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. Its capital city is 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 covered by tropical rainforest a long time ago. One famous discovery there is a limestone cave called Lubang Jeriji Saléh in Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat Karst. This cave has some of the oldest 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 on the eastern part of Borneo island. It covers a large land area and also includes ocean areas. The province is divided into seven areas called regencies and three cities.

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. It is known for its forests and natural resources. The climate is tropical, with dry and rainy seasons.

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 has 7 regencies and 3 cities. These are divided into 105 districts.

Ecology

East Kalimantan has lost many of its original forests because of illegal logging. Today, less than half of the original forest remains in places 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.

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. It was 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.

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. By mid-2024, the number grew to around 4.2 million.

Many people moved there from places like Jawa, Sulawesi, and South Kalimantan. Even with almost 4 million people, it feels open because the area is large.

People often speak Indonesian for official things. They also 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 from people who moved there.

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 is home to many famous people who have done great things in different areas. They come from all parts of the province and have helped shape its culture and history. Their successes show the many talents and energy of the region.