Province

Gorontalo

Gorontalo

Located on the Minahasa Peninsula, Gorontalo is a province that was formerly part of the North Sulawesi province until it was separated on December 5, 2000. Covering 12,025 square kilometers of land area, Gorontalo’s administrative region is divided into five regencies: Boalemo, Bolango, North Gorontalo, and Pohuato. The province is also home to one municipality, Gorontalo, which also serves as the province’s capital city.

Based on data from the Gorontalo Central Statistics Agency (BPS), as of 2022, Gorontalo has a population of 1.1 million people. Based on religious groups, the majority of residents in the province are Muslim, followed by Christians, Hindus, Catholics, Buddhists, and others. Regarding ethnic groups, the majority are Gorontaloan people who spread from North Sulawesi in the east towards Central Sulawesi in the west. Additionally, there are the Sama-Bajau people, sea nomads originating from the Southern Philippines, who reside in villages along the coast of Gorontalo. Other ethnic groups in Gorontalo are mostly people who migrated from other parts of Indonesia, such as the Javanese and Bugis people.

Show more

Gorontalo’s economy

In 2023, the Gorontalo Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded the province’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at Rp 31.6 billion. The largest contributing sector to the GRDP data is the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector, which contributed Rp 11.3 billion. The next two sectors which significantly contribute to Gorontalo’s GRDP are the wholesale and retail trade sector, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, with Rp 4.1 billion, and the construction sector with Rp 3.4 billion.

In terms of exports, Gorontalo’s export value in 2024 amounts to US$55.1 million. The Philippines is listed as the province’s main export destination with an export value of US$19.8 million or approximately 36.01 percent of the total export value. Based on commodities, Gorontalo mostly exports corn with a Free on Board (FOB) value of US$17.8 million. Additionally, the province exports wood and wooden goods with a FOB value of US$14.6 million and US$14.5 million worth of fruits and nuts.

Gorontalo also has a national strategic project (PSN) being developed in the area, namely the Bulango Ulu dam.

Show more

Latest News

June 26, 2025

Gorontalo Province Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP) Head Sultan Kalupe stated that the most important factor in the economy is not consumption, but the multiplier effect resulting from investment activities. Therefore, Gorontalo's economic strategies and policies will be directed at increasing investment as an effort to drive long-term economic growth.

The economic and investment performance of the Gorontalo Provincial Government in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 showed encouraging achievements. During that period, the Gorontalo economy grew by 6.07 percent year-on-year (yoy), higher than the national economic growth of 4.97 percent. This growth was mainly driven by the manufacturing, construction, and agricultural sectors.

Furthermore, the investment realization value in Gorontalo Province reached Rp1.29 trillion in Q1 2025, or 25.58 percent of the Rp5.03 trillion annual target. This achievement also had a positive impact on job creation, which reached 2,368 new jobs. The basic metal manufacturing, non-machine metal goods, and its equipment contributed the most to said achievements.

"Currently, we have several large companies that have big investment plans for carrying out their business activities in Gorontalo Province. We will continue to encourage these companies to be able to realize their investment plans so Gorontalo's economic growth target could be achieved," said Sultan.

In addition, the regional government continues to strive to maintain certainty and clarity of regulations so that business actors, both from within and outside the country, can carry out their investments in a more measured and optimal manner.

"The government will continue to be committed to deregulation to improve the investment climate and ultimately increase economic growth in Gorontalo," concluded Sultan.

Read more
Load more