The urbanisation of Java, 2000–2010: towards ‘the island of mega-urban regions’

ABSTRACT

The mega-urbanisation process in Java is reflected in the spatial patterns of urban population growth between 2000 and 2010, although there has been a small deceleration in the rate of growth recently. This process is also clearly indicated in the significant increase in the number of urban localities, which reflects in situ urbanisation and rural–urban transformation in Java. Most districts and cities located adjacent to large cities experienced much higher population growth rates, compared to the core areas in cities. The formation of urban belts with a mix of economic activities connecting large cities is greatly expanding, while the small and medium cities, those with population sizes between 100,000 to one million, have tended to stagnate as their role and functions as centres of socio-economic activities are taken over by the large cities. Java’s mega-urbanisation appears unstoppable, and is largely uncontrolled at the present time. It is a daunting challenge for the central and local governments to manage the spatial urban growth in Java in the near future.

KEYWORDS:

• Mega-urbanisation
• small towns and medium cities
• Java
• Indonesian censuses

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the three anonymous international referees for critical comments on an earlier version of this article. However, he alone is responsible for any shortcomings and mistakes.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. The population density score is between 1 for population density less than 500 people per square kilometre, to 8 for over 8500 persons per square kilometre. The score for households engaged in agricultural sectors ranges from 1 for percentages over 70 per cent, to 8 for those less than 5 per cent, whereas the score for access to urban facilities is either 0 or 1 kilometre. Based on this scoring method, a locality which has a total score of 10 and over is considered an urban locality (desa urban) or a rural locality (desa perdesaan)?

2. See, Central Board of Statistics, http://www.bps.go.id

3. See, Central Board of Statistics (2011), http://www.bps.go.id.