West Nusa Tenggara (; , ) is a province of Indonesia. It comprises the western portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the exception of Bali which is its own province. The area of this province is which consists of two main islands, namely Lombok Island and Sumbawa Island as well as several other small islands. The two largest islands in this province are the smaller but much more populated Lombok in the west and the much larger in area but much less densely populated Sumbawa island in the east. Mataram, on Lombok, is the capital and largest city of the province. It shares maritime borders with Bali to the west and East Nusa Tenggara to the east.
Geographically, Lombok Island is divided into a flat coastal area, especially in western and southern Lombok, and a mountainous area that includes Mount Rinjani, the highest mountain in the province at 3,726 meters, which is also an active volcano and one of the most popular natural tourist destinations. On Sumbawa Island, the landscape is more varied with steeper hills and mountains and dry grasslands in the east.
The province has a population of around 5.731 million, with the majority of the population living in coastal areas and large cities such as Mataram, the provincial capital located on Lombok Island.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.52) West Nusa Tenggara is known for its Sasak culture in Lombok and Samawa and Mbojo culture in Sumbawa, which still maintain their local customs and arts.
West Nusa Tenggara is also known for its natural environment, including beaches such as Kuta Beach in Lombok and Lakey Beach in Sumbawa, which are popular surfing destinations. The Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno) located off the coast of Lombok are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, known for their clear sea water and coral reefs.
Apart from beach tourism, West Nusa Tenggara also has cultural and historical sites, such as Sade Village in Lombok which maintains traditional Sasak architecture and lifestyle, as well as ancient palaces from the era of the Bima Sultanate in Sumbawa.
History Pre-Islamic period Based on analysis of prehistoric objects found such as complex sarcophagi, decorated stoneware, machetes, and axes, West Nusa Tenggara was originally inhabited by people from Southeast Asia.
The most numerous of the indigenous people in this region are called the Sasak people, most of whom live on the island of Lombok, while on the island of Sumbawa the indigenous people are divided into two groups, ethnic Sumbawa (Samawa) and Bima. However, with the wave of migrants from Bali, Makassar, Java, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara, the indigenous people now largely remain in the interior.
The region was part of the Majapahit Empire during its height in the 14th century, conquering all the kingdoms located on the islands of both Lombok and Sumbawa. In the book Negarakertagama by Mpu Prapanca in 1365, it was written that West Lombok was named "Lombok Mirah" and East Lombok was named "Sasak Adi", Taliwang, Dompo (Dompu), Sape, Sanghyang Fire, Bhima (Bima), Seram (Seran) and Hutan Kedali (Utan).
Islamic period In the early reign of the kings in West Nusa Tenggara, the influence of Hinduism was very strong, but with the collapse of the Majapahit Empire, the influence of Hinduism began to decrease with the onset of the influence of Islam in the coastal communities.
The creation of the Demak Sultanate in Central Java had a huge impact on the spread of Islam in West Nusa Tenggara. The influence of Islam in West Nusa Tenggara was generally brought by the Malays. The influence of Islam in Bima was supported by King I Maliingkaang Daeng-Mannyonriq of Makassar, who was then known as Karaeng Matoaya who played an important role in the spread of Islam in the region.
The influence of Islam in the Bima Sultanate emerged during the reign of King Manuru Salehi around 1605 and began to grow rapidly during the reign of King Abdul Kahir. King Abdul Kahir is also known as the Sultan of Bima because he was the king who first embraced Islam in Bima, beginning a new era, separate from the previous Bima kings who embraced Hinduism. Islam became the official religion of the kings in West Nusa Tenggara.Sejarah Nusa Tenggara Barat Periode Awal Perkembangan Islam
Colonial period
The Europeans who first came to Nusa Tenggara were the Portuguese who landed on the islands of Solor and Timor in 1605. At the same time, the Dutch also came to the islands of Hitu and Ambon, in the Malukus. The first Dutch ship that entered the area was the Ter Ver which docked in Kupang in 1611. The arrival of the Dutch led to a long dispute between the Portuguese and the Dutch in Nusa Tenggara. The Dutch assisted the local kings who resisted the Portuguese. The Netherlands then expanded its influence in Nusa Tenggara, to make a variety of agreements with small kings around the island of Sumbawa.
The arrival of the Dutch colonial administration greatly impacted Indonesian society, with the decline of the Sultanate of Gowa in the 17th century. Gowa nobility who did not submit to the colonial government fled from Makassar and built pockets of resistance in West Nusa Tenggara. To combat the resistance, the colonial government began to concentrate power in West Nusa Tenggara. This was reinforced by the emergence of Lombok for international trade, so the desire of the Dutch to rule West Nusa Tenggara became stronger.
