Tarakan

{{Short description|City in North Kalimantan, Indonesia}}

{{Other uses}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Tarakan

| official_name = City of Tarakan
{{nobold|Kota Tarakan}}

| settlement_type = City

| image_skyline = {{multiple image

| border = infobox

| total_width = 300

| image_style = border:1;

| perrow = 2/2

| image1 = Islamic Center Tarakan.jpg

| image2 = Tarakan skyline.png

| image3 = Borneo Tarakan University.png

| image4 = AmalBeachTarakan.jpg}}

| image_caption = From top-left, counterclockwise : Islamic Center of Tarakan , Borneo Tarakan University complex, Amal beach, and Street view of Tarakan

| image_flag =

| image_shield = Lambang Kota Tarakan.gif

| image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=10}}

| map_caption1 = Interactive Map of Tarakan

| pushpin_map = Indonesia_Kalimantan#Indonesia

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kalimantan and Indonesia

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Indonesia}}

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Kalimantan

| subdivision_type2 = Province

| subdivision_name2 = {{coat of arms|North Kalimantan}}

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Khairul (Indp.)

| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor

| leader_name1 = Ibnu Saud

| leader_title2 = Legislature

| leader_name2 = Tarakan City Regional House of Representatives

| established_title = Established

| established_date = 15 December 1997

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_sq_mi =

| area_total_km2 =

| area_land_sq_mi =

| area_land_km2 = 86.35

| area_water_sq_mi =

| area_water_km2 = 406.53

| area_water_percent =

| population_as_of = mid 2024 estimateBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kota Tarakan Utara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6571)

| population_total = 255310

| population_urban =

| area_urban_km2 =

| area_urban_sq_mi =

| population_metro =

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_density_sq_mi =

| timezone = WITA

| utc_offset = +8

| timezone_DST =

| utc_offset_DST =

| area_code_type = Area code

| area_code = (+62) 551

| coordinates = {{coord|3|18|0|N|117|38|0|E|region:ID|display=inline}}

| elevation_m = 0

| elevation_ft = 0

| website = {{URL|http://www.tarakankota.go.id/|tarakankota.go.id}}

| footnotes =

| image_map = {{#property:p242}}

| map_caption = Location within North Kalimantan

| blank_name_sec1 = HDI (2019)

| blank_info_sec1 = {{increase}} 0.769 ({{fontcolor|Darkgreen|High}}){{Cite web |title=IPM Tarakan Meningkat Jadi 76,09 |url=https://korankaltara.com/ipm-tarakan-meningkat-jadi-7609 |access-date=2021-05-19|website=korankaltara.com}}

}}

Tarakan is an island and co-extensively the sole city within the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. The island city is the largest urban area in North Kalimantan population-wise and is located in northern Borneo, midway along the coast of the province. The city boundaries are co-extensive with the island (including a couple of small islands off the coast of the Tarakan Barat District). Once a major oil-producing region during the colonial period, Tarakan had great strategic importance during the Pacific War and was among the first Japanese targets early in the conflict. It is the sole city within the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan (established in 2012). According to Statistics Indonesia, the city had a population of 193,370 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 242,786 inhabitants at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 255,310 (comprising 132,175 males and 123,135 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kota Tarakan Utara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6571)

Geography

The city is located on Tarakan island (off the east coast of Kalimantan), which composed of {{convert|8,635|ha}} of land. 27.5% of the city is composed of podzol soil and 57.63% latosol soil. The city is located between {{convert|0|-|110|m|}} above sea level.

