Province

West Kalimantan

West Kalimantan, province of the “city of the equator”

Located on the island of Borneo, West Kalimantan is the most populous province on the island with a population of 5.56 million people as of 2023. The majority of this population adheres to Islam at 60 percent, followed by Catholicism at 22.16 percent, Christianity at 11.58 percent, Buddhism at 5.85 percent, and Confucianism and Hinduism both at 0.26 percent.

Geographically, West Kalimantan is strategically adjacent to the Archipelago Sea Lines of Indonesia I (ALKI I), an international shipping route connecting South and West Asia. This proximity has provided the province with significant geographic leverage, enabling it to advance the interests of both the province and its citizens. The province’s capital city is Pontianak, known as the "city of the equator" due to its location on the imaginary line dividing the planet into its north and south hemispheres.

West Kalimantan is widely recognized for its biodiversity, encompassing various ecosystems ranging from mangrove swamps to tropical rainforests. These habitats support a variety of plants and animals, including endangered species such as pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, and orangutans. The province is also home to many protected sites, including the Gunung Palung National Park and the Danau Sentarum National Park. Additionally, West Kalimantan is known for its extensive peatlands, which play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate regulation.

Culturally, numerous indigenous groups, each with its distinct traditions, languages, and customs, live in the province. These groups include the Malay, Chinese, and Dayak groups. Notably, the province’s traditional longhouse or rumah panjang are iconic symbols of Dayak culture, which serve as communal homes for extended families.

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Economic development

West Kalimantan relies primarily on agriculture, with many locals relying on it for their means of subsistence. From 2021 onwards, the province’s GRDP has mainly been attributed to this sector, accounting for 23.94 percent in 2021, 23.28 percent in 2022, and 22.65 percent in 2023. The province is well-known for producing palm oil, rice, and rubber.

Following agriculture, the processing sector is the next significant contributor to West Kalimantan’s GRDP, accounting for 16.09 percent in 2021, 15.94 percent in 2022, and 15.65 percent in 2023, along with the trade sector at 13.64 percent in 2021, 14.60 percent in 2022, and 15.06 percent in 2023. Additionally, the mining and forestry sectors play significant roles in the region’s economy.

Exports also contribute to West Kalimantan’s economy. In 2023, key exported products included inorganic chemicals, fat and animal oil, and rubber, contributing 49.44 percent, 25.74 percent, and 7.89 percent of total exports, respectively. In January 2024, West Kalimantan’s main export destinations were India with a value of US$63.39 million, China with US$38.10 million, and Japan with US$14.12 million. Together, these three countries accounted for 70.89 percent of exported goods from the province.

Furthermore, West Kalimantan’s economy is supported by the Kapuas River, the longest river in Indonesia, stretching 1,143 kilometers from the heart of Kalimantan to the Karimata Strait, nearly the length of Java Island. The river serves as a crucial resource for local communities, supporting trade, industry, shipping, residences, and tourism.

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Latest News

July 22, 2025

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) West Kalimantan Province recorded 1.2 percent year-on-year (yoy) annual inflation as of June 202, with the province's consumer price index (CPI) rising from 106.43 in June 2024 to 107.71 in June 2025. BPS West Kalimantan Head Muh. Saichudin explained that the increased inflation occurred due to price increases in nine of eleven expenditure groups.

"The expenditure grouping which experienced the highest inflation was personal care and other services at 3.91 percent, followed by education at 2.6 percent, then recreation, sports, and culture at 1.84 percent," Saichudin explained in Pontianak City, West Klaimantan on July 1, 2025.

Furthermore, the clothing and footwear group experienced a 1.72 percent increase in inflation, the food, beverages, and tobacco group rose by 1.33 percent, the food and beverage or restaurant supplies group increased by 1.27 percent, the transportation group rose by 1.05 percent, the health expenses group increased by 1.04 percent, and the housing, water, electricity, and household fuel group rose 0.2 percent. However, two expenditure groups experienced price decreases, namely the household equipment, tools, and routine maintenance group which saw 0.02 percent deflation, while the information, communication, and financial services group recorded 0.57 percent deflation.

Saichudin stated several commodities that contributed to annual inflation, included gold jewelry, cooking oil, mackerel, fresh shrimp, ground coffee, catfish, tuna, squid, cars, and pork. Meanwhile, the commodities that contributed to year-on-year (yoy) deflation encompassed broiler chicken, green mustard greens, mackerel, tomatoes, white cabbage, cayenne and red chilies, garlic, cell phones, and kale. He added that BPS West Kalimantan recorded the province's monthly inflation rate in June 2025 was 0.32 percent month-to-month (mtm), while its calendar-year inflation reached 0.83 percent year-to-date (ytd).

"Commodities that predominantly contributed to mtm inflation included air transportation, shallots, tuna, carrots, rice, fresh shrimp, tomatoes, broiler chicken, milkfish, and fried fish," said Saichudin.

Meanwhile, commodities contributing to monthly deflation included cayenne pepper, kale, mustard greens, garlic, red chilies, pomfret, mackerel, and naval transportation.

Saichudin revealed that the food, beverage, and tobacco group recorded the highest contribution to annual inflation at 0.47 percent, followed by personal care and other services at 0.26 percent, and transportation at 0.12 percent. The education group contributed 0.10 percent, the food and beverage and restaurant group supplies 0.11 percent, the clothing and footwear group contributed 0.08 percent. The housing, water, electricity, and household fuels groups, the health group, as well as the recreation, sports, and culture group each contributed 0.03 percent. Only the information, communication, and financial services group contributed to deflation, namely by 0.03 percent.

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