Provinces of Indonesia

The province (provinsi or propinsi) is the highest tier of local country government subdivisions in Indonesia. Provinces are further divided into regencies (kabupaten) and cities.

Background
Each province has its own local government, headed by a governor, and has its own legislative body. The governor and members of local representative bodies are elected by popular vote for five-year terms.

Current provinces
Indonesia has 34 provinces, eight of which have been created since 1999. Namely, North Maluku, West Papua, Banten, Bangka-Belitung Islands, Gorontalo, Riau Islands and West Sulawesi. The latest province to be created (in late 2012) was North Kalimantan.

Five provinces have special status: Aceh, for the use of the Sharia Law as the regional law of the province; Yogyakarta Special Region, for being governed in an ancient monarchy system; Papua, for implementation of sustainable development; West Papua, for granting implementation of sustainable development; and Jakarta Special Capital Region.

The provinces are officially grouped into seven geographical units.


 * Provincial Map as of June 2012

Proposed future provinces
Several new provinces have been proposed. In addition to the 34 existing provinces of Indonesia as of 2013; the government has targeted the creation of new provinces (to reach a maximum of 44) by the year 2025.