West Java (, ) is an Indonesian province on the western part of the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung and its largest city is Bekasi. West Java is bordered by the province of Banten and the country's capital region of Jakarta 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 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. With effect from 28 August 1961, the city of Jakarta was split off from West Java as a 'special capital region' (), with a status equivalent to that of a province, while in October 2000 the western parts of the province were in turn split away to form a separate Banten province.
Even following these split-offs, West Java is by far the most populous province of Indonesia with a population of 48,274,162 as of the 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. which grew to 50,759,003 at mid 2025 according to the official estimates;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Provinsi Jawa Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.32) the population continues to grew at about 400,000 per year, having 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.
History Prehistory 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. The prehistoric Buni culture, near present-day Bekasi, developed clay pottery with evidence found in Anyer to Cirebon. Artifacts dated 400 BC — AD 100, such as food and drink containers, were found mostly as burial gifts. There is archaeological evidence in Batujaya Archaeological Site dating from the 2nd century and, according to Dr Tony Djubiantono, the head of Bandung Archaeology Agency, Jiwa Temple in Batujaya, Karawang, was also built around this time.
Hindu-Buddhist and Islamic era
One of the earliest known recorded histories in Indonesia is from the former Tarumanagara kingdom, where seven, fourth-century stones are inscribed in Wengi letters (used in the Pallava period) and in Sanskrit describing the kings of the kingdom of Tarumanagara. Records of Tarumanegara lasted until the sixth century, which coincides with the attack of Srivijaya, as stated in the Kota Kapur inscription (AD 686).
The Sunda Kingdom subsequently became the ruling power of the region, as recorded on the Kebon Kopi II inscription (AD 932). The Sunda Kingdom reached its peak during the reign of King Sri Baduga Maharaja, whose reign from 1482 to 1521 is traditionally remembered as an age of peace and prosperity among Sundanese people.
An Ulama, Sunan Gunung Jati, settled in Cirebon, intending to spread Islam in the town. Meanwhile, the Sultanate of Demak in Central Java grew to become a threat to the Sunda kingdom. To defend against the threat, Prabu Surawisesa Jayaperkosa signed the Luso-Sundanese Treaty with the Portuguese in 1512. In return, the Portuguese were granted access to build fortresses and warehouses in the area, as well as forming trading agreements with the kingdom. This first international treaty of Sunda Kingdom with the Europeans was commemorated by the placement of the Padrao stone monument at the bank of the Ciliwung River in 1522.
Although the treaty with the Portuguese had been established, it could not come to realisation. Sunda Kalapa harbour fell under the alliance of the Sultanates of Demak and Cirebon (former vassal state of Sunda kingdom) in 1524 after forces under Paletehan alias Fadillah Khan had conquered the city. In 1524–1525, troops under Sunan Gunung Jati also seized the port of Banten and established the Sultanate of Banten which was affiliated to the Demak Sultanate. The war between the Sunda kingdom and the Demak and Cirebon sultanates continued for five years until a peace treaty was made in 1531 between King Surawisesa and Sunan Gunung Jati. From 1567 to 1579, under the last king Raja Mulya, alias Prabu Surya Kencana, the Sunda kingdom declined, under pressure from Sultanate of Banten. After 1576, the kingdom could not maintain control over its capital at Pakuan Pajajaran (present-day Bogor), and gradually the Sultanate of Banten took over the former Sunda kingdom's territory. The Mataram Sultanate from Central Java also seized the Priangan region, the southeastern part of the kingdom.
European colonization and Contemporary era
In the 16th century, Dutch and British trading companies established trading ships in western Java after the fall of the Sultanate of Banten. For the next three hundred years, western Java fell under the Dutch East Indies' administration. West Java was officially declared as a province of Indonesia in 1950, referring to a statement from Staatblad number 378. On 17 October 2000, as part of nationwide political decentralization, Banten was separated from West Java and made into a new province. There have been recent proposals to rename the province Pasundan ("Sundanese community") after the historical name for West Java.
