeknik Imigrasi) located in Depok.
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External links
Indonesia portal

Official site ([Link] Archived ([Link]

[Link]/) 27 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine
Official site ([Link]

Retrieved from "[Link]