History

= Etymology =

According to legends, native Tidungs established their kingdom in Tarakan around 1076 CE. After moving their capital several times over the centuries, in 1571 CE they settled their kingdom on the eastern coast of Tarakan, apparently already under the influence of Islam.{{Cite book|last=Prasetyo|first=Deni|title=Mengenal Kerajaan-Kerajaan Nusantara|publisher=Pustaka Widyatama (Yogyakarta)|year=2009|isbn=9789796103096|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGaEClsMFLQC&q=tarakan&pg=PA37}} The name Tarakan comes from the Tidung language:{{which?|date=November 2021}} {{lang|und|tarak}} (meeting place) and {{lang|und|ngakan}} (to eat); thus Tarakan was originally a meeting place for sailors and traders to eat, rest and trade their catch in the Tidung area.{{Cite web |title=Hari Jadi & Sejarah |url=http://www.tarakankota.go.id/in/Sekilas_Tarakan.php?op=detil&mkode=harijadisejarah |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414001321/http://www.tarakankota.go.id/in/Sekilas_Tarakan.php?op=detil&mkode=harijadisejarah |archive-date=2010-04-14 |access-date=2021-05-19 |website=larakankota.go.id}}

= Petroleum =

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Steiger en olietanks van de Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij (BPM) op het eiland Tarakan TMnr 60018735.jpg

Image:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Afscheepsteiger Tarakan 14 TMnr 10010382.jpg

Dutch explorers noted oil seepages in 1863. In 1905, an oil concession was granted to Koninklijke Nederlandsche Petroleum Maatschappij' a predecessor to Royal Dutch Shell. One year later oil production began with a yield of over 57,928 barrels of oil per year. Production continued to increase and in the 1920s Tarakan yielded over five million barrels a year, a third of the total oil production in the whole of the Dutch East Indies.{{Cite book

| title = European foreign investments as seen by the U.S. Department of Commerce

| publisher = United States Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce

| year = 1977

| isbn = 9780405097911

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HhcNxEUvQFwC&q=tarakan&pg=PA69

}}

The oil produced here had a paraffin base instead of the usual asphalt base.{{Cite book |last=Mason |first=John T. |title=The Pacific War Remembered: An Oral History Collection |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1986}} Tarakan oil fields produced a light, sour crude oil with an unusually low pour point. By 1940, the island had an oil refinery with four petroleum loading piers,{{cite web|url=http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/T/a/Tarakan.htm|title=The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia|publisher=Kent G. Budge|access-date=2011-02-17}} and was one of the five largest petroleum processing centers in the East Indies.Wolborsky, Stephen L. Choke Hold: The Attack on Japanese Oil in World War II (1994) United States Air Force

=World War II=

{{See also|Battle of Tarakan (1942)|Battle of Tarakan (1945)}}

Japanese oil-fields in Sakhalin and Formosa provided only about ten percent of the petroleum needed to sustain Japanese industry through the mid-20th century.Grimes, C.G., CAPT USN Japanese Fuels and Lubricants in U.S.Technical Mission to Japan (1946){{pn|date=April 2024}} Reserves of California crude oil at Japanese refineries would have been exhausted in less than two years at the rate of consumption when the United States terminated exports to Japan on 26 July 1941. Japan initiated hostilities against the United States and the United Kingdom four months later in December 1941 in preparation for seizing alternative sources of petroleum in the East Indies. Japan declared war on the Netherlands East Indies on 10 January 1942; and Japanese troops landed on Tarakan the following day.{{Cite book| last = Dull| first = Paul S.| title = A battle history of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945 (1978) | date = 12 November 2013| isbn = 9781612512907|publisher= Naval Institute Press|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=SLfti-Dc1AcC&q=tarakan+history&pg=PA61}} The Netherlands had declared war on Japan a month earlier. Dutch forces sabotaged the Tarakan oil-field

{{cite book

|last1 = Dull

|first1 = Paul

|date = 12 December 2012

|orig-date = 1978

|chapter = Isolation of Java

|title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy: 1941-1945

|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SLfti-Dc1AcC

|publication-place = Annapolis, Maryland

|publisher = Naval Institute Press

|pages = 61–62

|isbn = 9781612512907

|access-date = 22 April 2024

|quote = By the afternoon of 10 January the [Japanese] convoy [...] was just off Tarakan Island. The Dutch garrison commander, on his own initiative, immediately set fire to Tarakan's oil fields and sabotaged its airfield. At 2400, the landing troops began a double envelopment, and on the morning of 12 January the small Dutch garrison surrendered, facing overwhelming odds, without any hope of reinforcement.

