Merauke

Merauke
Town (District)
Lingkaran Brawijaya (Libra) 969 monument in Merauke
OpenStreetMap
Merauke Location in Western New Guinea and Indonesia Show map of Western New Guinea Merauke Merauke (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 8°28′S140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333
Country	Indonesia
Province	South Papua
Regency	Merauke Regency
Government
• Head of district	Kristian Ndiken
Area
• Total	500.41 km2 (193.21 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2024 estimate)
• Total	116,864
• Density	230/km2 (600/sq mi)
	[1]
Demographics
• Languages	Auyu, Kolopom, Mandobo, Marind, Muyu, Mombum (natives) Javanese (dominant), and others
Time zone	UTC+9 (Indonesia Eastern Time)
Area code	(+62) 975
Climate	Aw
Website	http://www.merauke.go.id

Merauke is a large town (kelurahan) and an administrative district (distrik) in Merauke Regency of South Papua Province, Indonesia. It is also the administrative centre of Merauke Regency, and is considered to be the easternmost city in Indonesia, although it currently lacks city status. The town was originally called Ermasoe. ^[2]

Merauke is next to the Maro River where the Port of Merauke is located. ^[3] Merauke District covers a land area of 500.41 km², and had a population of 87,634 at the 2010 Census. ^[4] which at the 2020 Census had increased to 102,351; ^[5] the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 116,864 (comprising 60,068 males and 56,796 females). ^[1]

History

RAAF No. 12 Squadron pilots in the mess at Merauke in December 1943

Merauke was the capital of the Residency of South New Guinea. ^[6] The population of Muyu people in the area started growing in the 1930s. ^[7]

Merauke was the site of an Allied air and naval base, Naval Base Merauke, during World War II and there was ground fighting between Australian and Japanese patrols in the area. ^[8]

The first Christian church in Merauke was completed in 1940, but it was destroyed in 1942. ^[9]

The expression "Sabang to Merauke" is used as shorthand for the territorial extent of Indonesia from west to east, for instance in the name of Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter. For instance, President Suharto stated in 1968 that "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity from Sabang to Merauke are for the Indonesian people matters of principle". ^[10]

Communities

Merauke District is sub-divided into eleven urban kelurahan and 5 rural villages (desa, idebtified by asterisks in the table below)). These are listed below with their official codes (kode wilayah) and their populations as at mid 2023. ^[11]

Kode Wilayah Name of kelurahan or desa Pop'n Estimate mid 2023 Post code 93.01.01.2001 Nasem * 572 99618 93.01.01.1002 Samkai 11,801 99615 93.01.01.1003 Karang Indah 9,828 99614 93.01.01.1004 Mandala 15,158 99617 93.01.01.1005 Maro 11,015 99613 93.01.01.1006 Kelapa Lima 12,038 99612 93.01.01.1007 Rimba Jaya 11,773 99610 93.01.01.2008 Wasur * 652 99611 93.01.01.1009 Bambu Pemali 7,788 99616 93.01.01.1010 Seringgu Jaya 8,055 99619 93.01.01.1011 Kamundu 6,996 99607 93.01.01.1012 Kamahedoga 3,043 99606 93.01.01.1013 Muli 8,640 99608 93.01.01.2014 Bokem * 464 99604 93.01.01.2015 Buti * 2,414 99605 93.01.01.2016 Nggolar * 304 99609 Totals Merauke District 110,541

Nasem, Wasur, Bokem and Nggolare villages (desa) are rural areas to the north and east of the urban area. Merauke District is flanked to the west by Semangga District, which forms part of the metropolitan area of Merauke; Semangga District is sub-divided into 10 rural villages (all rated as desa). [12] Kode Wilayah Name of desa Pop'n Estimate mid 2023 Post code 93.01.05.2001 Matara * 697 99631 93.01.05.2002 Waninggap Nanggo * 1,058 99631 93.01.05.2003 Urumb * 1,042 99631 93.01.05.2004 Sido Mulyo * 1,116 99631 93.01.05.2005 Kuprik * 1,618 99631 93.01.05.2006 Kuoer * 1,446 99631 93.01.05.2007 Semangga Jaya * 3,641 99631 93.01.05.2008 Marga Mulya * 2,882 99631 93.01.05.2009 Muram Sari * 1,480 99631 93.01.05.2010 Waninggap Kai * 1,838 99631 Totals Semangga District 16,816

