Raja Ampat Regency is a regency of Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia. The regency, which was formed by separating the archipelago from Sorong Regency, based on the Law 26 of 2002, was inaugurated on 12 April 2003. It consists of a number of groups of islands situated off the north-west end of West Papua; the four main islands from south to north are Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, but there are thousands of smaller islands and islets. At present, the regency covers a land area of 7,559.61 km2, with a total area (including 59,820.01 km2 of sea area) stated as 67,379.61 km2. It had a population of 42,508 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 64,141 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 74,965 (comprising 38,979 males and 35,986 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Raja Ampat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9108) The principal town lies at Waisai on Waigeo Island.
On 25 October 2013 the People's Representative Council (DPR) began reviewing draft laws on the establishment of new regencies, including two new regencies of North Raja Ampat and South Raja Ampat within the borders of the existing Raja Ampat Regency. As at May 2024, these changes have not yet been implemented.
Raja Ampat's scenery Raja Ampat is known for its beautiful sea and scenery. It is recognized as the home of the largest coral reef biodiversity in the world. With more than 550 distinct variety of coral, 700 different kinds of mollusks, and 1427 different species of fish, it is a significant center for marine biodiversity. Seventy-five percent of all known coral species may be found in the seas around the Raja Ampat Islands, which are home to some of the world's most diverse species. Under the Terumbu Karang Sehat Indonesia programme, Konservasi Indonesia supported the development of a tourism spatial plan for Raja Ampat Regency and drafted provisions for a local tourism-management regulation.
Geography Raja Ampat Regency is a regency located at a position of 2° 25' north latitude to 40° 25' latitude south, and 130° – 132° 55' east longitude. Administratively, the boundaries of the Raja Ampat Regency are as follows: North: Bounded by the Pacific Ocean. South: Bounded by the Seram Sea. West: Bounded by the Seram Sea, Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. East: Bounded by West Sorong District, Sorong City, Aimas District and Seget District (of Sorong Regency) and Seram Sea/Direktorat Jendral Cipta Karya Kementerian Pekerjaan Umum dan Perumahan Rakyat, Jakarta, 2021
Administrative districts
At the 2010 Census, the regency was divided into seventeen districts (kecamatan). Subsequently, seven additional districts have been created by the division of existing districts. The twenty-four districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Raja Ampat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9108) They are grouped according to the proposed split into three regencies currently under consideration (since 2013) by the government, but postponed due to the government moratorium on the creation of new regencies. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (4 urban kelurahan in Waisai Town District, and 114 rural kampung in all the other districts), the number of named islands in each district, and its postal code.
Kode Kemendagri Name ofDistrict(distrik) Landareain km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025AdmincentreNo. ofvillagesNo. ofislandsPostcodeVillages 92.05.13 Misool Selatan (South Misool) 91.163,0263,5044,079Dabatan529598485Dabatan, Fafanlap, Harapan Jaya, Usaha Jaya, Yellu 92.05.16 Misool Barat (West Misool) 336.841,2911,4982,072Lilinta57998484Biga, Gamta, Kapatcol, Lilinta, Magey 92.05.01 Misool (or Misool Utara)1,235.681,7612,0172,788Salafen53898483Aduwei, Atkari, Salafen, Solal, Waigama 92.05.10 Kofiau 206.232,5202,5992,975Mikiran52998482Awat, Deer, DibalaI, Mikiran, Tolobi 92.05.06 Misool Timur (East Misool) 553.662,6512,8353,146Folley613698486Audam, Folley, Limalas Barat, Limalas Timur, Tomolol, Usaha Jaya 92.05.17 Kepulauan Sembilan (Sembilan Islands) 17.211,4581,4581,660Weijim Barat41698481Pulau Tikus, Satukurano, Wejim Barat, Wejim Timur Total Raja Ampat Selatan 2,440.7812,70713,91116,720 30593 92.05.04 Salawati Utara (North Salawati) 38.522,1442,5973,010Samate65998495Jefman