}}

and refinery prior to surrender.Dull, Paul S. The Imperial Japanese Navy (1941-1945) (1978) Naval Institute Press p.66{{qn|date=April 2024}}

Japan had captured the Miri oil-field in Sarawak in December 1941, and captured oil-fields and refineries at Balikpapan in Dutch Borneo in January 1942, Sumatra in February, and Java in March. Oil technicians accompanied the invading Japanese troops to maintain production at captured facilities. A team of one thousand additional petroleum engineers and technicians sailed from Japan aboard the Taiyo Maru, but nearly 800 drowned when USS Grenadier sunk the Taiyo Maru southwest of Kyushu on 8 May 1942.Dunnigan, James F. & Nofi, Albert A. Victory at Sea (1995) William Morrow & Company {{ISBN|0-688-14947-2}} pp.360–361 Despite this loss, Tarakan crude oil (mixed with lesser quantities of Manchurian oil-shale distillates) became the primary feedstock for Japanese diesel fuel in 1942, while reserve supplies of California crude oil remained the primary feedstock for Japanese gasoline and residual fuels until 1943.

File:Tarakan landing (AWM 090812).jpg

Tarakan became a Japanese strategic air-base from which further attacks could be launched following the Dutch surrender. Tarakan's inhabitants suffered under Japan's occupation. The large number of Japanese troops stationed on the island led to food-shortages and many civilians suffered from malnutrition. During the occupation, the Japanese transported some 600 labourers to Tarakan from Java. The Japanese also forced an estimated 300 Javanese women to work as "comfort women".

Tarakan oil-field production reached 350,000 barrels per month by early 1944, but Japan no longer had enough oil tankers to transport this volume to Japanese refineries. Without adequate supplies of refined residual fuel-oil for the forthcoming Battle of the Philippine Sea, Japanese aircraft-carriers refueled with unrefined Tarakan crude-oil in June 1944. The undesalted crude-oil damaged boiler tubes, and the unremoved naphtha fraction volatilized to form explosive atmospheres, contributing to the loss of the aircraft carriers Taihō, Shōkaku, and Hiyō.

The last Japanese tanker left Tarakan in July 1944; Allied bombing-raids damaged the oil-field facilities later that year; and the veteran Australian 26th Brigade Group ended the Japanese occupation of the area with the second Battle of Tarakan (1 May to 21 June 1945).Cressman, Robert J. The Official Chronology of the U. S. Navy in World War II (2000) Naval Institute Press {{ISBN|1-55750-149-1}} p.316

=Independence Era=

Following the Indonesian revolution in the late 1940s, Tarakan became part of the new republic. It was administered as a district following a Presidential Decree Number 22, 1963.{{Cite web|title=Profil Kota Tarakan|url=http://ciptakarya.pu.go.id/profil/profil/timur/kaltim/tarakan.pdf}} In 1981, Tarakan was granted a city charter, at that time one of four cities in East Kalimantan, along with Samarinda, Balikpapan and Bontang in accordance with Government Law Number 47, 1981.

The city witnessed the Tarakan riot in 2010 following a clash between Buginese migrants from neighboring Sulawesi island and the Tidung people.{{Cite web|title=Ini Kronologi Lengkap Kerusuhan Tarakan versi Polri|url=https://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2010/09/30/ini-kronologi-lengkap-kerusuhan-tarakan-versi-polri|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Tribunnews.com|language=id-ID}} The two groups later agreed to a peace deal, mediated by local police and the governor of then-East Kalimantan, Awang Faroek Ishak.{{Cite web|date=2010-09-29|title=Kesepakatan damai di Tarakan|url=https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/berita_indonesia/2010/09/100929_tarakanpeaceaccord|access-date=2021-04-13|website=BBC News Indonesia|language=id}} After North Kalimantan was established as a province in 2012, Tarakan became the sole city within the new province. In 2015, the city witnessed another riot, this time related to the 2015 North Kalimantan gubernatorial election between the candidates' supporters.{{Cite web|last=Hantoro|first=Juli|date=2015-12-19|title=Rusuh Pascapilkada, Kantor Gubernur Kalimantan Utara Dibakar|url=https://nasional.tempo.co/read/729194/rusuh-pascapilkada-kantor-gubernur-kalimantan-utara-dibakar|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Tempo|language=en}}

