| Merauke | |
| Settlement Type: | Town (District) |
| Pushpin Map: | Indonesia_Western New Guinea#Indonesia |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Western New Guinea and Indonesia |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Papua |
| Subdivision Type2: | Regency |
| Subdivision Name2: | Merauke Regency |
| Leader Title: | Head of district |
| Leader Name: | Kristian Ndiken |
| Area Total Km2: | 500.41 |
| Population As Of: | mid 2023 estimate |
| Population Note: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 110541 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Demographics |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Auyu, Kolopom, Mandobo, Marind, Muyu, Mombum (natives) Javanese (dominant), and others |
| Timezone: | Indonesia Eastern Time |
| Utc Offset: | +9 |
| Coordinates: | -8.4667°N 160°W |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | (+62) 975 |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Blank Info: | Aw |
| Website: | http://www.merauke.go.id |
Merauke is a large town (kelurahan) and an administrative district (distrik) in Merauke Regency of South Papua Province, Indonesia. It is also the administrative centre of Merauke Regency, and is considered to be the easternmost city in Indonesia, although it currently lacks city status. The town was originally called Ermasoe.[2] It is next to the Maro River where the Port of Merauke is located.[3] Merauke District covers a land area of 500.41 km2, and had a population of 87,634 at the 2010 Census.[4] which at the 2020 Census had increased to 102,351;[5] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 110,541 (comprising 56,578 males and 53,963 females).[6]
The district is sub-divided into eleven urban kelurahan and 5 rural villages (kampung). These are listed below with their official codes (kode wilayah) and their populations as at mid 2023,[7] together with their post codes. The names of the five desa are followed by asterisks.
| Kode Wilayah | Name of kelurahan or desa | Pop'n Estimate mid 2023 | Post code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93.01.01.2001 | Nasem * | 572 | 99618 | |
| 93.01.01.1002 | Samkai | 11,801 | 99615 | |
| 93.01.01.1003 | Karang Indah | 9,828 | 99614 | |
| 93.01.01.1004 | Mandala | 15,158 | 99617 | |
| 93.01.01.1005 | Maro | 11,015 | 99613 | |
| 93.01.01.1006 | Kelapa Lima | 12,038 | 99612 | |
| 93.01.01.1007 | Rimba Jaya | 11,773 | 99610 | |
| 93.01.01.2008 | Wasur * | 652 | 99611 | |
| 93.01.01.1009 | Bambu Pemali | 7,788 | 99616 | |
| 93.01.01.1010 | Seringgu Jaya | 8,055 | 99619 | |
| 93.01.01.1011 | Kamundu | 6,996 | 99607 | |
| 93.01.01.1012 | Kamahedoga | 3,043 | 99606 | |
| 93.01.01.1013 | Muli | 8,640 | 99608 | |
| 93.01.01.2014 | Bokem * | 464 | 99604 | |
| 93.01.01.2015 | Buti * | 2,414 | 99605 | |
| 93.01.01.2016 | Nggolar * | 306 | 99609 | |
| 93.01.01 | Totals | 41,642 |
Merauke was established in February 1902 as a military post by the Dutch, to prevent raids by the Marind-anim into neighbouring British New Guinea and the northwest Torres Strait Islands (Boigu, Dauan and Saibai). The Dutch also tried to establish a rice colony there, but to no avail.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Merauke was used as a transit point between Java, and the Boven-Digoel internment camp where many Indonesian Communist Party members were being sent.
Merauke was the site of an Allied air and naval base, Naval Base Merauke, during World War II and there was ground fighting between Australian and Japanese patrols in the area.[8]
The expression "Sabang to Merauke" is used as shorthand for the territorial extent of Indonesia from west to east, for instance in the name of Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter. For instance, President Suharto stated in 1968 that "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity from Sabang to Merauke are for the Indonesian people matters of principle".[9]
Merauke has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with moderate to little rainfall from May to November and heavy rainfall from December to April.
The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier in Merauke is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Merauke.
Merauke hosts the Musamus Merauke University, a state-run public university. It was founded as an academy in 2001 and officially became university in 2006.
Merauke is used for the name of United States navy ship, USS Merauke (ID-2498).