Barat, Jefman Timur, Kapatlap, Samate, Waidim, Wamega 92.05.22 Salawati Tengah (a) (Central Salawati) 572.471,9171,9922,305Kalobo7 98494Kalobo, Sakabu, Waibu, Waijan, Wailabu, Wailen, Waimeci 92.05.21 Salawati Barat (West Salawati) 502.478991,1211,338Solol4 98493Kaliam, Kalwal, Solol, Waibon 92.05.25 Batanta Selatan (South Batanta) 188.771,3121,5981,867Yenanas4 98491Amdui, Wailebet, Waiman, Yenanas 92.05.20 Batanta Utara (North Batanta) 290.759091,5992,132Yensawai Timur4 98492Arefi Selatan, Arefi Timur, Yensawai Barat, Yensawai Timur Total Raja Ampat Tengah 1,592.987,1818,90710,652 2559 92.05.03 Waigeo Selatan (South Waigeo) 240.121,7152,1732,599Saonek519798475Friwen, Saonek, Saporkren, Wawiyai, Yenbeser 92.05.09 Teluk Mayalibit (Mayalibit Bay) 621.938461,2971,604Yenanas43498473Kalitoko, Lopintol, Mumes, Warsamdin 92.05.11 Meos Mansar 218.87 1,6252,2212,769Yinbekwan9 98472Arborek, Kabuy, Kapisawar, Kurkapa, Sawandarek, Sawinggrai, Yenbekwan, Yenbuba, Yenwaupnor 92.05.18 Kota Waisai (Waisai Town) 121.876,97621,79723,798Waisai4 98471Bonwakir, Sapordanco, Waisai, Warmasen (all kelurahan) 92.05.19 Tiplol Mayalibit 200.519301,1711,356Go6 98474Arway, Beo, Go, Kabilol, Waifoi, Warimak 92.05.07 Waigeo Barat (West Waigeo)763.64 1,4091,7862,123Waisilip532798464Bianci, Mutus, Saleo, Selpele, Waisilip 92.05.15 Waigeo Barat Kepulauan (West Waigeo Islands)103.30 2,0842,7683,216Manyaifun62298465Gag, Manyaifun, Meosmanggara, Pam, Saukabu, Saupapir 92.05.02 Waigeo Utara (North Waigeo)149.57 1,4771,8002,300Kabare6 98466Andey, Asukweri, Bonsayor, Darumbab, Kabare, Kalisade 92.05.14 Warwarbomi 297.33 1,0451,3891,538Warwanai4 98467Boni, Mnier, Warkori, Warmanai 92.05.23 Supnin 223.82 9081,1171,283Rauki4 98463Duber, Kapadiri, Rauki, Urai 92.05.05 Kepulauan Ayau (b) (Ayau Islands)12.66 1,2301,0921,468Abidon5 98462Boiseran, Dorehkar, Runi, Yenkanfan, Yenkawir 92.05.24 Ayau (b) 5.83 9891,1031,552Dorehkar44598461Abidon, Meosbekwan, Reni, Rutum 92.05.08 Waigeo Timur (East Waigeo)555.40 1,3861,6091,987Urbinasopen42798476Puper, Urbinasopen, Yenbekaki, Yensner Total Raja Ampat Utara 3,514.8522,62041,32347,593 63652 Total Regency 7,559.61 42,508 64,141 74,965Kota Waisai (town)1182,179
Note: (a) not to be confused with the similarly named Salawati Tengah District within Sorong Regency. (b) the Ayau Islands (including Ayau District) lie some distance to the north of Waigeo.
Since 2010, the new Waisai district has been created from part of Waigeo Selatan District, the new Tiplol Mayalibit District has been created from part of Teluk Mayalibit District, the new Supnin District has been created from part of Waigeo Utara District, and the new Ayau District has been created from part of Kepulauan Ayau District.
Proposed further changes Misool and Kofiau Islands (comprising the first six districts listed above) are currently under Indonesian government consideration to be split off to form a separate South Raja Ampat Regency under proposals approved in 2014 by the Indonesian Parliament. Similarly, Waigeo and its surrounding small islands (comprising the last thirteen districts listed above) are currently under Indonesian government consideration to be split off to form a separate North Raja Ampat Regency under proposals approved in 2014 by the Indonesian Parliament. However, as at 2024, these changes have not yet been implemented.
The proposed splits from the existing regency would leave the five remaining districts, mainly consisting of Salawati and Batanta Islands, in the centre of the existing regency; note that the southern half of Salawati Island does not form part of the existing regency, but instead constitutes the Salawati Selatan and Salawati Tengah Districts of Sorong Regency, the latter having the same name as Salawati Tengah District of Raja Ampat Regency. Since 2010, the new Salawati Tengah and Salawati Barat districts have been created from parts of Salawati Utara District, while the former Selat Sagawin District has been divided into two new districts - Batanta Utara and Batanta Selatan.
Transport Air In early May 2012, a 1,200 metres runway of Marinda Airport on Waigeo Island was officially opened by the Transportation minister and Raja Ampat official. The runway was later extended to 2,000 metres and was predicted to be finished in 2013.
References
External links Statistics publications from Statistics Indonesia (BPS)