Demographics

Tarakan had a population of 193,370 at the 2010 Census,Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. but the 2020 Census this had grown to 242,786,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. and the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 255,310. Indigenous residents include the Tidung, a subgroup of the Dayak people. The city also has a multi-ethnic population from other parts of Indonesia, such as Bugis, Javanese, and Chinese Indonesians. Apart from that, there are also Tausug whose origins are from the Sulu Islands, as well as Malays, and Mandarese. 85% of the city's population is Muslim, around 10% are Christian, 1.3% Hindu, 0.04% Buddhist, and 0.03% Confucianist.{{Cite web|title=Badan Pusat Statistik|url=https://tarakankota.bps.go.id/publication/2021/02/26/07279a2c598f6e49d7e94397/kota-tarakan-dalam-angka-2021.html|access-date=2021-04-20|website=tarakankota.bps.go.id}}

class="sortable wikitable"

! No.

! Ethnic groups

! %

1

| Bugis

| 37.45%

2

| Javanese

| 11.08%

3

| Tidung

| 10.89%

4

| Mandarese

| 7.44%

5

| Dayaks *

| 7.21%

6

| Banjarese

| 6.06%

7

| Chinese

| 4.50%

8

| Tausug

| 1.77%

9

| Toraja

| 1.48%

10

| Others *

| 12.12%

colspan=3|*Notes: "Dayaks" consists of various sub-ethnic groups; "Other" is a classification of various other ethnic groups that are not recorded (IPUMS and BPS Kota Tarakan, 2010).IPUMS and BPS Kota Tarakan, 2010.

Population growth averaged 2.23% per year in the decade 2010–2020. The city population has increased rapidly which is thought to be caused by high urbanization rate with people moving in from neighbouring regions. The sex ratio as of 2020 was 100:109—100 females for every 109 males. The city is dominated by a young and reproductive age population above the age of 15, which accounts around 64.53% of city's population. Life expectancy in the city as of 2020 was 74 years, which is considerably higher than both the provincial and national average; it has been increasing consistently.

Infrastructure

= Health =

File:RSUD Tarakan.JPG

The island's main healthcare infrastructure consists of four hospitals, eight puskesmas (community health centers), and 103 healthcare centers. In addition, there are seven mobile puskesmas, the biggest being Tarakan Regional Hospital, owned by the city government, located in Central Tarakan district.{{Cite web|title=Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Tarakan Provinsi Kalimantan Utara|url=https://sipp.menpan.go.id/pelayanan-publik/wilayah/pemerintah-provinsi-kalimantan-utara-/rumah-sakit-umum-daerah-tarakan-provinsi-kalimantan-utara-|access-date=2021-04-20|website=SIPP|language=en}} It is also the only international-class hospital in the province and is the province's referral hospital.

There is also a navy hospital, owned by the Indonesian Navy, located in West Tarakan district.{{Cite web|title=RS TARAKAN|url=https://kaltimprov.go.id/berita/rs-tarakan|access-date=2021-04-20|website=kaltimprov.go.id|language=en}}

= Education =

There are 27 kindergartens, 65 elementary schools, 21 junior high schools and 12 senior high schools. There are also five institutions of higher education in the city, the most notable being Borneo Tarakan University, which is also the only public university in the city and the province.{{Cite web|title=Daftar Perguruan Tinggi Negeri & Swasta di Kalimantan Utara - PENDAFTARAN MAHASISWA|url=https://www.pendaftaranmahasiswa.web.id/2019/07/daftar-perguruan-tinggi-negeri-swasta_14.html|access-date=2021-04-20|website=www.pendaftaranmahasiswa.web.id}}

There are also seven vocational high schools. School participation rate is around 99% as of 2020.File:Gedung Rektor Universitas Borneo.jpg

