# Sarmi Regency

Sarmi Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in Papua Province of Indonesia. It was formed from the western districts which had until then been part of Jayapura Regency with effect from 12 November 2002. It covers an area of 18,034.0 km$^2$ (note that the province-level Statistics Bureau gives an alternate area figure of 14,068.37 km$^2$), and had a population of 32,971 at the 2010 Census and 41,515 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 42,680. The regency's administrative centre is at the town of Sarmi.
Sarmi is named from an acronym of the five main ethnic groups, which are the Sobey, Armati, Rumbuai, Manirem, and Isirawa. These five tribes do not represent the overall tribal diversity in this regency which has 87 tribes, each with their own language.

## 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.
| Kode Wilayah | Name of District (distrik) | Area in km$^2$ | Pop'n 2010 Census | Pop'n 2020 Census | Pop'n mid 2023 Estimate | Admin centre | No. of villages | Post code |
| 91.10.14 | Pantai Timur Bagian Barat (Western East Coast) | 2,455 | 3,701 | 3,077 | 3,200 | Nenke Dua | 9 | 99371 |
| 91.10.04 | Pantai Timur $^{(a)}$ (East Coast) | 1,794 | 2,132 | 2,179 | 2,200 | Betaf | 7 | 99370 |
| | Sungai Biri | 1,422 | $^{(b)}$ | 695 | 700 | Ansudu | 3 | 99370 |
| | Veen | 1,829 | $^{(b)}$ | 1,919 | 2,000 | Wakde/Ampera | 7 | 99371 |
| 91.10.05 | Bonggo $^{(c)}$ | 385 | 3,883 | 3,115 | 3,200 | Kiren | 7 | 99381 |
| 91.10.15 | Bonggo Timur (East Bonggo) | 863 | 2,846 | 3,285 | 3,400 | Mawes Mukti | 6 | 99382 |
| | Bonggo Barat (West Bonggo) | 308 | $^{(d)}$ | 1,221 | 1,300 | Podena | 9 | 99382 |
| 91.10.02 | Tor Atas | 1,988 | 1,713 | 930 | 1,000 | Samanente | 4 | 99372 |
| | Ismari | 1,687 | $^{(b)}$ | 365 | 400 | Waaf | 4 | 99372 |
| 91.10.01 | Sarmi $^{(e)}$ | 419 | 11,633 | 13,813 | 14,100 | Sarmi | 9 $^{(f)}$ | 99373 |
| 91.10.13 | Sarmi Timur (East Sarmi) | 222 | 1,555 | 777 | 800 | Waskey | 4 | 99377 |
| 91.10.12 | Sarmi Selatan (South Sarmi) | 302 | 1,799 | 2,178 | 2,200 | Wapoania | 3 | 99376 |
| | Sobey | 127 | $^{(b)}$ | 1,862 | 1,900 | Ragaiserwar | 5 | |
| | Muara Toy | 782 | $^{(b)}$ | 1,079 | 1,100 | Ebram | 5 | 99377 |
| | Verkan | 649 | $^{(b)}$ | 1,062 | 1,100 | Amsira | 6 | 99376 |
| 91.10.03 | Pantai Barat (West Coast) | 810 | 2,248 | 1,281 | 1,300 | Arbais | 7 | 99375 |
| 91.10.09 | Apawer Hulu (Upper Apawer) | 779 | 1,461 | 1,232 | 1,300 | Aurimi | 6 | 99374 |
| | Apawer Hilir (Lower Apawer) | 578 | $^{(b)}$ | 878 | 900 | Burgena | 5 | 99375 |
| | Apawer Tengah (Central Apawer) | 635 | $^{(b)}$ | 567 | 600 | Airoran | 5 | 99374 |
| | Totals | 18,034 | 32,971 | 41,515 | 42,680 | Sarmi | 94 | |
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.