Sarmi Regency

Geography

Sarmi Regency borders Jayapura Regency to the east and Mamberamo Raya Regency to the west. The southern border of the regency is formed by the Taritatu River; there the regency borders Central Mamberamo Regency in Highland Papua Province. The highest elevation of this regency is the summit of the Gauttier Mountain Range, at ~2,250 m above sea level, near the border with Mamberamo Raya.

Demographics

The majority of Sarmi residents are native Papuans, with significant numbers of transmigrants from Java, Bali, Madura.

Religion

The majority religion adopted by the Sarmi community is Christianity, with a significant presence of Islam brought by transmigrants from Java and Madura, as well as a small minority of Hindus and Buddhists from Bali.

• Christianity (76.94%)
  • Protestantism (74.74%)
  • Catholicism (2.20%)
• Islam (22.96%)
• Hinduism (0.05%)
• Buddhism (0.05%)

Ethnic groups

Sarmi is inhabited by Sobey, Armati, Rumbuai, Manirem, and Isirawa - all of who are native Papuans - together with migrants from other parts of Indonesia, especially Javanese, Madurese, Batak, Minangkabau, Bugis, etc.

Culture

Long before European explorers landed on the northern coast of New Guinea, since prehistoric times the region had been in contact with various foreign cultures. About 3,000 years ago, Austronesian speakers migrated to the northern coast of New Guinea.

They made and used boats adapted for sea voyages, they were the ones who managed to find an outrigger system (balance on the left and right of the boat) to deal with the fierce waves of the ocean.

Administrative districts

At the 2010 Census, Sarmi Regency comprised ten districts (distrik), but subsequently nine additional districts (Sungai Biri, Veen, Bonggo Barat, Ismari, Sobey, Muara Toy, Verkam, Apawer Hilir and Apawer Tengah) have been created by splitting existing districts. These nineteen districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 92 rural kampung and 2 urban kelurahan), and their post codes.

Notes: (a) including the offshore islands of Pulau Masimasi, Pulau Wakde Besar, Pulau Wakde Kecil, Pulau Yamna Besar and Pulau Yamna Kecil. (b) the 2010 population of this new district is included with the figure for the district from which it was subsequently cut out. (c) including the offshore islands of Pulau Anus, Pulau Yersun, Pulau Podena, Pulau Mengge and Pulau Kaycebo. (d) the 2010 population of this new district is included with the figure for Bonggo District, from which it was subsequently cut out. (e) including the offshore islands of Pulau Armo, Pulau Kosong, Pulau Liki and Pulau Sawar. (f) including the 2 kelurahan of Sarmi Kota (Sarmi town) and Mararena.

References

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Sarmi Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9419)
2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
4. [https://www.sarmikab.go.id/main/sejarah/ History of Sarmi Regency]
5. [https://travel.tempo.co/amp/1356923/bertandang-ke-sarmi-melihat-budaya-maritim-di-kota-ombak#aoh=16246305916045&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=Dari%20%251%24s Sarmi Regency Culture]
6. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kabupaten Sarmi Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9419)