Quick answerBandung is a city in Indonesia, with 2,528,163 people inside the city limits in 2023. The wider metropolitan area had about 9.1 million people in 2023. It is best known for the Paris of Java, the Bandung Conference 1955 and the Gedung Sate. Its official language is Indonesian, and its currency is the Indonesian rupiah.
Bandung is the capital of West Java province, with about 2.5 million people in the city and about 9.1 million in the metropolitan area (2023). It stands on a high plateau 708 metres above sea level and is known as the Paris of Java.
Key facts
| Country | Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 2,528,163 (2023) |
| Population (metro) | 9,054,175 (2023) · Bandung Basin metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 708 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Jakarta |
| Language | Indonesian |
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah (IDR, Rp) |
| Coordinates | 6.92194° S, 107.60694° E |
Overview
Bandung is the capital of West Java province, on the western highland of Java island, about 145 kilometres south-east of Jakarta. The city had 2,528,163 residents in mid-2023, while the wider Bandung Basin metropolitan area held 9,054,175 people. It sits 708 metres above sea level in a river basin ringed by volcanic mountains, which gives it one of the coolest climates of any Indonesian city.
The Dutch built tea plantations around Bandung in the 18th century, and in the early 20th century it became a resort town for Europeans, earning the nickname Paris of Java for its cafés and fashion shops along Braga Street. In 1955 it hosted the Bandung Conference, the first Asian-African Conference, attended by 29 countries, and the Gedung Merdeka where it met still stands in the city centre.
Today Bandung is Indonesia's major technology centre and a UNESCO Creative City, and it is home to the Bandung Institute of Technology and many startups. Its landmarks include Gedung Sate, the colonial government building, the Trans Studio theme park, and the volcanic crater of Tangkuban Perahu just north of the city.
What Bandung is known for
- Paris of Java
- Bandung Conference 1955
- Gedung Sate
- Braga Street
- Cool mountain climate
- Factory outlets
Landmarks
- Gedung Sate
- Gedung Merdeka
- Braga Street
- Trans Studio Bandung
- Tangkuban Perahu
- Kawah Putih
- Al Jabbar Grand Mosque
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bandung?
About 2.5 million people live in Bandung (2,528,163 in mid-2023). The wider Bandung Basin metropolitan area had about 9.1 million people. That makes Bandung the fourth-largest city in Indonesia by city population, and one of the most densely built cities in the country.
Where is Bandung located?
Bandung is in West Java, on a high plateau about 145 kilometres south-east of Jakarta. It is famous as the Paris of Java, for its cool mountain climate and art-deco streets, and for hosting the Bandung Conference of 1955. Its coordinates are 6.92° S, 107.61° E, and its time zone is Western Indonesia Time.
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Keep exploring
- Indonesia — the country Bandung is in
- Jakarta — another city in Indonesia
- Surabaya — another city in Indonesia
- Medan — another city in Indonesia
- All cities in Indonesia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.