= Places of worship =

File:Masjid Agung Tarakan.jpg

There are 235 mosques, 93 churches, four Chinese Buddhist temples, and one Hindu temple. One of the biggest mosques, Al-Ma'arif Grand Mosque, was constructed in 1961 and is located in the Central Tarakan district.{{Cite web|title=Sistem Informasi Masjid|url=https://simas.kemenag.go.id/index.php/profil/masjid/258027/|access-date=2021-04-20|website=simas.kemenag.go.id}} The only Hindu temple in the city, Pura Giri Jagat Nata, was inaugurated on 1994, and is used mostly by Balinese migrants.{{Cite web|last=prokal.co|title=Satu-satunya Pura Tertua, Didesain di Alam Terbuka {{!}} Radar Tarakan|url=https://kaltara.prokal.co/read/news/17920-satu-satunya-pura-tertua-didesain-di-alam-terbuka.html|access-date=2021-04-20|website=kaltara.prokal.co|language=Indonesian}} The Tarakan Islamic Center functions not only as a mosque but is also used for Islamic learning and various Islamic events. A popular local tourist spot, it was inaugurated in 2012.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-12|title=Islamic Center Tarakan, Masjid Megah Ala Timur Tengah - Borneo ID|url=https://www.celebes.co/borneo/islamic-center-tarakan|access-date=2021-04-20|language=en-US}}

= Communication =

The city has access to 4G and other telecommunication services.{{Cite web|title=Sinyal 4G Menyebar Ke Perbatasan|url=https://kalimantan.bisnis.com/read/20161006/408/590228/sinyal-4g-telkomsel-mulai-menyebar-ke-wilayah-perbatasan-di-kalimantan-utara|website=kalimantan.bisnis.com|date=6 October 2016 }} As with most Indonesian cities, the only fiber optic service provider in the city is IndiHome, which is state-owned under Telkomsel.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-28|title=IndiHome Tarakan Tengah Kalimantan Utara {{!}} Layanan Resmi Pasang IndiHome|url=https://indihome-official.com/indihome-tarakan/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=indihome-official.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Login • Instagram|url=https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=www.instagram.com}} The city has fiber optic cables connected to Balikpapan and Samarinda, which also serve other regencies of North Kalimantan province.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Jaringan Kabel Internet Kembali Lewat Jalur Laut|url=https://korankaltara.com/jaringan-kabel-internet-kembali-lewat-jalur-laut/|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Korankaltara.com|language=id-ID}}

Transportation

File:Terminal Penumpang Pelabuhan Feri Juata Laut.JPG

Several ferries serve Tarakan, linking it to other cities of eastern Borneo: Nunukan in North Kalimantan, Berau and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, and Tawau in Sabah. The port also provides links to cities on other Indonesian islands—Sulawesi and Java.{{Cite book|last=Atiyah|first=Jeremy|title=Rough guide to Southeast Asia|year=2002|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=9781858288932|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uRX5zMsCeNgC&q=tarakan&pg=PA493}}

