Raja Ampat Regency

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. At present, the regency covers a land area of 7,559.60 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 Census and 64,141 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 68,501 (comprising 36,000 males and 32,501 females). 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.

The Beauty of Raja Ampat
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.

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  

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 2023. They are grouped according to the proposed split into three regencies currently under consideration (since 2013) by the government. 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 117 rural kampung in all the other districts), the number of named islands in each district, and its postal code.

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 Utarat 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.

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.