Tanjungbalai, also colloquially written as Tanjung Balai, is a city in North Sumatra province, Indonesia, on the estuary of the Asahan River. It has an area of and the sixth largest kota (urban) population in North Sumatra with 154,445 inhabitants in the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 176,027 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 190,935 (comprising 96,903 males and 94,032 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kota Tanjungbalai Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1272) The town has a ferry terminal with services to Port Klang, Malaysia, and the city-island of Singapore.
Formerly known as Tanjungbalai-Asahan, this area was once a district within Asahan Regency until it was granted city status in 1984. However, the identifier "Asahan" is still used to distinguish it from the port town of the same name on Great Karimun island. After the separation of Tanjungbalai from Asahan Regency, it technically became an enclave within the regency.
Administrative divisions The city is divided administratively into six districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their 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 of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kota Tanjungbalai Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1272) The table also includes the number of administrative villages in each district (all classed as urban kelurahan) and its post codes.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Areainkm2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nCensusmid 2025No.ofkelurahanPostcodes 12.74.05 Datuk Bandar 22.2133,79741,54444,254521361, 21362,21368, 21369 12.74.06 Datuk Bandar Timur (East Datuk Bandar)14.7326,94230,49233,789521364 - 21367 12.74.01 Tanjungbalai Selatan (South Tanjungbalai)1.7719,33019,27720,017621311 - 21316 12.74.02 Tanjungbalai Utara (North Tanjungbalai)0.8315,86216,17318,664521321 - 21325 12.74.03 Sei Tualang Raso 9.2222,71227,28329,009521341 - 21345 12.74.04 Teluk Nibung (Nibung Bay)11.3135,80241,25845,202521331 - 21335 Totals 60.07154,445176,027190,93531
Tanjungbalai Asahan Port (Teluk Nibung Port) The Port (which actually lies in Tanjungbalai District of Asahan Regency, between the city and the coast) has warehouse facilities and stacking fields. This port also carries out cargo and passenger services with activities mainly in exporting vegetables and fish to Malaysia. The port has passenger services to Port Klang and Port of Melintang Forest, Perak. Teluk Nibung passenger terminal currently has an area of about 2,500 square metres, consisting of two floors with a capacity of around 800 people. 1st floor for check-in, customs, immigration for arrivals, VIP rooms, quarantine rooms, and 2nd floor for immigration rooms for departures, passenger waiting rooms, food court, and coffee shops.
Climate Tanjungbalai has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate rainfall from January to July and heavy rainfall from August to December.
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