North Kalimantan is a place in Indonesia.
It is on a big island. Many people live there. It has many trees. Some roads are made of mud. Do you want to see it?
North Kalimantan is a place in Indonesia.
It sits on a big island. The land is near Malaysia. Some parts are near the sea.
Many people live there. They come from many groups. Some are Malay and some are Dayak.
Most of the land is empty. There are not many people in some spots.
Some roads are made of mud. You can also travel by boat. It is a very special place.
North Kalimantan is a province in Indonesia. It sits on the island of Borneo. The land is at the very top of the island. It shares borders with Malaysia. To the north is Sabah. To the west is Sarawak. To the south is East Kalimantan.
Tanjung Selor is the capital city. Tarakan is the largest city. It is also a center for money. Most of the land has very few people. The province covers 69,901 square kilometers. In 2025, about 749,370 people lived there. Many groups live in this land. These include the Malay, Dayak, and Javanese.
Traveling here can be tricky. Some roads are just muddy ditches. You can use a ferry to reach the mainland. Tarakan has an airport for planes. The airport is also used by the air force.
The province was made in 2012. It was split from East Kalimantan. This was done to help the area grow. The motto is Benuanta. This means "our land that must be developed together."
North Kalimantan is a province in the country of Indonesia. It sits on the northernmost part of Kalimantan, which is the Indonesian side of Borneo island. The province shares borders with the Malaysian states of Sabah to the north and Sarawak to the west. To the south, it meets the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan.
Tanjung Selor is the capital city of this region. Tarakan is the largest city and acts as the financial center. Most of the province is sparsely populated, meaning very few people live in large areas. It covers 69,901 square kilometers in total.
Many different groups of people call this land home. The main ethnic groups are the Malays, Dayaks, and Javanese. There are also many other groups like the Tidung, Bulungan, and Bajau. Most people in the province follow Islam. Other religions include Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
In 2020, there were 701,784 people living here. By mid-2025, the population grew to an estimated 749,370 people. This includes 393,130 males and 356,240 females. For a long time, it was the least populous province in Indonesia.
Long ago, this area belonged to the Sultanate of Bulungan. This state was started by a group of coastal Kayan people. A Kayan princess named Asung Luwan married a nobleman from Brunei. This marriage helped start a princely state centered in Tanjung Selor. Over many years, different powers controlled the land. The Dutch signed a contract in 1853 to take control of the Bulungan kingdom. Later, the British North Borneo Company claimed parts of the region. In 1915, the Dutch and British agreed on the borders we see today.
Traveling through North Kalimantan can be a big task. There are no international land crossings to reach the mainland. Most people arrive by ferry from Tarakan or by road from the south. Some roads are still just unpaved, muddy ditches. The Trans-Kalimantan Highway was finished in early 2019 under President Joko Widodo. This long path connects Pontianak in West Kalimantan to Tanjung Selor.
For air travel, people use the Juwata International Airport on Tarakan island. This airport is also used by the Indonesian Air Force. They share the runway and the apron area together.
North Kalimantan became its own province on 25 October 2012. It was separated from East Kalimantan to help the area develop more quickly. The province has a special motto called Benuanta. This word comes from Bulungan and means "our land that must be developed together."
The provincial coat of arms uses a shield with a star and a mountain. It also shows a traditional shield with Dayak, Bulungan, and Tidung patterns. The design includes 25 grains of rice and 12 cotton bolls. These numbers represent the date the province was founded in 2012.
North Kalimantan is a province located in Indonesia. It sits on the northernmost part of Kalimantan. This is the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo. The province shares borders with Malaysia. To the north lies the state of Sabah. To the west lies the state of Sarawak. To the south, it borders the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan.
The province was officially formed on 25 October 2012. It was separated from East Kalimantan for specific reasons. Leaders wanted to reduce development disparity in the region. They also wanted to limit Malaysia's influence over the territory. Today, the province covers 69,901 square kilometers. It is divided into four regencies and one city. Tanjung Selor serves as the provincial capital. Tarakan is the largest city and the financial center.
The history of this land is tied to the Sultanate of Bulungan. This state was founded by coastal Kayan people. Around the 16th century, a Kayan princess named Asung Luwan married a nobleman from Brunei. This marriage helped establish a princely state. It was centered in Tanjung Selor and included many modern areas. Over time, different powers fought for control. The territory was a vassal of Berau and the Kingdom of Kutai. Later, it fell under the control of Brunei and the Sultanate of Sulu. In 1853, the Dutch imposed sovereignty through a political contract. In 1915, the Dutch and British finally agreed on the modern borders.
During the 1960s, the region faced a period of great tension. This happened during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. The Sultanate of Bulungan held an ambiguous position regarding the formation of Malaysia. In April 1964, reports claimed the Bulungan aristocracy supported Malaysia. This led to a violent event known as the Bultiken Tragedy. On 24 April 1964, military leaders ordered the capture of the aristocracy. By 3 July 1964, the palace was invaded and burned. Many members of the royal family were killed. The surviving family members fled to Malaysia. In 2017, they began the process of becoming Indonesian citizens.
Demographics in the province are quite diverse. The main ethnic groups are Malays, Dayaks, and Javanese. Other significant groups include the Tidung, Bulungan, Bajau, and Bugis. Religion also varies among the population. According to the 2020 census, 507,780 people are Muslims. There are also 137,540 Protestants and 42,260 Roman Catholics. Other groups include Buddhists, Hindus, and Confucians. The population has grown steadily over time. It was 524,656 in 2010. It reached 701,784 in 2020. By mid-2025, the official estimate was 749,370 people. This group includes 393,130 males and 356,240 females.
Transportation in North Kalimantan requires careful planning. There are no international land crossings to the mainland. Most travelers arrive by ferry from Tarakan. Others arrive by road from the south. Many large stretches of road are still unpaved muddy ditches. However, the Trans-Kalimantan Highway was finished in early 2019. This road connects Pontianak to Tanjung Selor. For air travel, people use Juwata International Airport on Tarakan island. This airport is also used by the Indonesian Air Force. The Suharnoko Harbani Air Force Base shares the runway and apron.
The province uses a special coat of arms to show its identity. The design is a pentagonal shield. It features a star, a mountain, and a border gate. It also includes a traditional shield with Dayak, Bulungan, and Tidung motifs. The shield is crossed by a mandau and a spear. The numbers in the design are very specific. There are 25 grains of rice and 12 cotton bolls. These numbers represent the founding date of 25 October 2012. The motto is Benuanta. This is a Bulungan term. It means "our land that must be developed together."
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (4)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.