Sintang Regency is a regency of West Kalimantan province of Indonesia. It covers an area of 18,517.85 km2, and had a population of 364,759 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 421,306 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 449,211 (comprising 231,411 males and 217,800 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Sintang Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6107)
Sintang Regency is one of the few Indonesian regencies having a land border with another country (in this case, with Malaysia). It is also the third largest regency in the province by land area after Kapuas Hulu Regency and Ketapang Regency. The regency was formerly the site of the Sintang Kingdom, a Hindu kingdom that later converted to Islam and which was a regional power in the interior of Borneo Island. The regency seat is located at the large town of Sintang, which with over 87,000 residents in mid 2025,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Sintang Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6107) is among the biggest settlements in Borneo's interior alongside Putussibau and Puruk Cahu.
History
Somewhere between 45,000 and 39,000 B.C. the Sintang area was first inhabited by humans. The area changed hands several times from the Majapahit to the Bruneian Sultanate, but the local State of Sintang was ruled by Princes, who became Sultans when converted to Islam in 1672. When the Dutch arrived at Borneo in 1776 the area was quickly occupied by the Dutch.
The area was occupied by the Empire of Japan in 1941 as a result of WW2, and then was liberated in 1945. This was followed by Indonesian Independence.
Geography
Climate Sintang, the seat of the regency has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round.
Administrative districts Following the separation of the former southern part (eleven districts) to form the separate Melawi Regency on 18 December 2003, the residual Sintang Regency consists of fourteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with their official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Sintang Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6107) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totalling 390 rural desa and 16 urban kelurahan - the latter all in Sintang District), and its post code. Kode Wilayah Name of District(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'n 2010Census Pop'n 2020Census Pop'n mid 2025EstimateAdmincentreNo.ofvillagesPostcode 61.05.14 Serawai 2,537.40 23,023 22,771 22,985Nanga Serawai 3878683 61.05.15 Ambalau 5,992.33 12,867 13,259 13,354Nanga Kemangai 3378684 61.05.09 Kayan Hulu 1,789.32 21,854 22,758 23,038Nanga Tebidah 3178694 61.05.03 Sepauk 1,462.74 46,407 53,251 56,498Nanga Sepauk 3978662 61.05.02 Tempunak 865.29 26,860 30,163 31,670Nanga Tempunak 2678661 61.05.20 Sungai Tebelian 598.09 29,144 34,679 37,446Sungai Ukoi 2678655 61.05.01 Sintang 347.56 59,410 77,319 87,188Sintang (town) 29 (a)78611 - 78619 61.05.07 Dedai 607.72 27,573 30,127 31,216Penyak Lalang(Nanga Dedai) 3178691 61.05.08 Kayan Hilir 1,058.14 24,423 27,562 29,008Nanga Mau 4378693 61.05.19 Kelam Permai 640.57 15,276 18,433 20,039Kebong 1778656 61.05.21 Binjai Hulu 391.93 11,332 13,910 15,248Binjai Hulu 1178663 61.05.04 Ketungau Hilir 1,671.03 20,567 24,100 25,830Nanga Ketungau 2478652 61.05.05 Katungau Tengah (Central Ketungau) 2,004.73 27,421 30,413 31,741Nanga Merakai 2978653 61.05.06 Ketungau Hulu 2,002.26 19,703 22,561 23,912Senaning 2978654 Totals 18,517.85 364,759 421,306 449,211 Sintang 406 Note: (a) comprising 16 urban kelurahan (Akcaya, Alai, Batu Lalau, Kapuas Kanan Hilir, Kapuas Kanan Hulu, Kapuas Kiri Hilir, Kapuas Kiri Hulu, Kedabang, Ladang, Mekar Jaya, Mengkurai, Menyumbung Tengah, Rawa Mambok, Sengkuang, Tanjung Puri and Ulak Jaya) and 13 desa.
Education There are 193 kindergartens, 456 elementary schools, 142 junior high schools, and 44 senior high schools. In addition, there are 18 vocational high schools. The regency has a total of 10 universities and higher education institutions as of 2020, most of which are located in the town of Sintang. One of the most notable in the regency is Kapuas Sintang University, located in Sintang District. The university is private and located close to the Kapuas River. It was previously known as Panca Bhakti Teaching and Education College before becoming a university. Muhammadiyah University in Pontianak also has a campus branch in Sintang, which is also private. Other colleges in the regency include Christian theological schools such as Sintang Khatulistiwa Theological College, Injili Setia Sintang Theological College, Kapuas Raya Christian College, and Immanuel Sintang Kalbar Theological College. In addition, there is a public academy owned by the West Kalimantan provincial government and one private Islamic college, Ma'arif Sintang Islamic College.
The regency government also runs a regional library, located in the town of Sintang.
Bibliography Fienieg, Anouk, Sejarah Sintang - The History of Sintang : A Collection of Books, Manuscripts, Archives and Articles, 2007 References