Cirebon (, formerly rendered Cheribon or Chirebon in English) is a port city on the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is the only coastal city of West Java, located about 40 km west of the provincial border with Central Java, approximately east of Jakarta, at . It had a population of 296,389 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 333,303 at the 2020 census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 347,537 (comprising 174,364 males and 173,173 females).
The built-up area of Cirebon reaches out from the city and into the surrounding regency of the same name; the official metropolitan area encompasses the whole of this regency as well as the city, and covers an area of , with a 2010 census population of 2,363,585; the 2020 census total was 2,603,924 and the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 2,761,351.
Straddling the border between West and Central Java, Cirebon's history has been influenced by both Sundanese and Javanese culture as well as Arab and Chinese, and is the seat of a former Sultanate.
Etymology Being on the border of the respective Sundanese (i.e., Western Java) and Javanese (i.e., Central Java) cultural regions, many of Cirebon's residents speak a dialect that is a mix of Sundanese and Javanese, known as Jawareh. It is thought that the word "Cirebon" derives from the Javanese word caruban, meaning "mixed": a reference to the city's mix of Sundanese, Javanese, Chinese, and Arabic cultural elements. Alternatively, it could be derived from the Sundanese words "ci" (water or river) and "rebon" ("shrimp"). (Indeed, the main product of the city is fish including shrimp.)
History
The sultanate court lies near the modern-day city of Cirebon on West Java's northern coast. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the sultanate thrived and became an important center in the region for trade, commerce, and Islamic study and dissemination in Java. In 1677, the sultanate split into four royal houses, leaving four kratons (palaces) in Cirebon; Keraton Kasepuhan, Kraton Kanoman, Keraton Kacirebonan, and Keraton Keprabonan. Each has its own lineage and all are the descendants and stewards of the original Cirebon Sultanate.
According to the manuscript Purwaka Caruban Nagari, Cirebon started as a small fishing village in the 15th century named Muara Jati which attracted foreign traders. The port master at that time was Ki Gedeng Alang-Alang, appointed by the king of Galuh kingdom, located inland in Kawali, Ciamis. He later moved the port to Lemahwungkuk, to the south. As the new settlement leader, Ki Gedeng Alang-Alang was bestowed with the title "Kuwu Cerbon" (Cerbon village leader).
A 15th-century prince from Pajajaran, Prince Walangsungsang, converted to Islam and was appointed as the Adipati (Duke) of Cirebon with the title Cakrabumi. He established the new kingdom of Cirebon and declared independence from Sunda and Galuh. The establishment of the Cirebon Sultanate marked the first Islamic rule in western Java, transforming Muara Jati into a busy port. Cirebon was an independent sultanate under the leadership of Sunan Gunungjati in the early 16th century. After the Sunda Kingdom collapsed, the Sultanates of Banten and Mataram fought over control of Cirebon, which declared its allegiance to Sultan Agung of Mataram, whose grandson Amangkurat II ceded the city to the Dutch in 1677. In 1705, a treaty saw the Cirebon area west of Cisanggarung River become a Dutch protectorate jointly administered by three sultans whose courts rivalled those of Central Java. The Dutch authorities later established the Cirebon Residency (Residentie Tjirebon) which was composed of present-day Cirebon, Indramayu, and Kuningan.
During the time of the Dutch "Culture System" a flourishing trade in colonial cash crops attracted many Chinese entrepreneurs and that influence is still evident in the batik for which Cirebon is famous. Cirebon suffered a famine in 1844, apparently triggered by a combination of drought and the shift from subsistence agriculture to cash crops, particularly indigo and sugarcane, enforced by Dutch's Cultivation system.
Geography
Climate Cirebon has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) with moderate to little rainfall from June to October and heavy to very heavy rainfall from November to May.
Administrative divisions The city of Cirebon is divided into five administrative districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2011 census and the 2020 census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2025. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres and the number of administrative villages in each district (all classed as urban kelurahan). Kode Wilayah Name of District(kecamatan) Area inkm2 Pop'n (2010 census) Pop'n (2020 census) Pop'n mid 2025estimate Pop'n density 2025 (per km2) Admincentre No.ofvillages32.74.01 Kejaksan 4.45 42,300 45,966 47,091 10,582 Kesenden432.74.02 Lemahwungkuk 7.16 52,811 57,503 58,968 8,236 Pegambiran432.74.03 Harjamukti 17.62 102,158 123,089 132,563 7,523 Kalijaga532.74.04 Pekalipan 1.59 28,927 29,742 29,665 18,657 Pekalipan432.74.05 Kesambi 8.66 70,193 77,003 79,250 9,151 Kesambi5 Totals 39.48 296,389 333,303 347,537 8,803 Kejaksan 22
The five districts are sub-divided into twenty-two urban villages (kelurahan) which are listed below with their populations at the 2010 census and the 2020 census, together with their post codes:
Kode Wilayah District (kecamatan) Village (kelurahan) Pop'n 2010census Pop'n 2020census Postcode 32.74.01.1001 Kejaksan Kejaksan 8,959 9,086 45123 32.74.01.1002 Kejaksan Sukapura 13,341 14,502 45122 32.74.01.1003 Kejaksan Kesenden 11,875 13,475 45121 32.74.01.1004 Kejaksan Kebonbaru 8,125 8,823 45121 32.74.03.1001 Harjamukti Kalijaga 29,550 36,627 45154 32.74.03.1002 Harjamukti Harjamukti 18,725 21,936 45153 32.74.03.1003 Harjamukti Kecapi 22,222 23,981 45152 32.74.03.1004 Harjamukti Larangan 14,364 16,111 45151 32.74.03.1005 Harjamukti Argasunya 17,297 24,434 45155 32.74.04.1001 Pekalipan Jagasutra 9,704 10,004 45115 32.74.04.1002 Pekalipan Pekalipan 6,195 6,211 45117 32.74.04.1003 Pekalipan Pulasaren 7,313 7,598 45116 32.74.04.1004 Pekalipan Pekalangan 5,715 5,929 45118 32.74.05.1001 Kesambi Pekiringan 11,198 11,901 45131 32.74.05.1002 Kesambi Sunyaragi 10,779 12,342 45132 32.74.05.1003 Kesambi Kesambi 9,291 8,690 45134 32.74.05.1004 Kesambi Drajat 15,100 15,737 45133 32.74.05.1005 Kesambi Karyamulya 23,825 28,333 45131
Demographics The city's population was 296,389 at the Indonesia census of 2010. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 347,537. As with other coastal cities in Indonesia, a large population of ethnic Chinese has flocked into the city as a result of long-term Chinese immigration since the 17th century. Other communities include Malays, Koreans, Arabs, Indians, Japanese.TFI Significant suburbs lie within densely populated Cirebon Regency, and the official metropolitan area encompasses this entire regency as well as the city.
