Salatiga () is a city in Central Java province, Indonesia. It covers an area of and had a population of 192,322 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 199,906 (comprising 99,065 males and 100,841 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kota Salatiga Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3373) Located between the cities of Semarang and Surakarta, and administratively an independent city enclaved within Semarang Regency, it sits at the foot of Mount Merbabu () and Mount Telomoyo, and has a relatively cool climate due to its elevated position. Salatiga is a part of the Semarang metropolitan area.
Etymology
Salatiga is thought to be named either after the goddess of Trisala, or after the three wrongs done to the first king of Semarang.
In the first explanation, the people of the village celebrate the goddess of Siddhadewi, who is mentioned in the Monolith of Plumpungan. Siddhadewi was also called Trisala, so the village was called Trisala and in the years to come became Salatri and eventually Salatiga.
The second explanation is based on the story of Ki Ageng Pandanaran, the first regent of Semarang, who was robbed by three muggers, and he thus named the location Salah Telu. Salah means wrong in both Indonesian and Javanese. Telu is Low Javanese for three, spelled is tiga in both the more refined Middle/High Javanese (but pronounced /tigo/ in Javanese respectively /tiga/ in Indonesian). Hence the name Salatiga from Salah Tiga.
History The official birth date of Salatiga is 24 July 750 A.D. (the 31st date and 4th year of the Saka calendar). The scroll Monolith of Plumpungan (Prasasti Plumpungan in Sanskrit) by King Bhanu, declares May you be happy! All the people ("Srir = astu swasti prajabhyah") and designated village of Hampran (Desa Hampran) a Perdikan village (Desa Perdikan, meaning a tax-free village). "Çrirastuswasti Prajabyah" is the official motto of Salatiga as written in the government seal.
In 1746, the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC) built De Hersteller fort in Salatiga because Salatiga was strategically located at the intersection between Semarang, Surakarta and Magelang.
On 1 July 1917 the village of Salatiga was designated as a stads gemeente or small town by the Dutch East Indies government. In the colonial era, Salatiga was stratified by race. The Europeans lived near the city centre, at the Toentangscheweg (Toentang Road) leading to Semarang and also near to Dutch plantations in the Salatiga Afdeling. The Chinese were based near the trading centre, the Kalicacing Market, at the Soloscheweg (Solo Road). Native people were bound to live outside the European and Chinese communities. The education system was divided accordingly, with different schools for the Europeans, the Chinese and the natives. Salatiga was led by a burgermeester (mayor), assisted by College van Burgermeester en Wethouders. There was a legislative body, the Stadsgemeenteraad; however, its membership was not proportional, with 8 seats for the Europeans, 1 seat for the Chinese, and only 2 seats for the natives who form the majority of the people. The economy of Salatiga was hampered by the world economic depression of the 1930s. To reduce the city's spending the salaries of government officials were cut by up to 15%. Salatiga had an important economic role as a hinterland to Semarang, providing agricultural products like coffee, rubber, cacao, cotton, spices, tobacco, wheat and vegetables to Semarang to be processed.
Supported by geographical factors, its mostly mild climate and its luxurious buildings with Indies architecture, Salatiga's beauty was well known during the Dutch colonisation, even it was called De Schoonste Stad van Midden-Java (The Most Beautiful City in Central Java).
Administration Before 1992, Salatiga comprised a single administrative district (kecamatan), the Salatiga District. According to Government Regulation No. 69 of 1992, 13 villages from Semarang Regency were moved into Salatiga, and Salatiga District was dissolved. There are now four districts: Argomulyo, Tingkir, Sidomukti, and Sidorejo. These are tabulated below with their population at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kota Salatiga Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3373) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centes, the number of administrative villages (all classed as urban kelurahan) within each district, and its post codes.
Kode Wilayah Name of District(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2025 Admincentre No.ofvillages Postcodes 33.73.03 Argomulyo18.1440,10149,29551,894 Randuacir6 50732–50736 33.73.02 Tingkir10.4339,87145,97147,374 Sidorejo Kidul7 50741–50746 33.73.04 Sidomukti10.8038,75644,23745,740 Mangunsari4 50721–50724 33.73.01 Sidorejo15.6151,60452,81954,898 Sidorejo Lor6 50711–50716 Total54.98170,332192,322199,906 Sidomukti23
Bordering Salatiga are the following districts of Semarang Regency:
To the North: Pabelan (Pabelan and Pejaten villages) and Tuntang (Kesongo and Watu Agung villages) To the South: Getasan (Sumogawe, Samirono and Jetak villages) and Tengaran (Patemon and Karang Duren villages) To the East: Pabelan (Ujung-ujung, Sukoharjo and Glawan villages) and Tengaran (Bener, Tegalwaton and Nyamat villages) To the West: Tuntang (Candirejo, Jombor, Sraten and Gedangan villages) and Getasan (Polobogo village) All these districts are located in Semarang Regency, making Salatiga an enclave within Semarang Regency.
Geography Salatiga is located south of Semarang and north of Surakarta. Its elevation is between 450–800 metres. Salatiga has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) in the Köppen climate classification with the average rainfall of per year, the highest temperature in October (24.1 °C) and the lowest in January (22.4 °C).
Demographics
, Salatiga had a population of 192,322; 95,025 of them were males and 97,297 were females. The official estimate as at mid 2024 was 198,971 (comprising 98,571 males and 100,400 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kota Salatiga Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3373)
Religion
, Islam was the most practised religion in Salatiga (79.5%), followed by Protestantism (15.8%) and Catholicism (4.7%). Other religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and aliran kepercayaan) make up less than 1% of the population. Salatiga is repeatedly called "one of the most tolerant cities in Indonesia" and is one of the few cities in Java to hold outdoor Christian festivals during Christmas.
