Banten

Banten is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Java. The capital city is Serang. The population was 10.6 million during the 2010 census. The government reported the population to be 11,834,087 in 2014.^[5] Banten was part of the province of West Java. It became a separate province in 2000.

Banten
Province
From left to right, top to bottom: Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Great Mosque of Banten, Carita Beach, Tanjung Lesung, Ujung Kulon National Park, Sawarna Tourism Village, Port of Merak, Baduy People Villages
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Iman Taqwa (Faith and Piety)
Location of Banten in Indonesia
Coordinates: 6°30′S 106°15′E
Country	Indonesia
Capital	Serang
Largest city	Tangerang
Established	October 4, 2000
Government
• Body	Banten Regional Government
• Governor	Wahidin Halim [1] (Demokrat)
• Vice Governor	Andika Hazrumy
Area
• Total	9,662.92 km2 (3,730.87 sq mi)
Population  (2017)[2]
• Total	12,448,200
• Rank	5th
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,300/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	Bantenese (47%), Sundanese (23%), Javanese (12%), Betawi (10%), Chinese (5%)[3]
• Religion	Islam (94.64%), Christian (3.95%), Buddhism (1.3%), Hindu (0.1%), Confucianism (0.01%)[4]
• Languages	Indonesian (official) Sundanese (lingua franca) Javanese (regional) Hakka Betawi Bantenese (native) Baduy
Time zone	UTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)
Postcodes	15xxx (Tangerang), 42xxx (non-Tangerang)
Area codes	(62)25x (non-Tangerang), (62)21 (Tangerang)
ISO 3166 code	ID-BT
Vehicle registration	A (non-Tangerang), B (Tangerang)
GRP per capita	US$ 3,114
GRP rank	14th
HDI	0.703 (High)
HDI rank	8th
Police	Polda Banten (non-Tangerang) Polda Metro Jaya (Tangerang)
Largest city by area	Serang - 266.71 square kilometres (102.98 sq mi)
Largest city by population	Tangerang - (1,798,601 - 2010)
Largest regency by area	Lebak Regency - 3,426.56 square kilometres (1,323.00 sq mi)
Largest regency by population	Tangerang Regency - (2,781,428 - 2010)
Website	Government official site

A martial-arts performance with several Bantenese men during a debus performance

History

In the 5th century, Banten was part of the Kingdom of Tarumanagara. After Srivijaya attacked Tarumanagara, it became weaker. Then, the Kingdom of Sunda became more powerful in West Java. In the early 16th century, the port of Bantam (Banten) was an important port in the Kingdom of Sunda.^[6] In 1527, Javanese Muslims captured the port of Banten. Their leader was Sunan Gunungjati. They started the Sultanate of Banten.

Geography

Banten is near the Sunda Strait. This strait is important as a link bewteen Australia and New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Also, Banten is the link between Java and Sumatra.

Religion

Religion in Banten (2010 census)[7]
religion			percent
Islam			94.67%
Christianity			3.62%
Buddhism			1.23%
other, not stated or not asked			0.37%
Hinduism			0.08%
Confucianism			0.03%

List of Governors

Governors of Banten

Name[8]	Position	Took office	Left office	Information
Hakamudin Djamal	Acting Governor	2000	2002
Djoko Munandar	Governor	2002	2005	Charged with corruption-Removed
Ratu Atut Chosiyah	Acting governor	2005	2007
Ratu Atut Chosiyah	Governor	2007	2012
Ratu Atut Chosiyah	Governor	2012	2015	Charged with bribery-Removed
Rano Karno	Acting Governor	2014	2015
Rano Karno	Governor	2015	2017
Wahidin Halim	Governor	2017	Incumbent