Madura is an Indonesian island off the northeastern coast of Java. The island has an area of about 4,471.05 square kilometres (1,726.28 sq mi), but administratively Madura comprises an area of around 5,408.45 square kilometres (2,088.21 sq mi) due to the inclusion of various smaller islands to the east, southeast and north that are part of Madura's easternmost Sumenep Regency. Madura is part of the province of East Java. It is separated from Java by the narrow Madura Strait. The administered area had a density of 773 people per km (2,003 per sq. mile) in mid-2024, while the main island had a somewhat higher figure of 862.3 per km (2,233 per sq. mile).
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👉 Madura in the context of Java
Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in the South East Asian country of Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, projected to have risen to 158 million by mid-2025, Java is the world's most populous island, home to approximately 56% of the Indonesian population while constituting only 7% of its land area. Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta, is on Java's northwestern coast.
Many of the best known events in Indonesian history took place on Java. It was the centre of powerful Hindu-Buddhist empires, the Islamic sultanates, and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies. Java was also the center of the Indonesian struggle for independence during the 1930s and 1940s. Java dominates Indonesia politically, economically, and culturally. Four of Indonesia's eight UNESCO world heritage sites are located in Java: Ujung Kulon National Park, Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, and Sangiran Early Man Site.
In this Dossier
- ⭐ Core Definition: Madura
- 👉 Madura in the context of Java
- Madura in the context of Demographics of Indonesia
- Madura in the context of Javanese literature
- Madura in the context of Suramadu Bridge
- Madura in the context of Masalembu Islands
- Madura in the context of Madurese people
- Madura in the context of Kawi language
Madura in the context of Demographics of Indonesia
Indonesia is a highly diverse country, both ethnically and linguistically. The country's population reached 270.20 million according to the 2020 national census, up from 237.64 million in 2010. As of mid-2025, the official estimate stood at 284.44 million, reflecting an annual growth rate of 1.11%. It remains the fourth most populous country in the world. Java, excluding Madura is home to approximately 54.4% of the national population, making it the most densely populated island globally.
Despite a fairly effective family planning program that has been in place since 1967, Indonesia's average population growth per year was over 1.1% for the decade ending in 2020, nearly having 13% population growth for that decade. At this rate, Indonesia's population is no longer projected to surpass the population of the United States (whose population is increasing at a faster rate), and it is itself projected by the United Nations (UN) to be overtaken in population by Nigeria and by Pakistan by 2040. Indonesia has a relatively young population compared to many Western countries, although it is gradually aging due to declining birth rates and rising life expectancy. As of 2017, the median age stood at 30.2 years.
Madura in the context of Javanese literature
Javanese literature is, generally speaking, literature from Java and, more specifically, from areas where Javanese is spoken. However, similar with other literary traditions, Javanese language works were and not necessarily produced only in Java, but also in Sunda, Madura, Bali, Lombok, Southern Sumatra (especially around Palembang) and Suriname. This article only deals with Javanese written literature and not with oral literature and Javanese theatre such as wayang.
Madura in the context of Suramadu Bridge
The Suramadu Bridge (Indonesian: Jembatan Suramadu, Javanese: Kreteg Suramadu, Madurese: Tètè Suramadu; from the abbreviation of Surabaya–Madura Bridge) is a cable-stayed bridge between Surabaya on the island of Java and southern Bangkalan Regency on the island of Madura in Indonesia. Opened in June 2009, the 5.4-kilometre-long (3.4 mi) bridge is the longest in Indonesia and the second-longest in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the first bridge to cross the Madura Strait.
The cable-stayed portion has three spans with lengths 192 metres (630 ft), 434 metres (1,424 ft), and 192 metres (630 ft). The bridge has two lanes, an emergency lane, and a dedicated lane for motorcycles in each direction.
Madura in the context of Masalembu Islands
The Masalembu Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Masalembu) form a small archipelago in the Java Sea to the north of Madura in Indonesia. It is located about halfway between Madura and Borneo, and forms part of the Masalembu district in the Sumenep Regency of East Java. The archipelago consists of three main islands–Masalembu, Masakambing, and Karamian.
The islands are characterized by low sandy terrain with limited freshwater, tropical climate, and notable biodiversity. The economy is reliant on fishing, local agriculture, and tourism. The population consisted of about 25,809 individuals in 2020, from an ethnically diverse background.
Madura in the context of Madurese people
The Madurese (Madurese: Orèng Mâdhurâ, Pegon script: أَوريڠ مادْوراْ; Javanese: ꦠꦾꦁꦩꦼꦝꦸꦤ꧀ꦠꦼꦤ꧀, romanized: Tyang Mêdhuntên; Indonesian: Orang Madura) are one of the Austronesian ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Madura and northern part of Eastern salient of Java, off the northeastern coast of Java. They speak their own native Madurese (with diverse varieties), sharing a common history, traditions, and cultural identity. Nationwide, the Madurese are the fifth-largest ethnic group in Indonesia, and one of the well-known Indonesian national dishes, Satay, is associated with the Madurese as part of their rich culinary heritage. They are also known as the largest owners of traditional grocery shops in Indonesia.
About six million native Madurese are living on their ancestral land, Madura Island, and around half a million reside in eastern Java, mainly in the regencies of Jember, Banyuwangi, and others. The Madurese population in Java forms a subgroup called the Pandalungan Madurese, who speak a blend of Javanese and Madurese.
Madura in the context of Kawi language
Old Javanese or Kawi is an Austronesian language and the oldest attested phase of the Javanese language. It was natively spoken in the central and eastern part of Java Island, what is now Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java Provinces, Indonesia. As a literary language, Kawi was used across Java and on the islands of Madura, Bali, and Lombok.