Government and administrative divisions
The province is governed by Governor (Dedi Mulyadi of the Gerindra Party) and Vice Governor (Erwan Setiawan) and a Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) comprising 120 elected members (95 males and 25 females). In the northwest, Bogor Regency is represented by 11 members, Bogor City by 3 members, Bekasi Regency by 7 members, and Bekasi and Depok Cities by 11 members. Elections were held on 14 February 2024 (concurrent with presidential and parliamentary elections), following which the two political parties with the most representatives were Golkar and Gerindra, with each represented by 20 members; other parties were PKS with 19 members, PDI Perjuangan with 17 members, PKB with 15 members, Demokrat and NasDem each with 8 members, PAN with 7 members and PPP with 6 members.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Provinsi Jawa Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.32)
From the creation of West Java Province, the province of West Java was subdivided into four cities () and twenty regencies (), excluding the zone separated off in 1950 to form the Special Capital Area of Jakarta. Subsequently four of the regencies which were separated off in 2000 to form the new Banten Province and five new independent cities were created 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),Jakarta Post, 14 November 2013 including a further three regencies in West Java – South Garut (), North Sukabumi () and West Bogor () – but no action has followed in view of the moratorium adopted since 2013 by the Indonesian government on the creation of new provinces, regencies and cities, so none of these three prospective 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 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 2020 Census, together with official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Provinsi Jawa Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.32) They are divided into 627 districts () as at 2025, which comprise 663 urban villages () and 5,294 rural villages (). The table also includes the average population density as at mid 2025 for each regency or city.Proyeksi Penduduk Kabupaten/Kpta Provinsi Jawa Barat 2020-2035 | Hasil Sunsus Penduduk 2020.). + Cities and Regencies of West Java Cities Bekasi Depok Bogor Sukabumi Cimahi Bandung Tasikmalaya Banjar Cirebon Regencies Bekasi Regency Bogor Regency Sukabumi Regency Cianjur Regency West Bandung Regency Bandung Regency Garut Regency Tasikmalaya Regency Pangandaran Regency Ciamis Regency Kuningan Regency Cirebon Regency Majalengka Regency Sumedang Regency Indramayu Regency Subang Regency Purwakarta Regency Karawang Regency Coat of arms RegionCode Name of Regencyor City Seat Area inkm2 Pop'n 2010Census Pop'n 2020Census Pop'n mid 2025Estimate Pop'n Density mid 2025 (per km2) 32.01 Bogor Regency Cibinong 32.16 Bekasi Regency Central Cikarang 32.71 Bogor City 32.75 Bekasi City 32.76 Depok City Bodebek region totals 32.02 Sukabumi Regency Palabuhanratu 32.03 Cianjur Regency Cianjur 32.72 Sukabumi City West Parahyangan region totals 32.04 Bandung Regency Soreang 32.11 Sumedang Regency North Sumedang 32.17 West Bandung Regency(Bandung Barat)Ngamprah 32.73 Bandung City 32.77 Cimahi City Central Parahyangan region totals 32.05 Garut Regency South Tarogong 32.06 Tasikmalaya Regency Singaparna 32.07 Ciamis Regency Ciamis 32.18 Pangandaran Regency Parigi 32.78 Tasikmalaya City 32.79 Banjar City East Parahyangan region totals 32.08 Kuningan Regency Kuningan 32.09 Cirebon Regency Sumber 32.10 Majalengka Regency Majalengka 32.12 Indramayu Regency Indramayu 32.74 Cirebon City Rebana region totals 32.13 Subang Regency Subang 32.14 Purwakarta Regency Purwakarta 32.15 Karawang Regency West Karawang Purwasuka region totals Totals for all regions
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 the area collectively described as the Bodebek region (an acronym of BogorDepokBekasi); in total they cover an area of 4,770.90 km2 (about the same area as the Scottish Borders council area) and had a population estimated at 14,924,650 in mid 2025; and officially projected to reach 15,007,720 in mid 2026.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Provinsi Jawa Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.32)
The province comprises eleven of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the People's Representative Council.Law No. 7/2017 (UU No. 7 Tahun 2017) as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2022 and Regulation of General Elections Commission No. 6/2023. 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.