The Dutch colonial government sent Stephen van Hegen for a close look at the Bima Sultanate in 1660. The arrival of the Dutch-influenced the political and economic situation in the area. In 1669, the Government of the Bima Sultanate led by Sultan Ambela Abdul Khair Sirajuddin, made peace and friendship ties with the colonial government with the agreement that: The Sultanate of Bima and Dompu will not attack Makassar To keep the peace, only members of the Dutch East India Company may visit the Bima area Bima and Makassar will not make any contact at all. Foreign traders from Europe, India, Java, Malaya, Arab lands, Aceh, and Champa must not engage in trade with Bima, except by special permit from the Dutch East India Company.
The agreement with the Sultan of Bima and Dompu recognized the existence of the Dutch colonial power. The Netherlands sought to consolidate its control by blocking the Bima port to prevent the arrival of aid from Makassar or other foreign countries. The effort was made so that the existing ports in Bima and Lombok would not fall into British hands.
Because of Dutch supremacy in the region, the king and the people in the region could not move freely. This situation became worse with the eruption of Mount Tambora on April 5, 1815, which shook the entire region, and the consequences could be felt throughout the Moluccas, Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Kalimantan. Mount Tambora's eruption resulted in the disappearance of the two kingdoms of Tambora and Papekat. More than 10,000 people were killed.
Independence West Nusa Tenggara province previously had been part of the State of East Indonesia with the creation of the United States of Indonesia and had been part of the province of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara) after the recognition of Indonesian sovereignty.
The province of West Nusa Tenggara was created with the enactment of Law No. 64 of 1958 dated 14 August 1958, on the Establishment of the new provinces of Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara, with its first governor being AR. Moh. Ruslan Djakraningrat.
Geography
West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is a province in Indonesia located in the southern part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, consisting of two main islands, namely Lombok Island and Sumbawa Island, as well as several small islands around them such as the Gili Islands. Geographically, the province is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Flores Sea to the north. To the west, West Nusa Tenggara borders the Province of Bali, while to the east it borders the Province of East Nusa Tenggara.
The West Nusa Tenggara region has a varied topography, with relatively flat coastal areas in some parts of the island, especially in western and southern Lombok. On the other hand, there are mountainous areas that are characteristic of this region, especially Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island which reaches a height of 3,726 meters above sea level, making it the second highest mountain in Indonesia. Mount Rinjani is an active volcano and the center of the Mount Rinjani National Park, which includes mountainous forests, savannas, and a stunning crater lake called Segara Anak.
Sumbawa Island, on the other hand, has a more varied landscape with steeper mountains, hills and valleys in the west, and dry grasslands in the east. The island also has several active volcanoes such as Mount Tambora which is known for its eruption in 1815, one of the largest eruptions in history with global impact.
Natural resources in West Nusa Tenggara include fertile agricultural land, especially in the lowlands and mountain slopes, as well as marine fisheries in coastal areas. In addition, the province is also known for its mineral wealth, such as the gold mine on Sumbawa Island which is one of the largest mines in Indonesia.
Climate In terms of climate, West Nusa Tenggara has a tropical climate with two main seasons, namely the rainy season which lasts from November to March and the dry season from April to October. Due to its geographical conditions, several areas in West Nusa Tenggara, especially the eastern part of Sumbawa, experience a long dry season with low rainfall, so this area tends to be dry and barren.
Based on the latest data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the maximum temperature in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) currently ranges from 31.5 to 34.0 °C, while the minimum temperature ranges from 21.0 to 25.5 °C. The highest temperature usually occurs in October, while the lowest temperature tends to occur in July to August. As a tropical climate region, NTB has a fairly high relative humidity, averaging between 55 and 90%, depending on the season and location. Humidity tends to be higher during the rainy season, which lasts from November to March, while the dry season is usually drier with lower humidity.
Rainfall in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is lower than in western Indonesia such as Sumatra and Kalimantan. Western Indonesia tends to be wetter, with annual rainfall ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 mm due to the influence of the southwest monsoon. Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara, which is influenced by the southeast monsoon from Australia, has lower rainfall, ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 mm per year. Lombok Island is generally wetter than Sumbawa Island, which often experiences drought during the dry season.
Economy West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is a province in Indonesia that boasts a diverse and developing economy. Its primary economic activities revolve around agriculture, tourism, fisheries, and mining, with a growing focus on infrastructure development and investment in renewable energy and small businesses.
Agriculture Agriculture is the backbone of NTB’s economy, providing livelihoods for the majority of the population. The fertile soils and favorable climate conditions across Lombok and Sumbawa islands allow for both wet and dry farming practices. Key agricultural products include rice, corn, soybeans, peanuts, and tobacco. Rice, being the staple food in Indonesia, occupies a significant portion of the province's farmland, with farmers utilizing traditional methods alongside modern techniques to increase yields.