Jayapura facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jayapura
City
City of Jayapura Kota Jayapura
Panoramic view of Jayapura Youtefa Bridge Jayapura City signboard Jayapura Port within Humboldt Bay Mal Jayapura Mal Jayapura, and Jayapura City view at night
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Hen Tecahi Yo Onomi, T'mar Ni Hanased (One Heart Builds a City for God's Glory)
Location in Papua Province
OpenStreetMap
Jayapura Location in Western New Guinea Show map of Western New Guinea Jayapura Location in Indonesia Show map of Indonesia
Country	Indonesia
Region	Papua
Province	Papua
Founded	7 March 1910 (as Hollandia)
Incorporated	2 August 1993
Area
• Total	940.0 km2 (362.9 sq mi)
Elevation	287 m (942 ft)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)
• Total	414,862
• Density	441.343/km2 (1,143.07/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Area code	(+62) 967
Climate	Af
HDI	0.801 (Very High)

Jayapura is a major city in Indonesia. It is the capital and largest city of the Papua province. The city is located on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It covers an area of about 940 square kilometers.

Jayapura is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and Yos Sudarso Bay to the north. To the east, it shares a border with Papua New Guinea. The city also borders Keerom Regency to the south and Jayapura Regency to the west.

With over 414,000 people in mid-2023, Jayapura is the biggest city on the entire island of New Guinea. It is even larger than Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Between 2010 and 2020, Jayapura was the fastest-growing city in Indonesia. Its population grew by more than 55% in that time.

Jayapura is also an important economic center in Eastern Indonesia. It has a very high Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.801. This means people in Jayapura generally have a good quality of life.

What's in a Name? The Story of Jayapura's Names

The name Jayapura comes from an old language called Sanskrit. It means "city of victory." This name was given by a former Indonesian leader, Suharto.

Today, some people want to change the city's name again. They believe a new name should better reflect the local people and their culture. Some ideas include Kota Tabi or Numbay.

The word "Numbay" comes from a local river. It means "clear water." "Tabi" means "sunrise" in the local Kayo Pulau language.

Before Jayapura, the city was called Hollandia. This name came from the Holland region in the Netherlands. The Dutch made Hollandia the capital of their territory in New Guinea in 1945.

After a short time under the United Nations, Indonesia took control in 1963. The city was then called Kota Baru, meaning "New Town." For a brief period, it was named Sukarnopura, after President Sukarno. Finally, in 1968, it received its current name, Jayapura.

A Look Back: Jayapura's History

Hollandia Haven or Hollandia (now Jayapura) port in 1947

Before the Dutch arrived, the area of Jayapura was known as Numbay. It was a busy trading place. People traded things like spices, cassava, and bird-of-paradise feathers. The trade happened through a system called barter, where goods were exchanged directly.

The Numbay community was led by a chief called an ondoafi. In the 1800s, Numbay had connections with the Ternate Sultanate, a powerful kingdom.

In 1909, Dutch navy explorers landed near the Numbay river. They set up a camp called Kloofkamp. On March 7, 1910, the Dutch flag was raised, and the settlement was officially named Hollandia.

During World War II, Japanese forces took over the northern part of New Guinea in 1942. But in 1944, Allied forces, including American troops, drove them out. The area became a major base for General Douglas MacArthur. Half a million US soldiers passed through this area.

In 1998, Jayapura was hit by a large ocean wave called a tsunami. This happened after an earthquake in Papua New Guinea.

Nature and Weather: Geography and Climate

Looking east to Yos Sudarso Bay, showing the floating village of Tobati (left) and Engros (right), just to the south of Jayapura.

Jayapura's land is very diverse. It has valleys, hills, flat areas called plateaus, and mountains. Some mountains are as high as 700 meters above sea level. The city looks out over the beautiful Yos Sudarso Bay.

Jayapura covers about 94,000 hectares. It is divided into five main areas called districts. About 30% of the city is built up, while the rest is made of rough land, swamps, and protected forests.