Climate

Climate data for Merauke (2000–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	33.9 (93.0)	32.8 (91.0)	33.3 (91.9)	33.3 (91.9)	33.3 (91.9)	32.2 (90.0)	32.2 (90.0)	32.8 (91.0)	33.3 (91.9)	35.6 (96.1)	36.1 (97.0)	35.0 (95.0)	36.1 (97.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31.4 (88.5)	31.3 (88.3)	31.1 (88.0)	31.2 (88.2)	30.6 (87.1)	29.5 (85.1)	28.9 (84.0)	29.3 (84.7)	30.5 (86.9)	31.5 (88.7)	32.2 (90.0)	32.3 (90.1)	30.8 (87.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	24.6 (76.3)	24.6 (76.3)	24.6 (76.3)	24.5 (76.1)	24.2 (75.6)	23.6 (74.5)	22.5 (72.5)	22.0 (71.6)	22.5 (72.5)	23.2 (73.8)	24.4 (75.9)	24.9 (76.8)	23.8 (74.9)
Record low °C (°F)	20.0 (68.0)	21.1 (70.0)	20.6 (69.1)	19.4 (66.9)	18.9 (66.0)	16.7 (62.1)	17.2 (63.0)	14.4 (57.9)	14.4 (57.9)	15.6 (60.1)	17.2 (63.0)	20.6 (69.1)	14.4 (57.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	279.0 (10.98)	278.0 (10.94)	329.2 (12.96)	230.4 (9.07)	170.3 (6.70)	58.7 (2.31)	35.4 (1.39)	66.3 (2.61)	21.6 (0.85)	53.0 (2.09)	96.5 (3.80)	165.5 (6.52)	1,783.9 (70.22)
Average precipitation days	14.7	14.7	15.7	12.9	9.8	8.3	6.8	3.3	3.0	4.2	5.3	10.3	109
Average relative humidity (%)	84	85	84	84	84	82	81	81	80	81	82	83	83
Source 1: Meteomanz [13]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes) [14] Danish Meteorological Institute (humidity) [15]

See also

• Merauke Five
• Mopah Airport

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kabupaten Merauke Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9401)
2. A Dictionary of the Aneityumese Language: In Two Parts, I. Aneityumese and English, II. English and Aneityumese; Also, Outlines of Aneityumese Grammar, and an Introduction by John Inglis, Williams & Norgate, 1882
3. Port of Merauke
4. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
5. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
6. Schoorl 1988, p. 550.
7. Schoorl 1988, pp. 540, 550.
8. Klemen, L. "The last Dutch fortress in the East Indies - Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, 1942". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942.
9. Kelly 1944, p. 541.
10. "Transcript: Speech given by President Suharto at state dinner in honour of the Australian prime minister, Mr. John Gorton" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 13 June 1968.
11. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Distrik Merauke Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9401040)
12. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Distrik Semangga Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9401041)
13. "SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
14. "Klimatafel von Merauke" (PDF) (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
15. "STATION NUMMER 97980" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

Works cited

• Kelly, Charlotte (1944). "Catholic Missions in New Guinea" . Studies . 33 (132). Messenger Publications: 535–542. doi:10.2307/30100046. JSTOR   30100046.
• Schoorl, J. (1988). "Mobility and Migration in Muyu Culture" . Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde . 144 (4). Brill Publishers: 540–556. doi:10.2307/27863984. JSTOR   27863984.

8°28′S140°20′E / 8.467°S 140.333°E / -8.467; 140.333