Surabaya Flag

Surabaya

Country:
Indonesia
Continent:
Asia

Surabaya's 2025 population is now estimated at 3,137,620. In 1950, the population of Surabaya was 679,000. Surabaya has grown by 48,870 in the last year, which represents a 1.58% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects . These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Surabaya, which typically includes Surabaya's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

3.1M
Total Population
48.9K 1.58%
Growth
No
Capital of Indonesia?

Surabaya Population

Surabaya Overview

Surabaya is a city located in Indonesia. It is also the capital of the Jawa Timur province. The city is one of the most significant financial hubs in the country. As of the 2015 Census, the population of the city is 3,457,404. It is the second most populous city in Indonesia.

City Size and Population Density

The city proper contains a total surface area of 350.5 km² (135.3 sq mi). The metropolitan area however sprawls out to 5,925 km² (2,288 sq mi). The population density reaches upward of 9,900/km² (26,000/sq mi) in the city proper, and drops toward 2,200 per square kilometer (5,700 per square mile) as one moves toward the edge of the metropolitan area.

Surabaya Demographics

The main religion observed in Surabaya is Islam. Over 85% of the population practices this religion. Other religions include Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

The population is primarily compromised of Javanese people. However, there are also Indian Indonesians, Chinese Indonesians and Madurese There are other ethnic groups that reside in Surabaya that originally came from other parts of Indonesia, including the Sundanese, Batak, Balinese and Bugis people.

Most people within this city speak with is known as Suroboyoan, which is a dialect of Indonesian and Javanese.

Surabaya History

The city of Surabaya was first mentioned in writing in 1225. However, during that time, it was called Jung-ya-lu. During the 14th and 15h centuries, the city was establishing itself as a port of Mahapahit. Later in the 15th century, the city was becoming a center of Islam.

In the years that followed, the city was Java’s major political and military power. It also functioned as a major trading port because of its location. The city went under the rule of the Demak Sultanate in 1530, but gained its independence just 16 years later. In the 1600s, the city was captured by the Sultanate of Mataram. It held control of Surabaya until it was taken by the Dutch East India Company in 1743.

Under the Dutch government, the city continued to be a thriving trading center. It was also home to the largest naval base in the Dutch East Indies. The city was occupied in 1942 by Japan and bombed two years later. When the Japanese surrendered following World War II, the city was taken by Indonesian nationalists. This led to the Battle of Surabaya, which was part of the Indonesian revolution. Because of its role in the Battle of Surabaya, the city earned the nickname Kota Pahlawan, which means “city of heroes.”

Today, the city is one of the cleanest and greenest in all of Indonesia. The city is an important financial hub and is still one of the busiest seaports in the country. It has an important role in trading, and its primary exports include coffee, sugar and tobacco. Surabaya is also home to multiple businesses and modern shopping centers, as well as many historic landmarks that showcase the history of this city.

Surabaya Population Growth

As previously mentioned, this city is one of the most populous in the country, and it has seen steady expansion and growth over the years. Currently, the population is continuing to grow at a rate of 1.2%, primarily because more people are moving from suburbs and villages to live within the city. There is no indication that this trend will change in the near future, so Surabaya is expected to see steady growth in the years to come.

