Malang Regency (Javanese: ꦩꦭꦁ; Pegon: مالاڠ; Osob Kiwalan: Ngalam) is the second largest regency in East Java, Indonesia, with a total area of . It is rich in potential for agriculture, medicinal plants and tourism.

It had a population of 2,446,218 people at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 2,654,448 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 2,778,932.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Malang Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3507) These figures do not include the areas and populations of the two autonomous cities of Malang and Batu which lie geographically within the regency, but are administratively independent. The capital of the regency is the town of Kepanjen.

Most of the population resides in the Greater Malang (Malang Raya) area, a metropolitan area that includes the cities of Malang and Batu and 21 other districts within the regency (plus one other adjacent district in Pasuruan Regency) in a valley between and south of the two cities. The distance between Malang and Batu is approximately 20 km. This metropolitan area covers 2,332.29 km2; it had a population of 2,325,109 at the 2010 census, rising to 3,096,425 as at the mid 2025 official estimates, with an average density of 1,327.6 per km2 (5,016/sq mile).The Malang Regency is not completely metropolitan, but only the 15 kecamatan close to Malang are metropolitan, despite that claim in the Wikipedia Indonesian page - see reference under List of metropolitan areas in Indonesia.

History

Historical and archaeological records from Hindu temples suggest that the Kanjuruhan Kingdom emerged in the region during the 8th and 9th centuries. An inscription on the Dinoyo shrine at Badhut places the shrine's inauguration on Friday, Legi 1st, Margasirsa 682 Saka in the Javanese calendar or November 28, 760 AD.

At one time, the Kanjuruhan kingdom was under the leadership of Akuwu Singhasari Ametung, who was married to Ken Dedes. At that time the Kingdom was under the rule of the Kingdom of Kediri, and the Singhasari Government Center was in Tumapel. Only after Ken Arok killed Akuwu Ametung and married Ken Dedes did the centre of control move to the Malang Kingdom, and this only after defeating the Kingdom of Kediri. Kediri at that time fell into the hands of Singhasari.

During its peak, the Mataram kingdom fell into the hands of Mataram, as well as the Kingdom of Majapahit. The government moved to Demak as Islam was introduced, brought by the Wali Songo. The government was then under the reign of Duke Ronggo Tohjiwo. In the time of the collapse, according to folklore, legendary heroes appeared against Raden Panji Pulongjiwo. He was caught by Mataram soldiers in the village now called Kepanjen Panggungrejo (Kepanji's). The destruction of the town was known as Malang Kutho Bedhah.

In the era of the Dutch East India Company, Malang was a base for the Trunojoyo resistance (1674-1680) against the Company-assisted Mataram. In the early nineteenth century, the government was headed by the Governor-General. The first Malang Regent was Raden Tumenggung Notodiningrat. He was appointed by the Dutch government by resolution of the Governor-General on 9 May 1820.

Since 1984, Malang Regency Hall has had a traditional ceremony, dating from the time of the Kanjuruhan Kingdom, wherein attendees are encouraged to wear traditional costumes of Malang.

Administrative districts The Malang Regency is divided into thirty-three districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areasas given by BPS Malang Regency and their populations at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and the 2020 census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Malang Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3507) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (totaling 378 rural desa and 12 urban kelurahan) and offshore islands in each district, and its post codes.

The most southernly nine districts - those listed first in the table below, all having a coastline on the Indian Ocean (except Dampit, Kalipare and Pagak Districts), together comprise 36% of the regency's area but have only 25.5% of its population. The next-listed 21 districts comprise the entirety of the urbanised Malang Valley, including the more rural districts to the east; these districts, together with the two cities (Malang and Batu), plus one district (kecamatan Purwodadi) of Pasuruan Regency, constitute the Malang Metropolitan Area. The last-mentioned 3 districts, which all lie west of Batu city, are almost completely physically separated by Batu from the rest of Malang Regency; they cover 9.5% of the regency area, with just 5.95% of its population in mid 2025.

Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area inkm2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 Admin centreNo. of villages (desa and Kelurahan)No. of islandsPostcode 35.07.01 Donomulyo 192.60 61,840 67,433 70,507Donomulyo1014 65187 35.07.11 Kalipare 105.39 60,834 67,624 71,352Kalipare9- 65166 35.07.02 Pagak 90.08 45,429 49,724 53,862Pagak8- 65168 35.07.03 Bantur 157.15 68,069 75,855 80,233Bantur1010 65179 35.07.29 Gedangan 130.55 52,020 57,052 60,996Sumbernanas84 65178 35.07.04 Sumbermanjing Wetan 239.31 89,807 98,647 106,205Argotirto1549 65178 35.07.05 Dampit 135.31 118,273 127,129 134,579Dampit12 (a) - 65181 35.07.30 Tirtoyudo 141.96 59,894 65,571 60.469Tlogosari1317 65182 &65183 35.07.06 Ampelgading 79.60 52,691 57,868 60,913Tirtomarto135 65183 Southern sector 1,271.95 608,857 666,903 708,116 9894 35.07.07 Poncokusumo 102.99 91,833 96,183 102,047Wonorejo17- 65157 35.07.08 Wajak 94.56 79,614 86,447 91,394Wajak13- 65173 35.07.09 Turen 63.90 111,708 121,397 128,198Turen17 (b) - 65175 35.07.14 Bululawang 49.36 68,647 70,567 74,413Bululawang14- 65171 35.07.10 Gondanglegi 79.74 81,495 87,124 91,792Gondanglegi Kulon14- 65174 35.07.33 Pagelaran 45.83 65,491 73,243 78,088Pagelaran10- 65170 35.07.13 Kepanjen 46.25 102,621 110,649 116,704Kepanjen18 (c) - 65163 35.07.12 Sumberpucung 35.90 51,297 57,314 59,376Sumberpucung7- 65160 35.07.31 Kromengan 38.63 38,005 42,148 43,606Kromengan7- 65165 35.07.20 Ngajum 60.12 48,157 52,197 55,153Ngajum9- 65164 35.07.32 Wonosari 48.53 40,783 45,900 46,141Wonosari8- 65161 35.07.21 Wagir 75.43 80,013 89,645 92,101Gondowangi12- 65158 35.07.19 Pakisaji 38.41 82,215 91,844 94,442Pakisaji12- 65162 35.07.15 Tajinan 40.11 51,818 56,506 59,792Tajinan12- 65172 35.07.16 Tumpang 72.09 74,414 78,234 81,819Tumpang15- 65156 35.07.18 Pakis 57.62 135,757 150,437 154,736Pakisjajar15- 65154 35.07.17 Jabung 135.89 71,567 74,311 79,924Sukolilo15- 65155 35.07.25 Lawang 68.23 103,402 110,981 114,780Lawang12 (d) - 65211-65218 35.07.24 Singosari 118.51 165,357 180,050 185,640Pagentan17 (e) - 65153 35.07.23 Karangploso 58.74 74,585 85,056 85,568Girimoyo9- 65152 35.07.22 Dau 41.96 67,491 70,996 69,782Mulyoagung10- 65151 Malang Valley sector 1,924.58 1,686,270 1,829,769 1,905,498 263- 35.07.26 Pujon 130.75 65,268 68,653 72,477Pandesari10- 65391 35.07.27 Ngantang 147.70 55,711 58,176 60,565Kaumrejo13- 65392 35.07.28 Kasembon 55.67 30,112 30,947 32,278Kasembon6- 65393 Northwestern sector 334.12 151,091 157,776 165,320 29- Regency Totals 3,530.652,446,2182,654,448 2,778,932 Kepanjen39094

Notes: (a) including one kelurahan - Dampit. (b) including 2 kelurahan - Sedayu and Turen. (c) including 4 kelurahan - Ardirejo, Cepokomulyo, Kepanjen and Penarukan. (d) including 2 kelurahan - Kalirejo and Lawang. (e) including 3 kelurahan - Candirenggo, Losari and Pagentan.

Government

The Regent of Malang is the highest-ranking official within the Malang Regency government. He reports to the Governor of East Java. The current regent or regional head of Malang Regency is Sanusi, with Lathifah Shohib as vice regent. They both took office on 20 February 2025.

Tourism

Balekambang Beach is south of Malang and long. Pantai Bajul Mati beach is between Balekambang Beach and Sendang Biru Beach. The name means "Dead Crocodile" due to a rock in the sea shaped like a crocodile. Batu Bengkung Beach is near Bajul Mati Beach and has a natural pool trap by the sand dunes.

Climate

Malang Regency has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with moderate to little rainfall from June to September and heavy to very heavy rainfall from October to May. The following climate data is for the town of Kepanjen.

References

External links

Official Government Website (in Indonesian)