File:Juwata International New Terminal.jpg

Tarakan has an airport, Juwata International Airport, located {{convert|3.5|km}} from the city center. The airport handles domestic flight routes to Balikpapan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar and Makassar, as well as an international route to Tawau, Malaysia. On 2016, the airport terminal was expanded to provide for more than 2,000 passengers per day.{{Cite web|url=https://kalimantan.bisnis.com/read/20160323/407/530672/terminal-baru-bandara-juwata-tarakan-berkapasitas-2.000-orang-per-hari|title=Terminal Baru Bandara Juwata Tarakan Berkapasitas 2.000 orang per hari|date=23 March 2016 |access-date=2021-05-19}} There are {{convert|281.911|km}} of road in the city of which {{convert|201.571|km}} have been paved with asphalt.{{Cite web|title=Badan Pusat Statistik|url=https://tarakankota.bps.go.id/publication/2020/04/27/7d134a8f87e039619149e9e2/kota-tarakan-dalam-angka-2020.html|access-date=2021-04-13|website=tarakankota.bps.go.id}} The city has a bus rapid transit system which connects the entire city.{{Cite web|last=developer|first=mediaindonesia com|date=2017-06-01|title=10 Unit BRT bantuan Kemenhub beroperasi di Tarakan|url=https://mediaindonesia.com/nusantara/107067/10-unit-brt-bantuan-kemenhub-beroperasi-di-tarakan|access-date=2021-04-13|website=mediaindonesia.com|language=id}}{{Cite web|last=prokal.co|title=OOHHH YESS..!! Begini Sensasi Naik BRT, Moda Transportasi Baru di Tarakan {{!}} Radar Tarakan|url=https://kaltara.prokal.co/read/news/11678-oohhh-yess-begini-sensasi-naik-brt-moda-transportasi-baru-di-tarakan.html|access-date=2021-04-13|website=kaltara.prokal.co|language=Indonesian}} In addition, there are {{lang|id|angkot}}s (shared taxis) and online motorcycle taxi services provided by firms like Gojek and Grab, and conventional taxis.{{Cite web|title=Gojek Hadir di Kota Tarakan, Wagub Kaltara Langsung Jalan-jalan Naik Gojek|url=https://kaltim.tribunnews.com/2019/03/30/gojek-hadir-di-kota-tarakan-wagub-kaltara-langsung-jalan-jalan-naik-gojek|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Tribun Kaltim|language=id-ID}}{{Cite web|last=prokal.co|title=Gojek Resmikan Tiga Layanan di Tarakan {{!}} Radar Tarakan|url=https://kaltara.prokal.co/read/news/27517-gojek-resmikan-tiga-layanan-di-tarakan.html|access-date=2021-04-13|website=kaltara.prokal.co|language=Indonesian}}

There is a plan to build a bridge connecting the island to mainland Kalimantan, which is currently delayed because of the government refocusing fund allocations from development and infrastructure to COVID-19 pandemic mitigation.{{Cite web|last=prokal.co|title=Pembangunan Jembatan yang Menghubungkan Tarakan dan Kalimantan Tertunda Radar Tarakan|url=https://kaltara.prokal.co/read/news/35295-pembangunan-jembatan-yang-menghubungkan-tarakan-dan-kalimantan-tertunda.html|access-date=2021-04-20|website=kaltara.prokal.co|language=Indonesian}}

Economy

File:TarakanOilPump.jpg

File:Malaysia by Gosia Drewa - 003.JPG

The city was once a leading oil producer in the Dutch East Indies; to-day however, oil only comprises six percent of the total Tarakan economy. Fisheries and processed products now dominate the economy.{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Brian|author2=Trevor Kanaley|title=Urbanization and sustainability in Asia: case studies of good practice|publisher=Asian Development Bank|year=2006|isbn=9789715616072|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PD8DseEWyuoC&q=tarakan&pg=PA173}} The city is still the biggest contributor to the North Kalimantan economy, contributing 37.05 percent.{{Cite web|title=Tarakan, Daerah Penyumbang Terbesar Ekonomi Kalimantan Utara – Dinas Komunikasi, Informatika, Statistik dan Persandian|url=https://diskominfo.kaltaraprov.go.id/tarakan-daerah-penyumbang-terbesar-ekonomi-kalimantan-utara/|access-date=2021-04-13}} The economic growth in 2015 was 7.52 percent, which is above the national average.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-15|title=Kota Tarakan yang Terus Tumbuh|url=https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/kota-tarakan-yang-terus-tumbuh.html|access-date=2021-04-13|website=merdeka.com|language=en}} The unemployment rate in 2019 was 4.78 percent.{{Cite web|title=Badan Pusat Statistik|url=https://tarakankota.bps.go.id/indicator/6/99/1/tingkat-pengangguran-terbuka-menurut-jenis-kelamin-di-kota-tarakan.html|access-date=2021-04-13|website=tarakankota.bps.go.id}} There are 14 companies based in Tarakan as of 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-31|title=Industri Skala Besar Mayoritas Ada di Tarakan|url=https://korankaltara.com/industri-skala-besar-mayoritas-ada-di-tarakan/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Korankaltara.com|language=id-ID}} As a result, in 2021 it is the 17th richest city in Indonesia.{{Cite web|last=Liputan6.com|date=2021-04-14|title=6 Fakta Menarik tentang Tarakan, Si Kota Seribu Kafe|url=https://www.liputan6.com/lifestyle/read/4531480/6-fakta-menarik-tentang-tarakan-si-kota-seribu-kafe|access-date=2021-04-14|website=liputan6.com|language=id}} The poverty rate as of 2020 was around 6 percent.