Administrative division Area (km2) Pop'n (2010 census) Pop'n (2015 census) Pop'n (2020 census) Pop'n mid 2025estimate Pop'n density 2025 (per km2) Cirebon City 39.48 296,389 307,319 333,303 347,537 8,803 Cirebon Regency 1,075.16 2,067,196 2,124,866 2,270,621 2,413,814 2,248 Greater Cirebon 1,114.64 2,363,585 2,432,185 2,603,924 2,761,351 2,477
Although surrounded by Sundanese-speaking areas in West Java, linguists have stated that Cirebon (and the historically related region of Serang city in Banten Province) are inside its own Cirebonese language area. In addition, this is supported by a large portion of the Cirebon people referring to themselves as "Wong Cirebon" ("Cirebonese people"), and to their language as "Basa Cirebon" ("Cirebonese"). Cirebonese language is related to Javanese and Banyumasan with dialects such as the Jawareh (half-Javanese half Sundanese), Plered, and Dermayon. There are also native Sundanese speakers in the city, who speak a local dialect known as Bahasa Sunda Cirebon (Cirebonese Sundanese language) which contains unique words not found in its Priangan counterpart.
Campaign for Cirebon Province In the modern era, some of the local political elite in Cirebon and surrounding regencies have campaigned for Cirebon city, together with the regencies of Cirebon, Indramayu, Kuningan and Majalengka to be established as a new province (Provinsi Rebana) - in the same way as Banten Province was formed in 2000 by splitting it away from West Java.Arya Dipa, Council urged to endorse formation of Cirebon province', The Jakarta Post, 31 May 2012. To be a new province it is required that it should be proposed by at least five regencies. Leaders from four of these administrations have given their consent, but Majalengka Regency has turned down the idea and indicated that it would prefer to stay part of West Java. However, the lack of support from the Majalengka area does not preclude Cirebon city and the other three regencies from continuing to promote the idea.
The potential size and population of this possible Province would be as follows:
Name Capital Area in km2 Pop'n 2010 census Pop'n 2020 census Pop'n mid 2025estimateBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2025. Cirebon City Cirebon Cirebon Regency Sumber Indramayu Regency Indramayu Kuningan Regency Kuningan Majalengka Regency Majalengka Totals
Economy Cirebon City's economy is influenced by its strategic geographical location and by the characteristics of natural resources. Thus, the structure of its economy is dominated by manufacturing, trade, hotels and restaurants, transport and communications, and service sectors. Tomé Pires in the Suma Oriental around the year 1513 mentioned Cirebon was one of the trade centers on the island of Java. After Cirebon was taken over by the Dutch East Indies government in 1859, it was designated as a transit port for import-export goods and as a communications route to the political control center for the region in the interior of Java.
Until 2001, the economic contribution to the City of Cirebon was characterized by processing industry (41.32%), followed by trade, hotels and restaurants (29.8%), transport and communications sector (13.56%), and services sector (6.06%). Other sectors (9.26%) included mining, agriculture, construction, electricity, and gas. Aside from fishery, its harbor, Tanjung Emas, on the Java Sea has been a major hub for timber from Borneo.
Culture Cirebon itself is known as Grage in the Cirebon dialect of Javanese language, which came from the words "Negara Gede", meaning "Great Kingdom." As a port city, Cirebon attracts visitors and settlers from elsewhere in Indonesia and from other nations as well. Cirebon culture was described as Java Pasisiran (coastal) culture, similar to the cultures of Banten, Pekalongan, and Semarang, with notable mixtures of Sundanese, Chinese, Arabic-Islamic, and European influences.
Arts and crafts
Batik textiles from Cirebon, especially Cirebon batik with vivid colors with motifs and patterns, that demonstrate Chinese and local influences, are well known. Chinese influences can be seen in Cirebon's culture, most notably the Cirebon batik Megamendung pattern that resembles Chinese cloud imagery. The Trusmi area is the production center of Cirebon batik. Cirebon Glass Painting is another aspect of Cirebon arts and crafts. The imagery in glass painting is usually derived from wayang theme to Islamic calligraphy.
Performing arts
The Tari Topeng Cirebon, or Cirebon mask dance, is a dance style peculiar to the city. Topeng Cirebon mask dance, inspired by Javanese Panji cycles is one of notable Cirebon traditional dance and quite famous within Indonesian dances.