West Seram Regency

West Seram Regency Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat
Regency
Coat of arms
Motto:  Saka Mese Nura (Protect and Defend the Island)
Location within Maluku
West Seram Regency Location in Seram, Maluku and Indonesia Show map of Seram Island West Seram Regency West Seram Regency (Maluku) Show map of Maluku West Seram Regency West Seram Regency (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 3°06′10″S 128°25′48″E / 3.1027°S 128.4300°E / -3.1027; 128.4300
Country	Indonesia
Province	Maluku
Capital	Piru
Government
• Regent	Asri Arman [id]
• Vice Regent	Selfinus Kainama [id]
Area
• Total	6,948.4 km^2 (2,682.8 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2024 estimate)[1]
• Total	217,389
• Density	31.286/km^2 (81.031/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (IEST)
Area code	(+62) 911
Website	sbbkab.go.id

West Seram Regency is a regency of Maluku, Indonesia. It is mainly located on Seram, but includes various islands lying to the west of Seram - the largest being Manipa, Kelang and Buano, as well as the smaller islets of Babi, Pua, Masowoi, and Marsegu. It covers a land area of 6,948.40 km², and had a population of 164,654 at the 2010 Census^[2] and 212,393 at the 2020 Census;^[3] the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 217,389 (comprising 109,295 males and 108,094 females).^[1] The principal town lies at Piru, a port at the northern coast of Latira Bay (Teluk Latira) which is a northwards extension of Piru Bay (Teluk Piru) and almost separates the Huamual Peninsula from the rest of Seram Island. The western sector of the Regency (the Huamual Peninsula and the islands off the west coast) occupies just under 25% of the land area, but held over 42% of the Regency's population at the 2020 Census.

Administrative districts

At the time of the 2010 Census the regency was divided into four districts (kecamatan). Subsequent to 2010, seven additional districts have been created by the division of the original four districts, so that the regency is now divided into eleven districts. These are tabulated below with their areas and populations at the 2010 Census^[2] and 2020 Census,^[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.^[1] The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, as well as the number of administrative villages (all classed as rural desa) in each district, and its postal code.

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km^2	Pop'n Census 2010	Pop'n Census 2020	Pop'n Estimate mid 2024	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
81.06.04	Huamual Belakang ^(a)	409.65	25,629	33,132	35,772	Waesala	7	97567
81.06.09	Kepulauan Manipa (Manipa Islands) ^(b)	159.71	5,810	7,165	8,030	Masawoi	7	97569
81.06.08	Huamual ^(c)	1,162.99	34,919	49,097	47,939	Luhu	5	97560
	Totals of Western sector	1,732.35	66,358	89,394	91,731		19
81.06.02	Seram Barat ^(d) (West Seram)	503.33	27,311	35,045	35,851	Piru	7 ^(e)	97562
81.06.01	Kairatu	329.65	23,240	27,040	26,882	Kairatu	7	97566
81.06.07	Kairatu Barat ^(f) (West Kairatu)	132.25	13,146	14,478	14,147	Kamal	6	97568
81.06.06	Inamosol ^(f)	504.61	5,311	6,422	6,817	Honitetu	5	97565
81.06.05	Amalatu ^(f)	665.35	10,979	12,537	13,177	Latu	7	97563
81.06.11	Elpaputih ^(f)	1,165.74	1,453	5,233	5,144	Elpaputih	7	97564
81.06.03	Taniwel	1,181.32	12,133	15,448	16,219	Taniwel	19	97559
81.06.10	Taniwel Timur ^(g) (East Taniwel)	733.80	5,375	6,796	7,481	Uwen Pantai	15	97561
	Totals of Eastern sector	5,216.05	98,948	122,999	125,648		73
	Totals	6,948.40	164,654	212,393	217,389		92

Notes: (a) Huamual Belakang District includes Buano (formerly Boano) and Kelang Islands, as well as Babi (a small island situated between Kelang Island and Seram), Pua (a small island off Buano) and 26 other small islands, as well as part of the 'mainland' of Seram (the 2 desa of Waesala and Allang Asaude). The district comprises the 7 towns and villages (all classed as desa) of Tahalupu (with 7,543 inhabitants as at mid 2023), Sole (3,080) and Tonu Jaya (2,092) - all 3 on Kelang Island; Buano Selatan (1,769) and Buano Utara (or Putia)(8,849) - both on Buano Island; and Waesala (10,786) and Allang Asaude (1,110) in the northern part of the Huamual Peninsula on Seram Island.
(b) Manipa Islands District consists of the main island of Manipa together with adjacent small islands; it was formerly part of Huamual Belakang District.
(c) formerly part of Seram Barat District, this district comprises the southern part of the Huamual Peninsula; in the north it is now bordered by Huamual Belakang and Seram Barat Districts, in the south it is bordered by the Banda Sea, in the east it is bordered by the residual Seram Barat District, and in the west it is bordered by the Manipa Passage. The district comprises the 5 towns and villages (all classed as desa) - Luhu (with 25,993 inhabitants in mid 2023), Lokki (12,574), Iha (6,302), Ariate (1,188) and Kulur (910).
(d) includes the northeast part of the Huamual Peninsula as well as areas further east.
(e) the 7 desa are Piru (a town with 16,377 inhabitants in mid 2023), Eti (7,625), Kawa (5,904), Kaibobo (2,083), Lumoli (1,424), Neniari (1,226) and Morekau (959).
(f) formerly parts of Kairatu District. (g) formerly part of Taniwel District.

Nature Reserves

There are two major Nature Reserves within the regency. The Sahuwai Nature Reserve covers an area of 28,872 hectares within the Huamual Peninsula. Further to the northeast, the Pulau Marsegu DSK (Nature Recreation Park) covers an area of 11,000 hectares; Marsegu Island has a very high diversity of marine resources, various types of birds and various vegetation diversity of trees; the results of research conducted in the eastern and western parts of Marsegu Island found 22 species of trees in the protected forest on Marsegu Island.

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8106)
2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.

External links