The agriculture sector is small, with only {{convert|33|ha}} being cultivated as paddy fields. It has been declining massively since 2018, with drops as high as 45.81 percent of crop yields. Other agriculture products such as cassava and sweet potatoes are also declining, with each only using around {{convert|174|ha}} and {{convert|10|ha}} respectively. Tourism has been a growing sector, with around 227,638 tourists visiting the city in 2019. There are 33 registered banks in the city as of 2020, consisting of 23 public banks and 10 private banking institutions.

Governance

= Administrative Districts =

The city is divided into four districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their land areas and their populations at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, Kota Tarakan Utara Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.6571) The table also includes the number of administrative villages (all rated as urban kelurahan) in each district, and its postal codes.

class="sortable wikitable"

! Kode
Wilayah

Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in
km2
Pop'n
Census
2010
Pop'n
Census
2020
Pop'n
Estimate
mid 2024
No.
of
villages
Post
codes
65.71.03Tarakan Timur
(East Tarakan)
align="right" |58.01align="right" |42,973align="right" |58,500align="right" |62,380align="center" |777115 &
77123-77126
65.71.02Tarakan Tengah
(Central Tarakan)
align="right" |55.54align="right" |60,608align="right" |69,740align="right" |71,180align="center" |577113-77114
65.71.01Tarakan Barat
(West Tarakan)
align="right" |27.89align="right" |67,749align="right" |81,800align="right" |85,230align="center" |577111-77112
65.71.04Tarakan Utara
(North Tarakan)
align="right" |109.36align="right" |22,040align="right" |32,740align="right" |36,520align="center" |377116
Totalsalign="right" |250.80align="right" |193,370align="right" |242,786align="right" |255,310align="center" |20

= Local Government =

As with all Indonesian cities, it is a second-level administrative division run by a mayor and vice mayor together with the city parliament, and it has a status equivalent to a regency.{{Cite web|title=UU 22 1999|url=https://www.dpr.go.id/dokjdih/document/uu/UU_1999_22.pdf}} Executive power lies in the mayor and vice mayor, while legislative duties are carried out by local parliaments. The mayor, vice mayor, and parliament members are democratically elected by the people of the city in an election.{{Cite web|title=UU 8 2015|url=https://www.dpr.go.id/dokjdih/document/uu/1627.pdf}} The heads of districts are appointed directly by the city mayor with recommendations by the city secretary.{{Cite web|title=PP No. 17 Tahun 2018 tentang Kecamatan [JDIH BPK RI]|url=https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Home/Details/77921/pp-no-17-tahun-2018|access-date=2021-04-16|website=peraturan.bpk.go.id}}Government Law No.19 1998

File:Kantor Wali Kota Tarakan.JPG

= Politics =

{{See also|Tarakan People's Representative Council}}

Tarakan city is part of 1st electoral district for provincial parliament (North Kalimantan People's Representative Council), and have 12 out of 35 representatives there.{{Cite web|title=JDIH KPU RI|url=https://jdih.kpu.go.id/detailkepkpu-7265546b5267253344253344|access-date=2021-04-20|website=jdih.kpu.go.id}} In city level, it has its own parliament consist of 30 representatives divided into four electoral districts.{{Cite web|title=Keputusan KPU 287|url=https://jdih.kpu.go.id/data/data_kepkpu/287_Kalimantan%20Utara.pdf}} The last election for parliament was on 17 April 2019 and the next one will be in the year 2024.