Other Cities in Indonesia

City
2025 Pop. ↓
Growth
Jakarta11,634,100
Bekasi3,926,050
Depok3,218,290
Depok3,218,290
Bandung2,758,100
Tangerang2,626,610
Medan2,521,590
Semarang2,052,410
Palembang1,887,700
Batam1,858,910
Makassar1,737,390
South Tangerang1,303,569
Tasikmalaya1,297,900
Bogor1,281,010
Bandar Lampung1,210,200
Samarinda1,154,760
Denpasar1,097,310
Padang1,072,560
Malang948,572
Banjarmasin799,706
Pontianak735,146
Pekanbaru703,956
City of Balikpapan700,000
Ambon604,015
Situbondo600,000
Mataram561,815
Surakarta560,664
Cimahi493,698
Yogyakarta476,289
Manado473,607
Bengkulu450,984
Balikpapan433,866
Jambi City420,323
Sukabumi368,776
Jayapura347,341
Cirebon342,428
Pekalongan337,766
Percut311,063
Jember298,585
Palu282,431
Kupang282,396
Banda Aceh250,757
Tegal237,084
Kediri235,143
Binjai228,763
Purwokerto217,222
Purwakarta215,803
Loa Janan212,816
Pematangsiantar209,614
Ciputat207,858
Ciampea207,212
Cileungsir202,190
Rengasdengklok201,463
Sumedang200,000
Kendari195,006
Parung193,898
Tanjung Pinang192,493
Curug191,406
Labuan Bajo188,724
Cibinong188,663
Madiun186,099
Pemalang184,149
Lembang183,130
Probolinggo181,656
Pamulang174,557
Cikupa174,041
Salatiga172,645
Plumbon167,105
Banjaran164,952
Serang164,767
Lawang159,380
Pasuruan158,600
Sunggal157,914
Perbaungan157,174
Pasarkemis154,234
Soreang150,932
Purwodadi150,206
Metro149,526
Lubuklinggau148,243
Palangkaraya148,139
Astanajapura148,047
Cikampek145,620
Gorontalo144,195
Dumai143,760
Tanjungbalai142,506
Parepare140,000
Sidoarjo139,189
Weru139,004
Baturaja134,759
Adiwerna134,188
Singaraja133,784
Blitar132,416
Martapura131,449
Kisaran129,911
Palopo129,273
Teluknaga128,275
Ungaran127,812
Rangkasbitung126,910
Klaten126,831
Jombang126,465
Paseh126,181
Pangkalpinang125,933
Sorong125,535
Padalarang124,946
Ciamis123,637
Lumajang123,626
Indramayu123,263
Pati122,785
Payakumbuh121,572
Bangil120,000
Sepatan118,439
Tebingtinggi117,530
Kedungwuni117,249
Batang115,537
Pamanukan114,290
Sawangan114,069
Mojokerto112,557
Cileunyi111,476
Magelang111,461
Kresek110,182
Citeureup110,155
Banyuwangi108,166
Cikarang106,479
Arjawinangun105,845
Prabumulih103,470
Rantauprapat103,009
Belawan102,707
Singkawang101,838
Ternate101,731
Bontang101,691
Grogol100,613
Padangsidempuan100,561
Sumedang Utara100,000
Bukittinggi98,746
Dukuhturi98,074
Tarakan97,478
Sungai Penuh95,913
Sumber93,420
Wonosobo92,990
Palimanan92,600
Pamekasan92,447
Pandeglang92,316
Pariaman92,183
Kudus92,156
Caringin91,845
Banjar89,040
Lhokseumawe88,974
Cicurug88,965
Kartasura88,927
Klangenan88,378
Majalengka87,732
Bojonegoro86,568
Kasihan86,234
Sumenep84,656
Ambarawa84,379
Margahayukencana83,119
Galesong83,050
Watampone81,629
Kedungwaru80,257
Serpong80,193
Sibolga79,714
Genteng79,652
Gedangan79,230
Ponorogo79,026
Ciranjang-hilir77,758
Ende77,205
Tuban76,242
Kebomas75,982
Karangsembung75,856
Tarub75,739
Batu75,631
Sungailiat74,719
Gresik73,629
Sewon73,585
Jatibarang73,010
Kuningan72,085
Sragen71,522
Pagar Alam70,386
Mertoyudan69,871
Bondowoso69,783
