Central Lombok Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Lombok Tengah) is an administrative regency (kabupaten) of West Nusa Tenggara province on the island of Lombok, Indonesia.
Geography
The regency occupies the central portion of Lombok Island, extending from the island’s western coast to its eastern interior. It is bordered by West Lombok Regency to the west and East Lombok Regency to the east. The terrain includes coastal lowlands, rolling hills, and inland agricultural plains.
Administrative centre
The official capital of Central Lombok Regency is the city of Mataram, which also serves as the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province.
History
Central Lombok Regency was created in 2008 through the division of the former larger Lombok Regency. The establishment was enacted by provincial legislation aimed at improving local governance and administrative efficiency.
Area and population
- Total area: approximately 1,158 km².
- Population: according to the 2020 Census of the Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the regency had a resident population of 823,006.
Administrative divisions
The regency is subdivided into several districts (kecamatan). Each district is further divided into villages (desa) and urban communities (kelurahan). The exact number and names of districts are defined by provincial regulations.
Economy
The economy of Central Lombok Regency is primarily based on:
- Agriculture – cultivation of rice, tobacco, corn, and various horticultural crops.
- Fisheries – coastal fishing activities supporting local consumption and markets.
- Tourism – development of coastal and cultural tourism sites, particularly in the central coastal zones and inland natural attractions.
Infrastructure
The regency is served by provincial road networks that connect it to the neighboring West and East Lombok regencies, as well as to the provincial capital, Mataram. Public services, including education and health facilities, are administered at the district and village levels in accordance with national standards.
Demographics
The population is predominantly of Sasak ethnicity, the indigenous group of Lombok, and the majority language is Sasak, alongside Indonesian, which is used for official and educational purposes.
Governance
Central Lombok Regency is governed by a regent (bupati) and a deputy regent, elected for five‑year terms. The regency’s legislative body consists of a regional parliament (DPRD Kabupaten) that enacts local regulations in coordination with provincial and national authorities.
References
- Statistics Indonesia (Badan Pusat Statistik), “Population Census 2020 – West Nusa Tenggara Province.”
- West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government, “Regulation on the Formation of Central Lombok Regency (2008).”
All information presented reflects data available from official Indonesian government sources up to the year 2023.