On Christmas, an event is held where tens of thousands of congregates from 96 churches within the city gather to worship and celebrate Christmas together in Lapangan Pancasila. The main cause for this event is to tighten the relationship between the churches. Even though it is meant to promote a feeling of unity in the Christian community, the service is open to the public for anyone to join, giving Christmas time a more beautiful sentiment.
Ethnicity Salatiga is mainly inhabited by the Javanese, with a sizeable minority of Chinese Indonesians and some Bataks from North Sumatra. As a university town, it also hosts an assembly of other ethnicities from as far as Borneo and New Guinea. In total, there are about 30 ethnicities in Salatiga.
Economy Salatiga's economy rate increased by 22.38% from 2014 to 2016. About 2 billion rupiah from the data collected in 2016.
From lowest to highest divided according to regions, Argomulyo with the lowest economy (Rp 368,741). Sidomukti with Rp 424,301.65, Tingkir with Rp 541,630.14, and the highest, Sidorejo, with Rp 697,593,54.
There is an emerging processing industry that includes textile, tires and animal slaughter in Salatiga. In 2000, this industry contributes Rp. 119.76 billion to the economy of Salatiga. Salatiga is located at the intersection to and from Semarang, Surakarta and Yogyakarta, benefiting its trade sector. In 2000, the trade sector contributes Rp 109 billion to the economy of Salatiga. The following are examples of industries within each category in Salatiga:
Food PT. Charoen Pokphand PT. Sukasari Mitra Mandiri Cv. Juara Food Industry Perusahaan Abon Abadi SS Beverage PT. Kievit Indonesia PT. Adarasa Putra Jaya PT. Globalindo Perkasa Building materials PT. Tripilar Beton Mas Salatiga PT. Trikartika Megah Salatiga PT. Agric Amarga Jaya (Tobacco Processing) PT. Daya Manungal Textiles – Damatex) PT. Selalu Cinta Indonesia (Leather or Items of Leather and Footwear) PT. Indo Sakura Indah (Polivinyl Products) PT. Unza Vitalis (Cosmetics) PT. Formulatrix (Computer and Electronic Products) PK. Mulyo (Furnitures)
Cuisine Dishes of the city include Ronde Sekoteng Jago, Tumpang Koyor, Enting enting gepuk, and Keripik Paru.
Ronde Sekoteng Jago is a dessert eaten in Salatiga, made of ginger, sugar, ronde (sticky rice ball filled with crushed peanut), dried fruits, sagu delima (tapioca pearl), kolang-kaling (sugar palm fruit), and seaweed.
Enting enting gepuk is a light food/snack that has peanuts as its main ingredient. Enting Enting Gepuk has a triangular prism shape, and is wrapped in paper. The flavor is sweet and a little savory, with a crunchy and crumbly texture. Tumpang Koyor is made from beef and brisket fat and cooked with various spices.
Keripik Paru is a savory dish eaten as a snack and side dish. It is made from cow's lung that has been thinly sliced then fried in a seasoned flour.
Government Office Mayor's Office (Kantor Walikota) is located on Jl. Letjen Sukowati No. 74, Salatiga, Jawa Tengah, 50724. Regional House of Representatives Office (Kantor DPRD) is located on Jl. Sukowati No. 51, Kalicacing, Sidomukti, Salatiga, 50724
Courthouse (Kantor Pengadilan) is located on Jl. Veteran No. 6, Ledok, Kec. Argomulyo, Salatiga, Jawa Tengah, 50732.
Class 1B Salatiga Religious Court (Kantor Pengadilan Agama Salatiga Kelas 1B) is located on Jl. Lingkar Selatan, RT.014/RW.005, Jagalan, Cebongan, Kec. Argomulyo, Salatiga, Jawa Tengah, 5073.
Civil Registry Service Office (Kantor Disdukcapil) is located on Jl. Pemuda No. 2, Salatiga. The role of the Service Office is to assist the Mayor in the performance of government affairs under the jurisdiction of the city in the field of population administration and civil registration, as well as in the tasks of assistance assigned to the region. Following is the contact info: Ph. (0298) 312650, Email: [email protected].
Education Office (Kantor Dinas Pendidikan) is located on Jl. LMU Adisucipto No. 2, Salatiga. Following is the contact info: Ph. (0298) 324979, Fax. (0298) 324844.
Public Health Office (Kantor Dinas Kesehatan) is located on Jl. Hasanudin No. 110 A, Mangunsari, Sidomukti, Salatiga, Jawa Tengah, 50721 The role of the Service Office is to assist the Mayor in the performance of government affairs which fall under the health authority of the Region and to assist the tasks assigned to the Region in the area of health.
Youth and Sports Office (Kantor Dinas Kepemudaan dan Olahraga) is located on Jl. LMU Adi Sucipto No. 2 (Gor Pelajar Hati Beriman), Salatiga, 50711.
Department of Tourism and Culture (Kantor Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata) is located on Jl. Diponegoro No.37, Salatiga, Sidorejo, Kec. Sidorejo. The Office of Culture and Tourism is responsible for carrying out the governmental affairs of the city of Salatiga in the cultural and tourism sector on the basis of the concept of regional autonomy. They have the authority to grant permits relating to cultural fields, such as cultural events, the conversion of historic buildings and others. Following is the contact info: Ph. (0298) 3432437.