Province

South Papua

Papua – South Papua

Situated on Papua Island, South Papua is a newly established province in Indonesia. Its establishment was administered under Law No. 14/2022, signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on July 25, 2022. Through this law, the province of Papua underwent an administrative division, resulting in the formation of South Papua province.

Encompassing the southernmost portion of Papua, the province shares its land borders with Papua province to the north and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea to the east. To the south, it is bounded by the Arafura Sea, and to the west, by the Aru Sea.

Up to 120,279 square kilometers of landmass covers South Papua, which is also home to 553,910 individuals. Additionally, the province is divided into four districts, namely the Mappi district, Asmat district, Boven Digoel district, and Mappi district, which also serves as the province’s capital city.

In South Papua, Christianity is the dominant religion, according to 2023 data from the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration Office. It represents 72.57 percent of the population, with Catholicism being the most prevalent Christian denomination at 49.62 percent, followed by Protestantism at 22.95 percent. Other religions, including Islam, were recorded at 27.28 percent, Hinduism at 0.11 percent, and Buddhism at 0.04 percent, making up a smaller portion of the province’s religious landscape.

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Economic Description

Despite being a recent addition to Indonesia's provinces, South Papua's economy is maintaining a steady pace. In 2022, the province’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) reached Rp 28.6 trillion, with the construction sector serving as the province’s leading sector with a significant contribution of Rp 6.9 trillion. It is closely followed by the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector at Rp 6.1 trillion, and the wholesale and retail trade sector, including cars and motorcycles reparation, at Rp 3.5 trillion.

The construction sector’s leading role in South Papua extends from thriving construction activity across Papua Island. Subsequently, given the province’s recent establishment, the construction of essential infrastructure fuels activity across various sub-sectors, positioning construction as the backbone of South Papua’s ongoing economic development.

Furthermore, the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector is the second leading sector in South Papua. Within this sector, the largest sub-sector is farming and livestock, contributing nearly Rp 2.8 trillion. Fisheries closely follow with Rp 2.7 trillion, along with forestry at Rp 605 billion.

Lastly, the wholesale and retail trade sector has emerged as the third leading contributor to South Papua’s economic well-being. This sector experienced a significant growth rate of 8.76 percent in 2023, showcasing its potential to become an even more vital driver of economic activity in the province in the future.

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Latest News

July 10, 2025

Property multinational company Marriott International plans to build a Marriott hotel in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province. The hotel development plan was discussed in a meeting chaired by South Papua Governor Apolo Safanpo at his office on June 23, 2025. The meeting was also attended by South Papua Province Papuan Regional Legislative Council (DPRP) representatives, PT Puri Abadi Indonesia as the project's developer, and the project planning consultant.

Apolo stated that the planned entry of the world-renowned hotel chain is a solution for the currently limited space and accommodation capacity of space and accommodation capacity in Merauke Regency. He elaborated that the province's already high hotel occupancy rate as well as the high frequency of activities and visits from central government bodies have raised the urgency for additional facilities.

"The Marriott Hote's construction will begin next month (July 2025), and is targeted to open early next year," Apolo revealed.

In addition, the Marriott Hotel's planned construction is also seen as a strategic move to enhance Merauke Regency's image and competitiveness as a growth center in South Papua. The hotel hotel is expected to become an alternative location for various large-scale events in addition to the existing Swiss-Belhotel location.

Furthermore, the Marriott Hotel's construction is expected to have a direct impact on the community, especially in terms of employment.

"This will create many job opportunities. We encourage the majority of workers to be Merauke residents, so that the economic benefits directly benefit the local community," Apolo emphasized.

During the meeting, the governor also instructed the project planning consultant to integrate cultural ornaments and distinctive features of traditional houses from cultures of four regencies in South Papua into the hotel's architectural design. He believes it is crucial for local identity to be strongly represented in strategic infrastructure development.

"South Papuan motifs, architecture, and identity must be part of the hotel's image. This is not just about business, but also about local pride and identity," he noted.

The plan to build the Marriott Hotel is part of the regional government's strategic steps to develop the local tourism sector, support government activities, and accelerate regional economic growth through investment in the services sector and the hospitality industry.

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