West Seram Regency Explained

Official Name:West Seram Regency
Native Name:Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat
Native Name Lang:id
Type:Regency
Motto:Saka Mese Nura
(Protect and Defend the Island)
Coordinates:-3.1027°N 128.43°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Indonesia
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Maluku
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Piru
Leader Title:Regent
Leader Name:Andi Chandra As'Aduddin
Leader Title1:Vice Regent
Leader Name1:-
Area Total Km2:6948.4
Population As Of:mid 2023 estimate
Population Total:214979
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Footnotes:[1]
Timezone1:IEST
Utc Offset1:+9
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:(+62) 911
Pushpin Map:Indonesia_Seram#Indonesia_Maluku#Indonesia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Seram, Maluku and Indonesia
Pushpin Label Position:right

West Seram Regency is a regency of Maluku, Indonesia. It is mainly located on Seram, but includes various islands lying to the west of Seram - the largest being Manipa, Kelang and Boano, as well as the smaller islets of Babi, Pua, Masowoi, and Marsegu. It covers a land area of 6,948.40 km2, and had a population of 164,654 at the 2010 Census[2] and 212,393 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 214,979.[4] The principal town lies at Piru, a port at the northern coast of Latira Bay (Teluk Latira) which is a northwards extension of Piru Bay (Teluk Piru) and almost separates the Huamual Peninsula from the rest of Seram Island. The western sector of the Regency (the Huamual Peninsula and the islands off the west coast) occupies just under 25% of the land area, but held over 42% of the Regency's population at the 2020 Census.

Administrative districts

At the time of the 2010 Census the regency was divided into four districts (kecamatan). Subsequent to 2010, seven additional districts have been created by the division of the original four districts, so that the regency is now divided into eleven districts. These are tabulated below with their areas and populations at the 2010 Census[5] and 2020 Census,[6] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.[7] The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, as well as the number of administrative villages (all classed as rural desa) in each district, and its postal code.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in
km2
Pop'n
Census
2010
Pop'n
Census
2020
Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2023
Admin
centre
No.
of
villages
Post
code
81.06.04 Huamual Belakang (a) 409.6525,62933,13235,229Waesala797567
81.06.09 Kepulauan Manipa
(Manipa Islands) (b)
159.715,8107,1657,793Masawoi797569
81.06.08 Huamual (c) 1,162.9934,91949,09746,967Luhu597560
Totals of
Western sector
1,732.3566,35889,39489,98919
81.06.02 Seram Barat
(West Seram)
503.3327,31135,04535,598Piru7 (d)97562
81.06.01 329.6523,24027,04026,717Kairatu797566
81.06.07 Kairatu Barat (d)
(West Kairatu)
132.2513,14614,47814,160Kamal697568
81.06.06 Inamosol (e) 504.615,3116,4226,777Honitetu597565
81.06.05 Amalatu (e) 665.3510,97912,53713,131Latu797563
81.06.11 Elpaputih (e) 1,165.741,4535,2335,105Elpaputih797564
81.06.03 1,181.3212,13315,44816,047Taniwel1997559
81.06.10 Taniwel Timur (f)
(East Taniwel)
733.805,3756,7967,455Uwen Pantai1597561
Totals of
Eastern sector
5,216.0598,948122,999124,99073
Totals 6,948.40164,654212,393214,97992

Notes: (a) Huamual Belakang District includes Boano and Kelang Islands, as well as Babi (a small island situated between Kelang Island and Seram), Pua (a small island off Boano) and 26 other small islands, as well as part of the 'mainland' of Seram (the 2 desa of Waesala and Allang Asaude).
(b) Manipa Islands District consists of the main island of Manipa together with adjacent small islands; it was formerly part of Huamual Belakang District.
(c) formerly part of Seram Barat District; in the north it is now bordered by Huamual Belakang and Seram Barat Districts, in the south it is bordered by the Banda Sea, in the east it is bordered by Seram Barat District, and in the west it is bordered by the Manipa Passage. The district comprises 5 towns and villages (all desa) - Lohu (with 26,184 inhabitants in mid 2022), Lokki (12,568), Iha (6,210), Ariate (1,182) and Kulur (918).
(d) the 7 desa are Piru (a town with 16,368 inhabitants in mid 2022), Kaibobo, Eti, Lumoli, Morekau, Neniari and Kawa.
(e) formerly part of Kairatu District. (f) formerly part of Taniwel District.

Notes and References

  1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8106)
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8106)
  5. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  6. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  7. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8106)