Sambas Regency

Sambas Regency is the most northerly regency in West Kalimantan Province of Indonesia. The regency is one of the original regencies in West Kalimantan, but on 20 April 1999 the southern districts were removed from Sambas Regency to form a new Bengkayang Regency (then including the town of Singkawang). The residual regency now covers 5,938.48 km2, and had a population of 496,120 at the 2010 census and 629,905 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 661,452 (comprising 336,918 males and 324,534 females). The administrative centre is at the town of Sambas.

History

The famous Sambas Treasure, a collection of 9th century Buddhist sculptures, was found near Sambas Town. It is now part of the British Museum's collection.

Sambas was also part of the Sultanate of Sambas until the Dutch occupied the area in 1819.

In the Sambas riots in 1999, Malays and Dayaks joined to massacre the Madurese during the conflict. Madurese were mutilated, raped, and killed by the Malays and Dayaks; 3,000 of them died in the massacres, with the Indonesian government doing little to stop the violence.

Following the establishment of Bengkayang Regency on 27 April 1999, the administrative centre of Sambas Regency was formally moved from Singkawang (now in the new regency) to Sambas (town) on 15 July.

Adjoining regencies and city

Population

At the 2010 census, Sambas Regency had a population of 496,120. According to the 2020 census this had grown to 629,905 people. By mid 2025, the population was estimated at 661,452 (consisting of 336,918 males and 324,534 females), with an average density of 111.38 people per km2.

Watershed

Sambas has three watersheds (with a total area of 516,200 ha): the Sambas watershed (258,700 ha), the Paloh watershed (64,375 ha), and the Sebangkau watershed (193,125 ha).

Administrative districts

When Sambas Regency was originally created, it consisted of the ten districts of Bengkayang, Ledo, Pemangkat, Sambas, Samalantan, Sanggau Ledo, Singkawang, Sungai Raya, Seluas and Teluk Keramat. In 1956, a new district named Selakau was established by splitting off from the northern part of Singkawang District. In 1958, two new districts were cut out from Pemangkat District, namely Jawai (from the northern part) and Tebas (from the eastern part). In 1963, another two districts were established (Paloh District was split off from the northern part of Teluk Keramat District, and Sejangkung District was split off from the northeastern part of Sambas District). On 12 December 1981, when Singkawang became an administrative city within the regency, it was split into three separate districts, namely Roban, Pasiran and Tujuhbelas. On 17 June 1996, Sajingan Besar District was established by splitting off from the five villages of three different districts (two from Sejangkung, two from Teluk Keramat, and one from Paloh) and Jagoi Babang (from the northern part of Seluas district). After Bengkayang Regency was established in 1999, the southern districts (including the administrative city of Singkawang), became part of that newly-created regency.

In 2001, two new districts were established (Galing District was split off from the eastern part of Teluk Keramat District, and Subah District was split off from the southern part of Sambas District). In 2003, another two districts were established (Semparuk District was split off from the eastern part of Pemangkat District, and Tekarang District was split off from the northern part of Tebas District). In 2004, three new districts were established (Sebawi District and Sajad District were cut out from the western and eastern parts of Sambas District respectively, and South Jawai District was cut out from the southern part of Jawai District). In 2006, a new district named Tangaran was carved out from the western part of Teluk Keramat District. A year later, two more districts were established (Selakau Timur District was split off from the eastern part of Selakau District and Salatiga District was split off from the southern part of Pemangkat District).

Sambas Regency thus now consists of nineteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census and the 2020 census, and the official estimates as at mid 2025. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (all classed as rural desa), and its post code.

List of Sambas Regents and Vice Regents

External links

1°25′00″N 109°20′00″E/1.4167°N 109.3333°E/ 1.4167; 109.3333