From 8 to 38: The Long Journey of Province Formation in Indonesia

Indonesia is a giant mosaic composed of thousands of islands, hundreds of ethnic groups, and dozens of provinces. Currently, we know 38 provinces stretching from Sabang to Merauke. But did you know that at the beginning of independence, the number of provinces in Indonesia was only eight?

Early Independence Era: Foundation of the First 8 Provinces

Right after the independence proclamation, in the PPKI Session of August 19, 1945, it was decided to divide the territory into eight provinces:

Old Order and New Order

Over time, expansion demands emerged. Sumatra was split into North, Central, and South Sumatra. In the New Order era, expansion tended to be limited, but made history with East Timor's entry as the 27th province in 1976.

Reform Era: Explosion of Regional Autonomy

The fall of the New Order opened the floodgates of massive regional autonomy. New provinces were born such as Banten, Gorontalo, Kepulauan Riau, to North Kalimantan in 2012. The goal was to bring public services closer to the people.

Latest Wave: Expansion in Papua Land

In 2022, the latest wave of expansion occurred with the formation of South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua. With this, the total provinces in Indonesia now reach 38.

Conclusion

Indonesia's administrative map is not static. It continues to move following political dynamics and aspirations for equitable development throughout the archipelago.