Jayapura is a big city. 

Jayapura is a big city. 

The land has many hills and mountains. It can rain a lot there all year. This rain helps the green forests grow.
Many people live in this city. Some people come from far away to find jobs. They also come to learn new things.
There is a big bay near the city. 
Jayapura is the capital city of Papua. 
The land is not flat. It has valleys, hills, and mountains. Many parts are rough terrain or swamps. There are also protected forests. It has a tropical climate. This means it rains a lot all year. 
Many people live in Jayapura. About 410,852 people live there. People move to the city for jobs or school. The city is a place for learning. 
The city has many names. Long ago, the Dutch called it Hollandia. It was also called Kota Baru and Sukarnopura. The name Jayapura means "city of victory." Some people want to use local names. They might use the name Numbay. This name comes from a local river. Numbay means "clear water." 
Jayapura is a busy city on the island of New Guinea. It is the capital and largest city of the Papua province in Indonesia. 

Many different people live in Jayapura today. In mid-2024, there were about 410,852 people living there. This includes 218,356 males and 192,416 females. The city acts like a magnet for people from all over Indonesia. Many come from places like Java or Sulawesi to find work. Some people call it a "city of education" because of its many schools. 
The city has a long history with many different names. Long ago, the area was known as Numbay. People traded things like spices, fish, and bird-of-paradise feathers. In 1910, the Dutch named the settlement Hollandia. 
There are many ways people make a living in Jayapura. Much of the money comes from trade, services, and finance. 
Getting around Jayapura is easy with different types of transport. There are buses that help people move through the city. 
Jayapura is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Papua. It sits on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. The city borders the Pacific Ocean and Yos Sudarso Bay to the north. To the east, it shares a border with the nation of Papua New Guinea. To the south lies the Keerom Regency. The Jayapura Regency sits to the west. 
The geography of Jayapura is very diverse. The topography varies from low valleys to high mountains and plateaus. Only about 30% of the land is inhabited by people. The remaining 70% consists of rough terrain, swamps, and protected forests. The city has a tropical rainforest climate, known as Af in climate classifications. This means there is heavy rainfall throughout the entire year. The district of Muara Tami covers 52.4% of the city area. It serves as an outlet for the Tami River and other rivers. These rivers flow from the south and empty into the Pacific Ocean.
Jayapura is divided into five distinct administrative districts. These are Muara Tami, Abepura, Heram, Jayapura Selatan, and Jayapura Utara. Each district has its own headquarters and specific population counts. For example, Muara Tami is the largest by area but has a small population. In contrast, Abepura is much smaller in size but holds many residents. The city contains 25 urban kelurahan and 14 rural kampung. These are local administrative units used to manage the different communities. 
The history of the area is marked by many name changes. Before colonial arrival, the area was known as Numbay. Numbay refers to the river that flows into the city. The name means "clear water" in the local language. Between 1897 and 1905, an active trade existed centered on spices and bird-of-paradise. In 1910, the Dutch named the settlement Hollandia. 
Today, Jayapura is a very fast-growing urban center. Between 2010 and 2020, it was the fastest-growing city in Indonesia. During that decade, the population increased by 55.23%. The mid-2024 population estimate is 410,852 people. This includes 218,356 males and 192,416 females. It is the second most populous city on New Guinea. The city also has a very high Human Development Index of 0.801. This number measures the quality of life and development in the area.
The economy of Jayapura is significant in Eastern Indonesia. It is the fourth largest city by economy in that region. In 2016, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated at Rp19.48 trillion. Most economic growth comes from the tertiary sector. This sector includes trade, services, and finance. 
Transportation connects Jayapura to the rest of the world. The city is served by Sentani International Airport. This airport is located about 40 km west of the city near Lake Sentani. For local travel, residents use buses like the Transmetro Jayapura. 
🖼️ Images & Media (5)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.