East Kalimantan

East Kalimantan (Indonesian: Kalimantan Timur^ⓘ, abbreviated as Kaltim) is a province of Indonesia. It covers the eastern part of the island of Borneo, also known as Kalimantan. As of mid-2025, the province is home to around 4.3 million people, with its capital city being Samarinda, the largest city on all of Borneo.

The province spans a large area of 127,346.92 square kilometres, making it the third least crowded province in Kalimantan. East Kalimantan touches the sea on its eastern side and shares land borders with several other Indonesian provinces, including West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Before 2012, it also bordered Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia, though a northern part is now a separate province called North Kalimantan.

Since January 2013, East Kalimantan has been split into seven regencies and three cities. Importantly, this province is where construction is taking place for Nusantara, the planned future capital city of Indonesia.

History

East Kalimantan was mostly covered by tropical rainforest in prehistoric times. One famous discovery there is a limestone cave called Lubang Jeriji Saléh in Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat Karst. This cave has some of the oldest known drawings in the world, found by scientists in 2018.

From the 4th to the 17th centuries, East Kalimantan was home to several kingdoms. The first was the Kingdom of Kutai Martadipura, founded in the 4th century CE. Later, the Sultanate of Kutai ing Martadipura and other kingdoms like the Sultanate of Pasir appeared. During this time, the area was also influenced by other kingdoms and trading groups.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, East Kalimantan became part of the Dutch East Indies. It was officially established as a province in 1956. Over time, more areas joined the province.

In 2013, part of East Kalimantan became a new province called North Kalimantan. East Kalimantan will also be the home of Indonesia's new capital city, named Nusantara, which construction began after a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Geography

East Kalimantan is a province in Indonesia that covers a large area of eastern Borneo. It has a land area of 125,336.81 square kilometers and also includes ocean areas of 25,656 km². The province is divided into seven areas called regencies and three cities, which are further split into smaller districts and villages.

East Kalimantan shares borders with North Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and Sarawak. It also touches the Celebes Sea and the Makassar Strait. The region has many hills, lakes, and rivers, with the Mahakam River being the longest. It is known for its forests and natural resources. The climate is tropical, with dry and rainy seasons, and temperatures and rainfall can vary across different areas.

Government and administrative divisions

Administrative divisions

Main articles: List of regencies and cities in East Kalimantan and List of districts of East Kalimantan

East Kalimantan is made up of 7 regencies and 3 cities. These are further split into 105 districts.

Ecology

East Kalimantan has lost many of its original forests due to illegal logging. Today, less than half of the original forest remains in areas like the Kayan Mentarang and the Kutai national parks.

Efforts to protect the tropical rainforests include a project by the WWF and the Samboja Lestari lodge. This lodge is part of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation's work to plant new trees and help orangutans recover.

Economy

East Kalimantan’s economy is mainly based on natural resources like oil, natural gas, coal, and gold. The city of Balikpapan has an important oil refinery that was built a long time ago by Dutch leaders, destroyed during World War II, and then rebuilt after Indonesia became independent.

Other growing parts of the economy include farming and tourism. One challenge for the area is that there isn’t enough modern transportation. Travel often uses traditional boats along the coast and main rivers, especially the Mahakam River.

In 2012, a Russian railway company agreed to help build railway lines to move coal and other goods. The first part of the railway would connect near the Balikpapan port to West Kutai Regency and cost about $1.8 billion. The second part would connect to Murung Raya in Central Kalimantan.

Many oil fields have been found in the Mahakam River Delta, including important ones like Handil, Badak, and Bekapai.

Demographics

East Kalimantan had about 3 million people in 2010, and by mid-2024, the number grew to around 4.2 million.

The area is popular with people moving there from places like Jawa, Sulawesi, and South Kalimantan. Even with almost 4 million people spread over a large space, it feels quite open.

People there often speak Indonesian for official things and use Banjarese when talking with different groups. Because there are many Banjarese people, their language is commonly heard, especially in cities like Samarinda and Balikpapan. You can also hear Javanese and Buginese thanks to lots of people moving in from those places.

Religion in East Kalimantan (2022)

1. Islam (87.4%)
2. Protestantism (7.49%)
3. Roman Catholic (4.44%)
4. Buddhism (0.39%)
5. Hinduism (0.22%)
6. Confucianism (0.01%)
7. Folk religion (0.01%)

Most people follow Islam, but there are also communities of Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and others.

Art and culture

East Kalimantan has many beautiful traditional clothes and dances from its different groups of people. The Kenyah people, also called Dayak, wear special outfits like sapei sapaq for men and ta'a for women. Other Dayak groups have clothes like bulang kuurung and bulang burai king for special events.

The Kutai people also have their own special clothes, such as kustim and takwo, and a garment called sakai made from skin or wood fiber worn by women. East Kalimantan is also home to many traditional dances like Punan Letto, Hudoq, and Jepen, each with its own story and movement.

Notable people

Main category: People from East Kalimantan

East Kalimantan has been home to many well-known individuals who have made their mark in various fields. These people come from different areas within the province and have contributed to its rich cultural and historical heritage. Their achievements reflect the diverse talents and spirit of the region.