Indonesia defines "urban" based on population density, percentage of agricultural households, and availability of urban facilities. Originally, an area was considered urban if the population density was over 1,000 people/km2 and had certain facilities. Now, Indonesia's Central Bureau of Statistics scores areas based on multiple indicators to determine urban status. As of 2010, about 50% of Indonesia's population lived in urban areas, and this is projected to increase to over 70% by 2050 as urbanization continues.

1. Human Settlement Planning
Assignment 3
How does INDONESIA define
“Urban”?
By: Jimly Al Faraby
M. Sc Student in Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing Economies (SPRING),
TU Dortmund, Germany

2. Content
Definition and criteria of “urban” in
Indonesia
Changes in definition of “urban” in
Indonesia
Urban population in Indonesia

3. Definition and Criteria (1)
UU No. 26 tahun 2007 (Indonesia Spatial Planning
Act 2007)
◦ Urban (perkotaan): the areas that have a major non-
agricultural activity, and function as the urban
settlements, concentration and distribution of government
services, social services, and economic activities.
◦ Rural (perdesaan): the areas that have a major
agricultural activity, including the management of natural
resources in the region, and function as rural settlements,
government services, social services, and economic
activities.

4. Definition and Criteria (2)
Indonesia Central Bureau of
Statistic (BPS)
◦ Urban: as the status of a village/kelurahan
(urban neighborhood) which satisfies the criteria
for classification of urban areas.
 population density,
 percentage of agricultural households,
 number of urban facilities

5. Table 1. Scoring Analysis for Urban Indicators
Percentage of
Population density
Score Agricultural Score Urban Facilties Criteria Score
(person/km2)
Household
<500 1 >70 1 Kindergarten
500-1249 2 50-69.99 2 Junior High School Available, or ≤ 2.5 Km 1
>2.5 Km 0
1250-2499 3 30-49.99 3 Senior High School
2500-3999 4 20-29.99 4 Market
Available, or ≤ 2 Km 1
4000-5999 5 15-19.99 5 Shops >2 Km 0
6000-7499 6 10-14.99 6 Cinema
Available, or ≤ 5 Km 1
7500-8499 7 5-9.99 7 Hospital >5 Km 0
>8500 8 <5 8 Hotel/billiard pool/disco/beauty Available 1
shop Not available 0
Percentage of household with ≥ 8,00 1
telephone < 8.00 0
Percentage of households with ≥ 90.00 1
electricity < 90.00 0
Source: Head of Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistic’s Regulation, for Urban-Rural Classification in Indonesia, 2010

6. The Changes in the Definition of
“urban” in INDONESIA

7. How many people live in Urban Area
in INDONESIA?
2010: 49.9% of the 237.6 million
2012: estimated 54% of more than 240 million,
21.2% of the urban population is concentrated
only in Jakarta urban area, (Jabodetabek).

8. Urban population in Indonesia
Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects
The number of urban population in Indonesia is
projected up to 72.1% of total population in 2050

9. Bibliography
 Indonesia Local Government Act, 1999
 Indonesia Spatial Planning Act, 2007
 Head of Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistic’s Regulation for Urban-Rural
Classification in Indonesia, 2010
 Indonesia Public Works Minister Regulation for Detailed Spatial Plan, 2011
 Demographia World Urban Areas (World Agglomerations), 8 th Annual Edition:
Version 2, July 2012
 Setiawan, Nugraha, “Perubahan Konsep Perkotaan di Indonesia”. Downloaded from
pustaka.unpad.ac.id
 Online Indonesia Dictionary: http://pusatbahasa.kemdiknas.go.id/kbbi/
 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs:
http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/unup/index_panel1.html
 Online Kompas Newspaper:
http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2012/08/23/21232065/Hampir.54.Persen.Penduduk.
Indonesia.Tinggal.di.Kota

10. Bibliography
 Indonesia Local Government Act, 1999
 Indonesia Spatial Planning Act, 2007
 Head of Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistic’s Regulation for Urban-Rural
Classification in Indonesia, 2010
 Indonesia Public Works Minister Regulation for Detailed Spatial Plan, 2011
 Demographia World Urban Areas (World Agglomerations), 8 th Annual Edition:
Version 2, July 2012
 Setiawan, Nugraha, “Perubahan Konsep Perkotaan di Indonesia”. Downloaded from
pustaka.unpad.ac.id
 Online Indonesia Dictionary: http://pusatbahasa.kemdiknas.go.id/kbbi/
 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs:
http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/unup/index_panel1.html
 Online Kompas Newspaper:
http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2012/08/23/21232065/Hampir.54.Persen.Penduduk.
Indonesia.Tinggal.di.Kota