Penajam Population Surpasses 206,000, Potentially Expanding Local Parliament Seats

The population growth of Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, has the potential to increase the number of seats in the local parliament from 25 to 30 for the 2029 General Election. Head of Population Administration Information Management at the Penajam Paser Utara Population and Civil Registration Office, Bachtiar Latief, stated on Sunday that the regency’s population has now surpassed 200,000. Throughout 2026, the population increased by 1,482, from 205,456 to 206,938. ‘The population has grown quite significantly. Population growth is influenced by demographic dynamics, including birth rates, death rates, and migration,’ he said. According to Bachtiar, the average population increase in Penajam Paser Utara over the past five years has been around 3,000 people per year. He noted that with a population reaching 206,938, the regency falls within the population range eligible for an allocation of 30 DPRD seats under statutory regulations. ‘The population growth means that for the 2029 legislative election, the number of DPRD seats is projected to increase to 30, up from the current 25,’ he said. The population growth is spread across the districts of Penajam, Waru, Babulu, and Sepaku, part of which lies within the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area. Bachtiar added that the local government is continuously updating population data and coordinating with the General Elections Commission and the National Unity and Politics Agency to support voter data accuracy. The number of eligible voters in Penajam Paser Utara is currently recorded at around 146,000 and is being updated regularly.