Nganjuk69,011
Melati67,090
Bima66,970
Sokaraja66,482
Gamping Lor66,110
Sampit66,053
Lahat65,906
Tulungagung65,262
Muncar64,537
Tulangan Utara63,889
Godean63,164
Tanjung Pandan62,374
Abepura62,248
Bangkalan62,178
Slawi61,206
Pecangaan61,046
Kertosono60,782
Barabai60,192
Boyolali59,851
Sengkang59,523
Lamongan59,224
Baki58,909
Bantul58,653
Weleri58,448
Polewali58,190
Jatiwangi57,973
Baekrajan57,920
Singosari57,793
Kabanjahe57,159
Purbalingga56,903
Pare56,699
Balaipungut56,452
Mendaha56,268
Sleman56,215
Pandak56,043
Amuntai55,560
Besuki55,465
Wedi55,300
Cepu55,055
Langsa54,465
Sampang53,269
Manokwari53,190
Tanjungagung53,117
Sumbawa Besar52,654
Terbanggi Besar52,566
Kepanjen51,919
Blora51,811
Comal51,092
Karanganom50,670
Kawalu50,541
Jatiroto50,059
Labuhan Deli49,668
Gampengrejo49,118
Dompu49,000
Gatak48,959
Singaparna48,882
Waingapu48,828
Banyumas48,378
Solok48,372
Pameungpeuk48,294
Buduran48,152
Luwuk47,778
Sungai Raya47,735
Amahai47,653
Balung47,631
Maumere47,598
Poso47,110
Singkil46,800
Curup46,245
Candi Prambanan44,925
Muntilan44,859
Berastagi44,765
Bambanglipuro44,713
Ketanggungan44,288
Rembangan44,030
Nabire43,898
Gebog43,756
Kencong43,046
Pelabuhanratu43,001
Panji42,789
Katabu42,750
Baturaden42,394
Kotabumi42,366
Diwek41,719
Kijang41,344
Sinjai40,797
Rantepao40,438
Reuleuet40,393
Juwana40,177
Pekan Bahapal40,000
Rajapolah39,840
Tual39,502
Wiradesa39,407
Majenang38,897
Buaran38,770
Krian38,603
Wonopringgo38,429
Pangkalanbuun38,057
Majene37,715
Jekulo37,521
Banjar37,263
Simpang36,652
Srono36,260
Sofifi36,197
Atambua35,793
Kualakapuas35,632
Wangon35,530
Sumberpucung35,285
Praya35,183
Meulaboh35,062
Ruteng34,569
Manggar34,520
Pandaan34,184
Pemangkat34,029
Kuala Tungkal33,683
Tabanan33,667
Lebaksiu33,606
Labuan33,576
Mlonggo33,542
Tondano33,317
Negara33,191
Tanggulangin32,866
Jaten32,378
Boyolangu32,287
Gombong31,965
Amlapura31,869
Amlapura city31,869
Bandar31,442
Kutoarjo31,352
Karangampel31,234
Panarukan30,749
Sidareja30,313
Pakisaji30,213
Selogiri30,180
Kuta30,012
Maros30,000
Srandakan29,529
Kefamenanu29,490
Singojuruh29,418
Wongsorejo29,193
Trenggalek29,083
Lasem28,948
Ceper28,646
Randudongkal28,532
Balapulang28,483
Ubud28,373
Kraksaan28,248
Jogonalan28,114
Mranggen28,026
Deli Tua27,940
Klungkung27,836
Margasari27,814
Sijunjung27,786
Soe27,717
Tomohon27,624
Bulakamba27,367
Demak27,251
Paciran27,072
Babat27,038
Stabat26,862
Driyorejo26,827
Muntok26,709
Tayu26,413
Ngunut26,297
Colomadu26,274
Wanaraja26,240
Welahan26,163
Bireun25,793
Pangkalan Brandan25,542
Soko25,494
Teluk Nibung25,146
Tanjungtiram25,118
Seririt25,000
Sabang24,519
Delanggu24,440
Prigen24,164
Pundong24,081
Kalianget23,897
Ngemplak23,750
Trucuk23,584
Mojoagung23,534
Kroya23,255
Dampit23,094
Ngoro22,871
Gambiran Satu22,525
Kamal22,515
Gongdanglegi Kulon22,468
Ngawi22,412
Kebonarun21,745
Manismata18,888
Sigli17,504
Tongging16,000
Sinabang15,000
Mamuju15,000

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.

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