Jayapura has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it gets a lot of rain all year round. The weather is usually warm and humid.

City Layout: Administrative Districts

Districts (distrik) of Jayapura

Jayapura is divided into five main areas called districts (kecamatan). Each district has its own headquarters. These districts include both urban areas (kelurahan) and rural villages (kampung).

Here is a table showing the districts, their sizes, and how many people live in them:

People of Jayapura: Demographics and Religion

Jayapura is the capital of Papua Province. Because of its growth, many people from other parts of Indonesia have moved here. This includes people from Java, Makassar, Bugis, and other ethnic groups.

The city is also known as a "city of education." Many people come to Jayapura to study or find jobs. This has helped the population grow very quickly over the last ten years.

Religion in Jayapura

Religion in Jayapura (2023)      Protestantism (49.51%)     Roman Catholicism (6.25%)     Islam (43.80%)     Buddhism (0.27%)     Hinduism (0.17%)

Many different religions are practiced in Jayapura. The city has a long history with the Roman Catholic Church. A Catholic church group was set up here in 1949. Over the years, its name changed several times. Since 1973, it has been known as the Diocese of Jayapura.

Money Matters: Jayapura's Economy

Jayapura port activities around Jayapura Bay, 2011

Jayapura has strong economic growth compared to other areas in Papua. This growth helps people earn more money and buy more things. The economy is mostly driven by trade, services, and finance.

However, there are still challenges. Some people have much higher incomes than others. There are also high rates of poverty and unemployment. The city is working to improve these issues.

Agriculture, like farming and fishing, is also important. Tourism is growing in Jayapura. More visitors, both local and international, are coming to the city. This helps many businesses, especially those run by the local people of Port Numbay.

The government wants to help local people get more involved in trade, investment, and tourism. This is important because many local people still rely on traditional ways of making a living. These include making sago, catching fish, and shifting cultivation.

Some local people are starting to use their traditional coastal areas for tourism. For example, villagers in Kayu Batu, Hamadi, and Holtekam are offering small-scale services to tourists. This helps them earn money and compete in the growing economy.

Getting Around: Transport in Jayapura

Transmetro Jayapura buses

Jayapura is served by Sentani International Airport. This airport is located in Sentani town, about 40 kilometers west of the city. It is also near Lake Sentani.

A highway connects Jayapura eastward to Skouw. Skouw is a village close to the border with Papua New Guinea. The highway continues into Papua New Guinea to a town called Vanimo. Jayapura is also connected to other towns like Sarmi and Wamena by the Trans-Papua Highway.

The city has bus terminals, including Terminal Entrop and Terminal Mesran. Since 2019, the city has a public bus system called Trans Jayapura. These buses operate on four routes within the city.

There are plans to build a railway line from Jayapura to Sarmi. This would be a distance of about 400 kilometers. Future plans might even extend this railway to connect Jayapura with Manokwari and Sorong. The project is expected to be finished by 2030.

Fun and Games: Sport in Jayapura

Jayapura is home to the Persipura football club. This is a professional football team. They have produced many famous Papuan-Indonesian football players.

Persipura has won the top Indonesian football league four times. They play their home matches at the Mandala Stadium. Jayapura also has the Hollandia Rugby Club.

News and Media

The main newspaper in Papua, Cenderawasih Pos, is published in Jayapura. Another important local newspaper and online news source, Koran Jubi, is also based in the city.

Jayapura also has several radio and television stations. These include public stations like RRI Jayapura and TVRI Papua. There is also a private TV station called Jaya TV. Most national television channels can be watched in Jayapura.

Friends Around the World: Twin Cities

Jayapura has special friendships with other cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.

• Puerto Princesa, Philippines
• Quezon City, Philippines
• San José, Costa Rica
• Songkhla, Thailand

See also

In Spanish: Jayapura para niños