class="wikitable"

!Electoral District

!Region

!Representatives

Tarakan 1st

|Central Tarakan

|9

Tarakan 2nd

|East Tarakan

|7

Tarakan 3rd

|West Tarakan

|10

Tarakan 4th

|North Tarakan

|4

colspan="2" |Total

|30

Climate

Tarakan has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy rainfall year-round.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Tarakan (Juwata Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 2001–2023)

|Jan record high C = 34.0

|Feb record high C = 33.6

|Mar record high C = 34.0

|Apr record high C = 34.2

|May record high C = 35.0

|Jun record high C = 34.4

|Jul record high C = 34.9

|Aug record high C = 34.2

|Sep record high C = 34.6

|Oct record high C = 35.2

|Nov record high C = 34.0

|Dec record high C = 33.7

|Jan record low C = 21.7

|Feb record low C = 22.0

|Mar record low C = 20.0

|Apr record low C = 20.0

|May record low C = 22.0

|Jun record low C = 19.8

|Jul record low C = 21.0

|Aug record low C = 21.6

|Sep record low C = 19.8

|Oct record low C = 20.4

|Nov record low C = 22.2

|Dec record low C = 21.3

|Jan high C = 30.5

|Feb high C = 30.8

|Mar high C = 31.0

|Apr high C = 31.1

|May high C = 31.4

|Jun high C = 31.2

|Jul high C = 31.1

|Aug high C = 31.4

|Sep high C = 31.5

|Oct high C = 31.4

|Nov high C = 31.1

|Dec high C = 30.9

| year high C =

|Jan mean C = 27.0

|Feb mean C = 27.3

|Mar mean C = 27.5

|Apr mean C = 27.7

|May mean C = 27.9

|Jun mean C = 27.7

|Jul mean C = 27.4

|Aug mean C = 27.7

|Sep mean C = 27.5

|Oct mean C = 27.5

|Nov mean C = 27.5

|Dec mean C = 27.3

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = 24.2

|Feb low C = 24.5

|Mar low C = 24.6

|Apr low C = 24.7

|May low C = 24.9

|Jun low C = 24.8

|Jul low C = 24.5

|Aug low C = 24.5

|Sep low C = 24.3

|Oct low C = 24.5

|Nov low C = 24.8

|Dec low C = 24.4

| year low C =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 244.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 192.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 310.7

|Apr precipitation mm = 318.6

|May precipitation mm = 321.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 260.7

|Jul precipitation mm = 277.0

|Aug precipitation mm = 249.3

|Sep precipitation mm = 276.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 314.8

|Nov precipitation mm = 314.0

|Dec precipitation mm = 317.4

|year precipitation mm =

| Jan precipitation days = 14.9

| Feb precipitation days = 13.1

| Mar precipitation days = 17.2

| Apr precipitation days = 17.1

| May precipitation days = 18.9

| Jun precipitation days = 16.3

| Jul precipitation days = 15.6

| Aug precipitation days = 14.0

| Sep precipitation days = 14.5

| Oct precipitation days = 18.0

| Nov precipitation days = 18.7

| Dec precipitation days = 17.7

| year precipitation days =

|Jan sun = 117.1

|Feb sun = 143.2

|Mar sun = 137.4

|Apr sun = 146.0

|May sun = 169.0

|Jun sun = 147.4

|Jul sun = 169.4

|Aug sun = 184.7

|Sep sun = 163.9

|Oct sun = 156.4

|Nov sun = 131.7

|Dec sun = 126.6

|year sun =

|source 1 = Starlings Roost Weather{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/worldclimate/graphs.php?climate=9120&code=96509

|title= TARAKAN/JUWATA Climate: 1991–2020

|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather

|access-date= 25 December 2024}}

}}

See also

{{Portal|Indonesia|Islands}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{North Kalimantan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|3|18|0|N|117|38|0|E|region:ID_type:city_source:frwiki|display=title}}

Category:Cities in Indonesia

Category:States and territories established in 1997

Category:Populated places in Indonesia

Category:Islands of Indonesia