Province

North Maluku

Overview Economy

Maluku – North Maluku

Covering an area of 31,982 square kilometers, and home to a population of 1.3 million people, North Maluku is a province in eastern Indonesia surrounded by seas. To the east is the Halmahera Sea, the Maluku Sea lies to the west, the Pacific Ocean stretches to the north, and the Seram Sea borders to the south. The province is divided into eight districts and two cities.

Historically, North Maluku was formally established on October 4, 1999, through Law No. 46/1999. Previously, the province functioned as a district within Maluku province, adjoining Central Halmahera. At the time of its establishment, Ternate was designated as the provincial capital. This arrangement persisted for 11 years until 2010 when the capital city was relocated to Sofifi, situated on the mainland of Halmahera, the largest island in the Maluku Islands.

The people of North Maluku represent a diverse group with a rich history and culture. The province is home to a range of ethnic groups, each with its own unique culture and language. Among them are the Madole, Pagu, Ternate, and West Makian people.

In terms of religion, Islam dominates North Maluku’s religious landscape, with 74.7 percent of the population adhering to it, followed by a significant Christian population of 24.74 percent. Other religions collectively make up less than 1 percent of the population.

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Economic Description

North Maluku boasts a robust economy, having acquired Rp 48 trillion in Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) as of 2023. The top three contributing sectors are the processing industry, mining, and agriculture. The processing industry leads with Rp 14 trillion, followed by the mining sector at Rp 9 trillion, and the agriculture sector at Rp 4 trillion.

Within the processing industry, the base metal subsector contributes the most with Rp 13 trillion, almost over 90 percent of the entire industry. As of 2023, the processing industry witnessed a 48.12 percent year-on-year increase.

Regarding the mining sector, North Maluku is one of the provinces known for its downstream mineral resources. One mineral resource, nickel, has shown substantial positive effects in terms of its downstream development in the country. With North Maluku’s mining sector ranking among the top contributors to its GRDP, total investments in the province reached US$ 9.8 billion by 2022, with the majority directed towards this sector.

Furthermore, North Maluku’s agricultural sector mainly produces coconuts, cloves, nutmegs, cassava, sweet potatoes, cayenne, and plantains. Out of these commodities, coconuts account for over 60 percent of the total output. As of 2022, approximately 13,525 hectares of land were available for agricultural investment.

Given the vast and diverse sectors in North Maluku, numerous investment potentials abound in the province, ranging from the smelter nickel sulfate sector to resorts in the tourism sector. Additionally, North Maluku is home to a special economic zone (SEZ) on Morotai Island, strategically positioned in the outer zone of the eastern sea.

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Latest News

January 15, 2026

Three cultural heritage sites from North Maluku Province have achieved national recognition directly from Culture Minister Fadli Zon, during the 2025 National Cultural Heritage Awards.

The recognition was received directly by North Maluku Province Education and Culture Office Head Abubakar Abdullah, during the event held at the Culture Ministry building in Central Jakarta Administrative City, Jakarta Special Capital Region (DKI) on Dec. 16, 2025.

The three sites in North Maluku designated as National Cultural Heritage Sites in 2025 are the Sultan Ternate Mosque, the Tomb of Sultan Baabullah, and the Tomb of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II

"The designation of these three National Cultural Heritage sites is both a source of pride and a great responsibility for the region. North Maluku now has five officially recognized National Cultural Heritage sites," Abubakar said.

He emphasized that this achievement was the result of collaborative efforts by various parties to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of North Maluku. The recognition also served as motivation to continue proposing other potential cultural heritage sites in the province for national recognition.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Fadli Zon encouraged regional governments to be more active in registering various cultural sites for National Cultural Herite Site designation. He claimed that Indonesia will enter an era of cultural economy and cultural industry, which requires early preparation.

Fadli Zon emphasized that the natural resources that have long been the mainstay of the region are not unlimited, while cultural heritage can actually become a long-term economic pillar if managed sustainably and professionally.

"In various regions, the involvement of the private sector is very constructive. The government must be open and welcoming to multi-stakeholder collaboration as long as it is managed professionally," the minister said.

Fadli Zon concluded his remarks by expressing his appreciation to all stakeholders, especially regional governments, for their full support in achieving the 2025 National Cultural Heritage designation.

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